• 3.1About the Pack Leader
• 3.2: Recommended Products & Services
• 3.3: A Pet's Picnic

About the Pack Leader

It would be an understatement to say that I love dogs, but this happened as a surprise about a decade ago when I had the great fortune to meet and become friends with Victoria Reynolds, a former Miss Maine with a passion for canine rescue and dogs in general. With her encouragement and support, I brought home my first puppy, Casco Bay Beauty of Mallard Point Kennels in Pownal, Maine. Anyone who has met Casco can attest that he should've been the star in the movie, "Marley and Me." Because Casco was such a challenging pup, I embarked on a journey of studying canine behavior, training methods and the human-canine relationship which now spans about 10 years. I adopted a second Lab, Tonya, from My Wonderful Dog, almost 8 years ago.

I began as a volunteer puppy raiser and training assistant in 2002 for My Wonderful Dog, a Portland-based non-profit which raised and trained service dogs for disabled folks. Later, I helped open the Planet Dog Company Store in Portland and during my employment there, created and ran an incredibly popular Puppy Romprrr Room for 2.5 years, providing early socialization and learning opportunities for puppies and support to their new owners. From this experience, I designed my business plan for a day program focusing on the needs of puppies and their families during the first year of ownership, and in the fall of 2006, Dances With Dogs Day School for Puppies opened its doors. Since then, DWD has provided a safe haven for more than 1000 pups to socialize, learn and grow. I designed the puppies' play space myself and continue to add equipment, toys and other features to make our playground a sanctuary and place of freedom and wonder for the pups.  Since Elsa Larsen, Executive Director of My Wonderful Dog, closed her non-profit program, I have worked closely with her to further my training and experience and have served as her training assistant in some of her outdoor obedience classes.

I hold a B.A. in English from the University of Maine and a Master's in Clinical Social Work from the University of New England. I have had past careers as a Public Relations Director for the Maine Forest Products Council, a Litigation Paralegal specializing in medical malpractice and personal injury lawsuits, and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker working with adolescents in a high school setting and adults in a private practice setting.

In addition to running the day school, I photograph all of my students and post my work for everyone to enjoy on Facebook and sell my photography privately.  My puppy photos also grace the advertising literature of Pet Life stores, a 12-store chain of pet stores in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.  I blog for WCSH-6 television station, providing weekly articles on dog-related issues accompanied by photos of my students.

My first small business, A Pet's Picnic, which I run with the help of my 22-year-old son, Brody, came into existence in 2003. We manufacture hand-braided fleece tug toys for dogs which are incredibly durable and have been a best-seller locally at Planet Dog Company Store, FETCH and Pet Life. Our tugs are available in 15 other retail stores in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

I have a deep and abiding passion for giving back to my community and donate my time and a percentage of school profits to local dog-related programs yearly.  Planet Dog Foundation, The Animal Refuge League and the Canine Cancer Fund are recent recipients of assistance and support.