Beth Spanski, B.A.
Beth is a certified
Service Dog trainer. She has worked with service and hearing dogs
for the physically challenged since 1994. Beth is an American Kennel Club
certified evaluator for the Canine Good Citizen Test. She has over 30 years
experience instructing puppy, beginners, and advanced classes
(through open and utility obedience). She has a bachelors degree
in psychology, and is certified in counseling. Beth has attended
over fifty seminars, which featured speakers from around the world.
She continues to attend seminars on all aspects of training, health,
diet, and husbandry. She has implemented facility dog programs and
Pet therapy programs. She has organized and implemented reading
programs. She worked
for three years as a zookeeper at the Detroit Zoological Institute,
and trained chimpanzees to accept arm injections. She also worked
six years as a veterinary assistant.
Since 1978 she has competed in American and Canadian Kennel
Club obedience and agility trials and has earned over 70 titles on
11 breeds of dogs. Some examples of these are listed below. For ease
of reading, the dog's name is listed first, then breed, then
accomplishments.
Training champions
since 1978:
•
OTCH Gingerbread Am/Can UDT. (Obedience
Trial
Champion, Tracking Dog, Schnauzer)
• OTCH Calli Am/Can UDT. TT. (Obedience
Trial Champion, Tracking Dog, Belgian Shepherd)
• Jazzie Am/Can C.D.X. registered therapy dog (Cairn Terrier)
• Skye C.G.C. certified demo service dog (Cairn Terrier
• Am/Can Conformation Champion AG2, CD Amy CD. HC. NJC (Australian
Cattledog)
• Rescued dog: AG2 Colt OAC, OJC (Terrier-Dachshund cross)
• Rescued dog: U.K.C. Agility Champion AG2, U-CD Jette CD, OAP,
OAJP.EJC,OAC, RN, TN-N, CD-H: registered therapy dog and
service dog ( Lab )
• Rescued dog: AG1 Spike (French Bulldog)
• Rescued dog: UAG1 Madison NAC (Sheltie)
• Rescued dog: Awesome NAC (German Shepherd Dog)
• Rescued dog: UAG1
Magic OAJ, TN-O, CL1-R, CL2-H, CL3-F, Therapy Dog and
service dog (German Shepherd Dog)
• Caleb, Therapy Dog (German Shepherd Dog)
• Mick, Therapy Dog
(Australian Shepherd)
Lewie Reynolds
Lewie is a highly experienced dog trainer. Lewie was a Foster
Parent from 1996 to 2003 with nine becoming Certified Assistance
Dogs; five were raised from 7 weeks old, and 2 went to United States
Customs. Lewie is currently affiliated with FBI/AD and co-owns a
Chocolate Lab Splash that will be used in FBI/AD's breeding program.
Lewie also competes in Obedience Trials with Splash and says, "she
is so motivated and gifted and is a real pleasure to work with".
Lewie has also been responsible for training Caesar, Wilbur, and
Buddy in which Caesur and Wilbur have been placed.
Lewie has also rescued and placed five dogs with one going to
the Frankenmuth Lutheran Home. Lewie is also an evaluator for the
AKC Canine Good Citizen test and also received the Janet Trout
Memorial Award 2009 at the annual CDTC Awards Banquet.
Lewie's favorite pastime is teaching obedience classes and
seeing his students go on in the dog world and succeed in Obedience,
Agility, CGC and Therapy dog work. "I focus on educating the public
about positive dog training and how valuable a well trained dog can
be to change lives. I believe attitude is everything". Lewie is
continually asked to perform obedience and tracking demonstrations
and has done so at the Frankenmuth Dog Bowl by the Zehnder Family.
One of Lewie's lasting memories is when Bray and Chief passed
away. Lewie received cards from people all over the USA that he had
competed with, trained and helped. "I find that the people in the
dog world are happy, positive and motivated, and that is how I plan
to stay".
Lewie's favorite quote: "The best way to find yourself is to lose
yourself' in the service of others", by Gandhi.
Training champions:
Bray of the Day (Bray)
GSD Nationals 1999: (2) 1st Place Novice B
GSD Nationals 2000: (2) High in Trial, Open B
GSD Nationals 2003: 1st Place Veterans ; 2nd Place Open
GSD Nationals 2004: High In Trial
Invited and participated at the Eukanuba National Invitational
Obedience Championship Trials.
Bray was a Therapy Dog for 8 years and helped me with Foster
Assistance Dogs for 10 years.
Chief Semper Fi (Chief)
GSD Specialty 2006: 1st Place , High In Trial
GSD Nationals 2007: High In Trial
Chief took this 1st Place High In Trial the very first time in the
ring. before passing away prematurely at age 3 1/2 from Chronic
Kidney Failure, Chief's final show was High In Trial at the GSD
Nationals, Kitchener, Ontario.
Ulka Semper FI (Slade)
Lewie acquired Ulka from the Oregon Ohio Police Task Force. "I had
to make several trips to work with her and prove my ability to own
such a tremendous dog. Ulka served duty at Hurricane Katrina and her
expertise is in tracking.
Merrick Morehouse
Merrick comes to FBI/AD from both the dog and horse world. Merrick
is an accomplshed horse trainer with her experience coming from both
hands on training of horses and more formal training at Michigan
State University. Her education covers horse management, agriculture
technology to the applied sciences. Merrick is also certified as a
Resistance Free Trainer by Richard Shrake. She is also the owner of
Preferred Canine Training as a resource for dog owners and handlers
to learn valuable techniques to strengthen their relationships with
their animals.
Her knowledge and skills with dogs comes from both owning, rescuing,
and placing dogs of all breeds. Merrick has trained dogs that have
reached their CGC and Therapy Dog designation. Merrick's knowledge
and skills extend to canine care of up to 50 dogs and as a
veterinary assistant. She is a volunteer with our county
animal shelter and was given an award for 2009 because of her
efforts.
Merrick helps with various levels of training with FBI/AD's
assistance dogs and can be seen in public places working those dogs
as well.
Helle Kobmann
Helle brings 13 years of experience owning and working dogs with
her fondness towards agility. She has been an assistant trainer for
Diamonds In-The-Ruff Dog Training for the past 8 years. She has
taught pet dog classes as well as instructing beginning and
intermediate agility classes, which require discipline and technique
on both dog and handlers part.
Helle has put agility titles on various breeds and currently owns
and competes with two Border Collies (Tyler and Tegan) and a Spaniel
mixed breed (Taffy), who was rescued from the Westland Humane
Society. Helle competes in NADAC, UKC, and USDAA.
Helle is instumental with assisting in
the foster puppy and advanced classes, furthering the skills of
FBI/AD puppies and dogs.
Helle's Titles to date:
· VACHX Agility
Champion Daisy, NAC, CGC (German Shepherd Border Collie Mix)
· Seanie Boy, NAC, AKC Novice Jumpers,
UAGI, UAGII (Border Collie)
· UACH Ivan (Black Lab / Golden Mix)
· Millie UAGI (Lab-Chesapeake Mix)
· Quaya UAGI, UAGII (Australian
Shepherd)
· Tegan UAGI, UAGII, TN-N (Border
Collie)
· Tyler UAGI< UAGII, NAC, TN-N, NJC
(Border Collie)
· Taffy - we can't wait to see!
The Husband
Beth would like to thank her very supportive husband. Without him, it is hard to imagine this organization succeeding as well as it has.
Gary Spanski
Leslie Director of Operations & Kennel Manager