The Educated Canine Biography

Head Instructor - Sandi Howarth

Working with animals has always been a passion of Sandi's. After many years of training and showing horses, she began working with dogs over 17 years ago. Having the opportunity of working with some of the best trainers in Canada and the United States, her training included a broad base of obedience, conformation, protection, Schutzhound, search and rescue, tracking, scent detection and assistance dogs. In the past 10 years her own dogs have earned 4 - C.K.C. Championships (conformation) 8 - C.K.C. Obedience Titles and her most current passion, 17 - N.A.D.A.C. Agility Titles.

Sandi: Even though I compete with my dogs, and have a lot of fun doing it…. their most important job is simply being my companions. This is what I strive to provide for my clients at the classes. To give them the skills to train their pet to be a valued member of the family, a dog that is a pleasure to have around.

My favorite classes to teach are the Novice Levels. In Obedience - watching the dogs learn and to see the huge change from the first class to graduation night. In Agility, it is so rewarding to introduce dogs and their owners to such a fun sport, a really great way to play with your dog.

One of the best changes I have seen in the dog world is the age of the dogs we get into the classes. Generally, clients are bringing their puppies to class as soon as their shots are completed. This is great - we can teach the behaviors we want, using positive training methods - before that dog develops bad habits. We have also seen a huge increase in the number of small breeds in the classes. Any dog, large or small, when obedience trained, is a pleasure to own and the dog enjoys much more freedom.

I currently share my home with three wonderful dogs, two German Shorthaired Pointers and a Parson Russell Terrier. Ti, Whitney & Hollie make me laugh every day and I am very proud to call them mine.

Story by Jim Willis
"How Could You?"