Mindy
Cox
B.S., CPDT-KSA , is the Training
Director at Lucky Dog. Mindy is a Certified
Professional Dog Trainer
(CPDT-KSA), and a Professional Member of the
Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) who
has been working with dogs for many years.
She graduated with a bachelor's degree in Animal
Science from Cornell University and pursued
her master's degree in veterinary anatomy
from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary
Medicine. She has been a veterinary hospital
administrator for over twenty years, and in
that capacity has been instrumental in starting
programs in pet therapy, puppy kindergarten,
and obedience and behavior. She holds a CD
obedience title on her German Shepherd dog,
Bella, as well as multiple AKC agility titles,
and has trained and competed at the Master
Agility level. She is now training and competing
in agility with her border collie, Decker and
her Aussie mix Runi. Her youngest border collie,
Zander, has been developing Rally skills,and
additionally learning sheep herding with husband,
David. Mindy has had the good fortune of training
under some of the top agility competitors in
the world. She continues to attend continuing
education lectures and seminars in dog behavior
as has worked successfully with many dog owners
in private consultatons to help modify behavior
problems.
Cynthia
Kean
currently competes with two dogs at the highest
level in two agility venues, AKC and USDAA. She recently
put her 10th Championship on her Shetland Sheepdog,
ADCH MACH4 Beau, T2B FX. Cynthia has been playing
agility for over 18 years and has trained eight
of her own dogs during that time. She has been
an AKC agility Judge for more than twelve years.
Cynthia has a Masters degree in Education and
owned and operated a successful dog training
facility when she resided in New York. She is
owned by Beau; Tickle, a border collie; Mitzi, a
sheltie; and the newest member of the family,
Kelty, also a sheltie. Her husband Patrick, supports her dog
training and has earned two legs in AKC Herding
with Tickle.
Dr. Lisa Radosta: Special
Visiting Instructor. Dr. Radosta has been helping
owners positively alter their pet's behavior for many years,
first as a dog trainer druing her college years, later as a
veterinary behavior consultant and currently as a board certified
veterinary behaviorist.
Dr. Radosta is a native of Florida. She graduated from the University
of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in 2000. Following
graduation, she completed a one-year small animal medicine and
surgery internship. She continued to practice in South Florida
as a small animal veterinarian with a special interest in small
animal behavior cases for the next 2 years. In 2006, she completed
a three-year residency in Behavioral Medicine at the Matthew
J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
She received multiple research awards during her residency.
We are fortunate and honored to have her teaching here at Lucky
Dog.
Visit her
website to find out more about her practice or to schedule
a private consultation.
Stacey
Curcio
has been in the dog field for over 30 years.
She is a Level IV (the highest level) veterinary
technician at Harmony Animal Hospital, and
has gained a reputation with clients as a person
willing to share her vast knowledge of dog
behavior and training. She has a gentle, yet
confident manner with the dogs she works with
and quickly gains their trust. She shares her
home with six dogs that live happily together,
including one that is a working police K9
with her husband. Three of her dogs have attained
their AKC Canine Good Citizen titles and two
of her dogs are certified therapy dogs.
Cheryl Vanvoorhies
Cheryl holds a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership. She
currently works as an Assistant Principal at a local Middle
School and has 32 years teaching experience working with children.
Cheryl has recently started transitioning her knowledge from
children to canines. She has participated in almost every class
and seminar scheduled at Lucky Dog to gain knowledge to help
her understand and better handle her “challenging” German Shepherd
Seele, as well as attending outside dog training and behavior
seminars. Cheryl also assists veterinary behaviorist Dr. Lisa
Radosta in the Reactive Dog Classes. She is currently participating
in tracking and Nose Work with Seele. In her spare time she
volunteers at a veterinary hospital to expand her knowledge
of dog handling and health issues. Cheryl also shares her home
with Buster (Pekingese), Noah and O.J (felines), and Chenille
her boisterous Cockatoo.
Robin Billings BA, CPDT-KSA
has a long history of dog experience starting with her family's
purchase of Canine College of Holbrook, MA in 1968. Robin started
her show career at 11 years old in Jr. Showmanship with her
Afghan Hound and obtained her first Obedience title at age 12
with her German Shepherd Dog, Pepper. Robin currently shows
her Rottweiler and Boston Terriers in Conformation, Obedience
and Rally. They all have their Rally Excellent titles with high
scores and placements. Greta and Louie have their Championships
and obedience CD titles and Louie is working on his CDX. Beamer
is currently working on her CD title and obtaining points towards
her Championship. Nina, Robin’s newest Rottie pup is currently
clicker training and training for Nose Dog Titles. All three
of Robin’s adult dogs are Therapy Dogs with Delta Society and
enjoy visiting nursing homes, schools and hospitals. Robin was
the President of New England Rottweiler Fanciers and VP of New
England Working Rottweiler Club and has judged at matches in
Obedience and Conformation. Owner trained and handled titles
obtained are: CH, BISS, V-1, CD, CDX, CS, RE, BH,WH, Ztpr and
high in Trial. Robin is constantly continuing her training education
by attending seminars as well as working with other excellent
positive trainers.
Anna Lee Sanders:
Anna first became involved in dog agility when she was adopted
by a 6 month old Australian Cattle Dog mix named Timi Sue, who
had a huge problem jumping... on people, on the counter top,
over the doggie gate... You get the idea. In her puppy obedience
class the teacher told her that she needed to find an appropriate
outlet for this pups "bad" behavior, and an agility team was
born!
In her first year, Anna and Timi Sue won the award for best
dog in their class at the state tournament (Dog Agility Competition
of Florida) and were able to claim that title again in 2012.
Anna has had the chance to train under some of the best teachers
in the world, and continues to grow and learn from the best.
In the non-dog portion of her life, Anna has been teaching Pilates
and yoga, both one-on-one and in a class setting, since 2003.
From anatomy and physiology, to biomechanics, to performance
psychology and motivation, she has found that people and dogs
mostly function in the same way, so being a teacher of people
has given her unique insights into being a teacher of dogs.
Anna is now also owned by a black lab, Mr.
Pickles, who is teaching her all kinds of
new behaviors! They are curently competing
successfully in agility.
Kait Hembree, B.S., CVT, KPACTP:
Kait has been a veterinary technician for over 15 years.
As a technician she became interested in animal behavior
which lead her into animal training. She began teaching
puppy and kitten socialization classes in 2008 at the
veterinary clinic at which she was employed. After graduating
from the Karen Pryor Academy of Dog Training, she began
teaching basic obedience classes and meeting with clients
individually to train their dogs. She moved to Florida
in October 2012 to begin a career as a veterinary behavior
nurse working for a board certified veterinary behaviorist.
She is excited to be teaching for Lucky Dog and has
been clicker training her own dogs including a Cheasapeake
Bay retriever and a wirehaired dachshund, to teach them
obedience and tricks.
Fully fenced and landscaped outdoor grassy training field with
excellent footing and lighting for night classes and events.