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Our Staff |
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Byron Clary Denise Paquette Christine Fitzpatrick Tasheena Lenti Laurie Cottier Ingrida Robinson Mary Berry Kathy Mulej Kathy Weaver |
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All of our instructors have been long time Family Dog students and are required to graduate from our apprenticeship program (which takes at least a year). Why? Because we want only the best, most knowledgeable team members to help you train your dog! We also want a consistent teaching philosophy throughout the programs that we offer. This means that as you progress from our programs you can know that the methods and training philosophy are consistent which helps your dog learn faster and without confusion. To read about our philosophy, visit Our Training Methods.
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| Kathy Lang ~ President &Training Director - | |
Kathy Lang, President & Training Director of Family Dog Training Center, has been teaching canine classes since 1977. Kathy is an internationally recognized trainer, instructor, competitor and author who has trained and titled some of the top dogs in the country. She co-wrote and co-starred in one of the nation’s first videotapes on dog training, “The TLC Way of Training Your Dog” with the famous actor, Howard Keel. Kathy writes for various dog publications and conducts training seminars and workshops throughout the country. Before she “went to the dogs” Kathy worked in the field of corporate communications for more than 10 years.
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| Byron Clary ~ Senior Instructor - | |
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Byron joined Family Dog as a student in 2004 with his Rottweiler, Madison. As he progressed through the levels of home obedience and competition obedience classes, it was obvious that Byron had a special gift for training dogs and working with people. At the invitation of Kathy Lang, Byron participated in and graduated from the year-long Family Dog apprenticeship program. Byron is now a highly popular home obedience instructor at our Reber Ranch facility. (Please note: Only Byron is endorsed and approved to represent Family Dog Training Center at Reber Ranch. Reber does occasionally rent their facilities to other individuals who advertise themselves as dog obedience trainers but they are not connected to Family Dog.) | |
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| Denise Paquette ~ Senior Instructor - | |
 Denise’s involvement in
dog training goes back to her teenage years, beginning with the
family’s Miniature Schnauzer. Her current canine family includes
Beanie, an 8 year old Yorkie/Maltese who has his CGC and Therapy
Dog certifications and 4 year old Daisy, a Maltese, who is working
towards agility, rally and obedience titles. Denise is a very
popular home obedience instructor for Family Dog, and finds that
her non-dog profession as the owner/director/teacher of a preschool
and toddler program reinforces and complements the primary skills
needed when working with animals: patience and consistency.
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| Christine Fitzpatrick ~ Senior Instructor - | |
Christine has been a lifelong animal lover with a special affinity for dogs and horses. Christine's first experience training animals started with two dressage horses. Christine also grew up with dogs, including a special Rottweiler, Athena. When Athena passed away in 2001, Christine adopted Tucker and Max, two Rottweilers from Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue.
Following extensive research for a dog training facility for Tucker and Max, Christine chose Family Dog Training Center. She felt comfortable with Family Dog's overall philosophy and approach, and was impressed with the professionalism. Tucker became a certified Delta Society therapy dog and Kathy Lang invited Christine to join her instruction apprenticeship program. A year later Christine started teaching home obedience classes at Family Dog. When her son, Spencer, was born in 2006, Christine took some time off from teaching and retired from her full-time job as a corporate paralegal so she could concentrate on being a mom. Another Rottweiler, Bruno, joined the family in 2008 when Max passed away. In 2009, Christine returned to her position as a home obedience instructor for Family Dog. In addition to training dogs, raising Spencer and relishing her family life with husband, Bill, Christine enjoys spending time outdoors, quilting and scrapbooking the multitude of pictures she takes of her family and her animals. Also in 2009, Kitty, a Champion Belgian Tervuren, joined the Fitzpatrick household. Kitty and Bruno are currently training for competition obedience, rally and agility. Christine's current pack includes a cat named Hannah and a horse named Diesel (both of whom come when called -- most of the time!). | |
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| Tasheena Lenti ~ Instructor - | |
Tasheena is the newest –
and most enthusiastic – member of our teaching staff. Along with
her 3-year old Bichon Frise, Snowy, they are quickly becoming
popular home obedience and rally obedience instructors. Tasheena
started training Snowy at Family Dog in puppy class and became
hooked. She finished a year-long apprenticeship program in 2009 and
is beginning to earn Snowy’s performance titles.
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| Laurie Cottier ~ Senior Instructor - | |
 
Laurie has been involved in the dog world for more than 25 years,
owning and training a wide variety of breeds, including two
Rottweilers, a Bouvier des Flandres, Tibetan Terrier and Coton de
Tulear. Laurie first started teaching obedience and therapy dog classes for Family Dog in 2004 and then took some time off to concentrate on her family, which includes husband, Chuck, daughter, Cody, and grandson, Grayson. Laurie is an AKC Certified Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and a member of APDT, Delta Society, ARC and ACC. Mocha and Cisco, two of Laurie's Rottweilers, were certified Delta Society therapy dogs who, along with Laurie, received national awards for their work as Therapy Dog Teams. Laurie is thrilled to be back at Family Dog teaching home obedience, CGC and therapy dog classes, while also training the newest member of her pack, Tazzie, an 18-month old Coton de Tulear. Laurie passes her love of dogs and people on to her students, and she delights in watching her students’ relationships with their dogs deepen throughout their time in class. In her "spare" time, Laurie is a gourmet cook and cooking instructor for Williams Sonoma.  |
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| Ingrida Robinson ~ Senior Instructor - | |
Ingrida started taking home obedience classes with Kathy Lang when Kathy was still teaching for the parks department in North Seattle17 years ago. Ingrida and her first Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, Hoover, went from home obedience into competition obedience classes earning his CDX title with many high scores and High in Trial at three successive National Specialties. Sophie, another PBGV, followed in Hoover’s pawsteps earning the coveted Utility Dog title in only seven attempts, and also multiple National Specialty High In Trial awards. PBGV Abraham has his UD title and participated in the AKC National Obedience Invitational Competition in December 2010 in Long Beach, CA. Now retired from obedience he is mastering Freestyle moves where he can continue to strut his showmanship. Caffrey the PBGV has his CD title and is now helping Ingrida learn about agility!
The furriest member of the Robinson household is Boddington, a Polish Lowland Sheepdog who is getting ready to show in the more advanced obedience classes. Family Dog students love to have Ingrida substitute teach their Home Obedience, Rally and Competition Obedience classes. Ingrida loves to see the students' dogs progress through the classes and try the various sports offered by FDTC! 
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| Mary Berry ~ Senior Instructor - | |
Mary has been involved training dogs with Kathy Lang since 1985 when she took her first Belgian Tervuren to a beginning obedience class taught by Kathy Lang at the Bellevue Humane Society. After progressing through the home obedience classes and into competition obedience, Blaiz’n became one of the first Belgian Tervuren to earn the newly created UDX title. Bronz’n was the first Belgian Tervuren to earn the Rally Advanced Excellent title. He earned his Tracking Dog title at 11 years of age! Pilot started his AKC obedience career earning his CD in three shows with a High in Trial. He has the Canadian and United Kennel Club Utility Dog titles, including High in Trial awards. Traveller will soon make his obedience debut. All of Mary’s dogs are shown by her and earn titles in many dog sports, including obedience, rally, agility, tracking and herding. Her dogs are also breed champions in the US and Canada, achieving several Best of Breed and group placements.
Earning titles and winning awards are meaningful achievements for Mary, but the greatest joy and satisfaction is the communication between dog and handler. Seeing novice handlers start to learn to communicate with and to teach their dogs positive behaviors is one of the best things about being an instructor at the Family Dog Training Center. In Mary’s other life she is an elementary school librarian and the grandmother of three delightful grandchildren. | |
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| Kathy Mulej ~ Senior Instructor - | |
 Kathy Mulej was
introduced to Kathy Lang in the mid-1980s when her daughter, Suzy,
was training her Dalmatian for competition obedience and 4-H. When
Suzy left for college, Kathy took over the dog training, putting a
CDX on her “daughter’s” dog and then going on to earn a breed
championship, Utility Dog, Tracking Dog and Rally Excellent titles
on her Dalmatian, Cooper. She is now training her newest
pack member, Cowboy also a Damatian.Kathy’s experience teaching 4-H groups led her to apprentice with Family Dog and she is a popular home obedience class substitute instructor and tracking class instructor | |
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| Kathy Weaver ~ Senior Instructor - | |
 By Dick Capello In her classes, Kathy shares her practical training knowledge and enthusiasm for performance dog sports such as canine musical freestyle, heel-to-music and treibball. Her training philosophy includes reinforcement techniques—marking a desired behavior or response with a verbal word or a clicker, followed by a reward. In teaching classes her approach is that every dog and handler team is unique and readily offers alternative methods for students to try when a particular method does not work for a team. Whether teaching a competition class or a fun class like tricks, Kathy’s primary goals are to strengthen the relationship students have with their dogs and to help them achieve their objectives. Kathy challenges students to be creative in their training and, most importantly, to enjoy working with their dogs. Her motto is “Every training session should be a good time for you and your canine.” | |
By Dick Capello
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| Barb Vasey ~ Office Manager - | |
| Barb took her first class at Family Dog in the mid ‘90s. Over the years three of her dogs participated in training at Family Dog, with her Golden Retriever also earning his CGC. Barb’s professional career has been varied, including years as office manager for a large emergency vet clinic and time as a small business owner. Barb and husband, Joel, moved to California for a few years, then moved back to Seattle and back to Family Dog with their long-haired German Shepherd, Kadee. Kadee is working toward obedience, rally and agility titles while also serving as half of Family Dog’s new office team, greeting visitors when they come to see Barb in the office. | |
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| Megan Miller ~ Instructor - | |
Megan’s involvement with dogs started as soon as she could walk. After dragging a family Labrador around the house she promptly joined a local 4-H group and with the guidance of two wonderful leaders and the support of her patient parents, she was able to get a solid foundation and understanding of dogs and basic training. Her passion for dogs continued as an adult by volunteering at a local animal shelter, and she gained experience working with dozens of dogs of different breeds, sizes, and personalities. She says one of the most rewarding parts of volunteering was helping eager families find the perfect pet, and watching that dog leave with his or her forever owners.
When Jack, one of Megan’s foster dogs, became a permanent member of the household she turned to Family Dog Training Center, The training philosophy was one Megan understood and enjoyed! On invitation, Megan was thrilled to further her dog training education as an apprentice, and is honored to have the opportunity to help people with their canine family members. Megan’s canine family includes Jack and Lulu two mixes she adopted from the shelter. Both are currently training for Competition Obedience and Rally Obedience. Megan shares her home with her supportive husband Nick, and their cat Tai. | |
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| Cheryl Jackson ~ Apprentice Instructor - | |
Cheryl has been interested in dogs since she was a young girl pouring over her AKC dog breed poster to identify the dogs she saw around the neighborhood. After having two herding mix dogs that were getting older, she researched breeds and decided that one of the Belgian Shepherd breeds would be the dog for her. During this research she also discovered that there were many other things to do with your dog besides basic obedience and conformation, like competition obedience, rally, agility, tracking, herding and more.Cheryl started training her dog Colt, a Belgian Sheepdog who is currently 2 years old, in Puppy Manners at Family Dog when he was 11 weeks old. They then advanced into competition obedience classes and she was quickly hooked on training with her dog, adding rally and agility classes later on. Cheryl started going to Fun Matches for her and Colt to practice being in the ring, and then she volunteered to steward at a number of Family Dog Ten Minute Tickers for rally and various levels of obedience to gain more ring experience. She also has trained as a CGC helper and has assisted in one CGC test so far. Cheryl loves doing things with her dog and learning how to work as a team and understanding his body language to better communicate with him. Cheryl and Colt recently completed their 3rd Rally Novice leg to get their RN title, and look forward to more advance titles in the future. Cheryl entered the FDTC Apprenticeship program earlier this year and is excited about her new adventure of learning how to teach others how to train and enjoy their dogs. She knows that a well behaved dog is a welcome addition to the family and wants to help others achieve that goal with their dogs. Colt is also learning new things being a Demo dog, and seems to enjoy the experience. | |
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| David Jackson ~ Apprentice Instructor - | |
Growing up David’s family had a variety of mixed and pure breed dogs. In his adult years David acquired a female husky herding mix. He decided to pick the more independent one, Mara, after doing a temperament test he found in a book. Reading several training and behavior books he trained Mara to be a good all-around family dog. Mara wasn’t exactly happy when David met Cheryl and they married. She wasn’t the alpha girl anymore but the increased treats and attention won her over.
Several years later they acquired her biddable female littermate, B.C. As the dogs grew older David and Cheryl started researching breeds that incorporated traits they both liked in dogs. They met breeders, several breeds and visited dogs of all ages. They decided on Belgian sheepdogs as a breed and were lucky enough find one, Colt. They had thought about training classes with the older dogs but never actually took a class. They started training Colt when he was 11 weeks old, over two years ago, starting in a puppy manners class at Family Dog. Since then with Colt and Cheryl; David has been attending Competition Obedience, Rally and Agility classes. David has helped in various Family dog events over the years like exhibition booths, workshops, CCG helper training, Ten minute tickers and stewarding. He is the Family Dog technical support person and updates the website regularly. David is now in the middle of the Family Dog apprenticeship program where he looks forward to being able to help people learn how to train their Family Dog. David has recently added a Belgian Tervuren to his family and plans to do as many things as he can with him in the coming years. | |
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A personal note from Kathy: It's hard to believe that I've been training dogs & teaching people for more than a quarter of a century! Over the years I've helped thousands and thousands of people train their dogs. I've met so many wonderful people who've touched my life. It's particularly rewarding when returning students tell how they remember coming to class as a kid with their parents and family pet, and then they introduce me to their own children four-legged family members! I've accomplished a lot of great things with my own dogs over the years, earning breed championships, obedience, agility, rally, herding and tracking titles as well as numerous national awards, but the most rewarding part of my involvement with dogs comes from the teaching side. I truly love helping people better understand their canine companions. That understanding allows handler & dog to develop a unique relationship that in turn can lead to the achievement of many wonderful personal goals. I also want to acknowledge the outstanding group of folks who comprise the Family Dog staff. They are a delight to work with & I'm so very proud to have them be part of the Family Dog family!
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This website and its contents are owned by Kathy Lang and Family Dog Training Center-- unless otherwise noted.
Nothing from this site may be used without the written permission of Kathy Lang, Family Dog Training Center or their respective owner. © 2000-2011
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