Our Instructors

All of our instructors are active in dog related activities, participating in dog obedience competitions, field dog trials and conformation shows. All have trained dogs to win obedience titles and advanced degrees. Some of our instructors have written books and articles about dog training and behavior. Here is a  listing of several of our instructors.

 

 

¨ Stanley Coren: is well known for his many best-selling books on dogs, such as The Intelligence of Dogs, How to Speak Dog, and How Dogs Think. He also hosted a national television show Good Dog. To learn more about him just click here.

 

 

¨ Owen Sopotiuk has been training and competing in dog obedience trials since 2003. He and his standard poodle Montana have earned many competition titles and were ranked as the #2 Standard Poodle and #7 Non-sporting Breed competitors in Canada in 2008. He concentrates on competition obedience based on a foundation of handler and dog engagement and positive/motivational training methods.

 

¨ Susan Bridgeman has lived with dogs her whole life, but has only recently become interested in advanced training and obedience competition.  She is competing in obedience trials with her English Cocker Spaniels. Her lengthy career as a librarian has taught her how to interact with people well and given her a comfortable and well received teaching style.

 

¨ Carly Teillet has been training and competing in dog obedience and rally obedience with her Bernese Mountain Dogs since 2010. She and her young Berner, Watson started their show season with a huge success earning their first title (C.D.) with 3 high in class. ​Her light-hearted teaching style is much appreciated by students.

 

¨ Heather Sommerville has trained her Belgian Shepherd dogs with VDOTC since 1992 and has been assisting as an instructor in beginners and advanced beginners dog classes since 2015.

For more information and pre-registration contact us at info.vdotc@gmail.com

Barbara Merkley

Some of Our  Founding

Instructors

Barbara Baker