Terri Elkins has been married to Jim Elkins, her high school sweetheart for 24 years, who had to love dogs before she would marry him! They have a 16 year old daughter, Brittany Elkins, who is also crazy about animals.  Terri, Jim and Brittany live with six dogs, four cats, a rabbit, a chinchilla and a horse.  Terri’s favorite things to do are therapy work with her Newfie mix, Glacier, dog scootering, hiking, camping, dog sledding and one day she would like to attempt ski jourring!  She loves problem solving dog behavior in order to enhance the relationship between dogs and their families.

Terri has attended Super K-9, a 3 day dog training workshop led by Trish King, Sue Sternberg and Brenda Aloff.  This workshop specialized in dog aggression, dog behavior, temperament testing, working with local shelters, dog training techniques using massage therapy and connecting with your dog using body language.

Terri has attended Dr Ian Dunbar’s (veterinarian, animal behaviorist, and writer) 3 day workshop on puppy and adult dog training using lures and rewards.  Dr Dunbar is the inventor of Puppy Kindergarten.  Classes covered the importance of puppy socialization, off leash puppy training techniques and proofing using fun and games.

Terri has also attended, “The Art and Science of Animal Training “sponsored by the Behavior analysis Department of the University of North Texas.  This is an open discussion of a panel of 6 top trainers to enhance the lives of animals and their guardians through behavior analytic research and to inform the public about the discoveries. The panel includes, Bob Bailey, Steve White, Ken Ramirez, Kay Laurence, Alexandra Kurland, and Steve Martin.

Terri is currently registered with the Karen Pryor Academy for trainers using the clicker method to shape animal behavior. This is a cutting edge technique that zoos and aquatic parks such as Sea World use.

Terri is currently on the Board of Directors of Delta Hearts of Gold Therapy Dogs, Canine Good Citizenship Evaluator, Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), Has a Reading Education Assistance Dog and is currently working on her Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainer (CCPDT)

Terri teaches:

• Family Dog Classes, Beginner and Intermediate Obedience
• Therapy Dog Classes
• Off Leash Puppy Dog Class
• Consultation and Private sessions for behavior issues
• Upcoming: Tunnels and Growler Classes

Denise Tatro – Beginner, Novice Polish, Open, Utility, and Conformation Training

Denise titled her first Obedience dog, a black Standard Poodle, in 1962 at the age of nine. She grew up with Dobermans and her Grandmother always had mini-smooth Dachshunds. She has put well over fifty Obedience titles on dogs in all seven of the AKC groups, which means she has vast experience training and showing many different breeds of dogs.

For the past forty years she has taught all levels of competitive obedience, handling and canine behavior modification, with her specialty being aggressive/fearful dogs. She also does volunteer work with a group of 4-H children as well as judging the State 4-H final several times.

Denise and her husband “Red” breed and show AKC Whippets and Lakeland Terriers along with a couple of Mini-Wire Dachshunds that have recently been added. Denise and Red have finished over thirty-five champions, always breeder/owner-handled. She is an AKC licensed judge and is very active in her local breed club as well as her National breed clubs. She is a long time member of the Fort Worth Kennel Club and the Show Chairman for all events held by the club. In her “spare time” she also competes in agility with Bugsy, her mini Wire Dachshund. Her favorite saying is “There is nothing more fun than a well trained dog”.

Leslie Tabor –Intermediate and Advanced Agility

Growing up on a 40 acre horse farm, Leslie Tabor spent most of her life riding, training and showing champion Arabian horses. She excelled, winning titles and championships in showmanship, western and game play.

In the late1980's, Leslie turned her attention to training dogs. Jessie, an australian shepherd, was trained in herding and hand signals. In early 2001, Leslie started training Lexie, a standard poodle, in agility under the likes of Rachel Sanders, Elicia Calhoun, Steve Frick and Susan Salo. Leslie and Lexie advanced quickly and competed in the excellent class at AKC, NADAC, and USDAA trials. Lexie was also a certified therapy dog.

Leslie comes to Petswest as an agility trainer by way of Boise, Idaho. In Boise, Leslie owned and operated Fast Paws Agility. A facility that specialized in advanced agility, course walking and jumping. Currently, Leslie is training with Skylar, a corgi, in obedience.

Leslie is a member of the class of 1987 at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, TX. There, she received a bachelor’s degree in Wild Life Biology and minored in Forestry. She is currently a researcher and lab manager at the University of North Texas Health Science Center Immunology Department.

Leslie resides in Weatherford with her husband, Alan, son, Zachary and step-sons Alan Jr. and Nicholas. She also lives with three dogs (Skylar, Buddy and Toby), three cats (Tommy, Mingo, and O’Lee), two Sugar Gliders (Izzy, Thief) and two tortoises (Henry, Philip).

In memory of Lexie - Leslie's Gumby Girl - MX, MXJ, CGC

"If you can't run balls out, then why run at all?" - Leslie Tabor

Joanne Davis – Puppy Kindergarten

Joanne and her husband Mike are owned by several Doberman Pinschers. In 1972 Joanne purchased her first Doberman. She was encouraged by the breeder to show her in conformation shows. Joanne put numerous points on her while also training her in obedience for her CDX (Companion Dog Excellent). This was the start of a long time love of the breed.

Since then Joanne has bred over thirty AKC Champion Dobermans and put over twenty obedience titles on dogs with two of them being Champions with UD’s (Utility Dog).

Joanne has also trained and shown Poodles, Springer Spaniels and Whippets. She is currently a member of the Doberman Pinscher Club of America and Metro All Breed Obedience Club.