Training Support and Influential People

Glenn Hansen my husband and the one who introduced me to the amazing German Shepherd and the sport of Schutzhund. My training partner, photographer and videographer. He is also the one that gets me out there to track.

Joel Monroe of Big Valley Dog Training. Our  Protection Helper, Northwestern Region Training Director and National Schutzhund Competitor. We are happy to announce that once again he will help put a solid protection foundation on our pups. Thank you for reminding us to be consistent.

Denise Fenzi of Sprite working Belgian
Tervuren. A successful breeder of the working lines. As well as a Nationally recognized obedience coach. She has placed at the Top of AKC events numerous times and is a well achieved Schutzhund competitor. She did an excellent job helping me lay a solid obedience foundation on my girl. She will review our current obedience training with our German Shepherd puppies and introduce her latest training methods for another solid obedience foundation. Thank you for keeping us on our toes.

Dave and Randy of Witmer Tyson Imports   
founders of Menlo Park Schutzhund Club. Always making sure that we have a great place to train.

(photo - Michele Hansen and Gjeter av Xazziam)

Claudia Romard - 2006 Vice National Schutzhund Champion and trainer. She gives an excellent seminar and truly does it for the love of the dog. She has always been generous with her advice and we greatly appreciate it.
                                  
Arthur Witmer of Stoffelblick Kennels - One of the best German trainers for all three Schutzhund phases that I have had an opportunity to work with. His methods are tried and true.

Northwestern Region of United Schutzhund Clubs of America

Of course there are many more generous and knowledgeable people within the region that I have been fortunate to work with. Without a National organization such as Schutzhund USA, a supportive Region and club; the path to our success would have been much more difficult. Please support your local Schutzhund clubs, Regions and Schutzhund USA whenever possible.

Schutzhund and Clicker Training

 Gjeter and Michele Hansen - clicker training  Gjeter came to me at 10 weeks old. Her importer told me that they had been experimenting with clicker training. What a sight to see, a bright eyed pup, so willing  and focused. Since she was the first dog I ever trained and handled I decided to look further into the clicker
method. I quickly found out that it was quite the trend. I gravitated towards books, websites and magazines that advocated clicker training. It worked well for us since it didn't require much physical effort on my part. After 6 months we started working with Denise Fenzi who is a well known, top AKC and Schutzhund competitor herself. She put our clicker training into high gear by emphasizing good handling through movement and speed. She helped me lay a solid obedience foundation using clicker training and by advocating the importance of a good relationship between handler and dog.  We have since used clicker training to some extent in each phase of Schutzhund.