Paula owned and showed Newfoundlands in the 80s, but it was the early 90s when she got her first Australian Shepherd, Bart.  She quickly realized that this dog needed a job and  began training,  first Agility, where she was introduced to “clicker” training, and then to Freestyle and a passion was unleashed.  “Bart was the love of my life, a true partner, and taught me to be a fair trainer.” Paula has been an avid student of positive reinforcement training methodology for 15 years and has studied under Kay Laurence, Diane Kowalski, Michele Pouliot, Ken Ramirez and Carolyn Scott. She has also attended Karen Pryor’s “Clicker Expo’s”.  “ I read training books with the enthusiasm that most people read novels!  It’s the training process that I love most…the ability to tell your dog that you are listening.” Paula recently obtained a Musical Freestyle championship title with her 12 year old aussie, Gilley.  Paula has also competed with her 11 year old aussie Deke, who has been sidelined several times by cancer treatment  and knee surgery.  Paula recently added baby aussie “Rose” to her family.