For over 25 years Lori has been breeding German Shephers and for over 9 years, Labrador Retrievers. The strong breeding lines she has produces dogs that are physically sound, intelligent, have excellent tempraments, and provide reliable, trustworthy working K-9's. This combined with Lori's motiviational style of training, teaches the dogs to think and enhances their strong drive to work and please the handler, thus making more successful K-9 handler teams. It is because of this success that her group training classes for the public and
Lori began developing her methods and techniques when she started training dogs in obedience and competing in trials in 1975. She also competed in conformation and was a professional handler. She then persued her interests in tracking and schutzhund.
Studying many training theories led her to base her own theories on Gottfried Dildei's method and her narcotic detection training on Jack Robicheaux's method. Through experience, Lori has modified those theories with her own to come up with what she presently describes as a motivational style of training. This theory is based on motivating the dog to work and helping them understand what is being asked of them. Lori is often heard saying, "If it doesn't make sense to the dog, it's just another theory." This is important as she believes in helping the dogs be thinkers, independent of the handler yet obedient to the handler's commands. This is valuable in particular when working a SAR or police K9, allowing the dog to be a true partner in the work environment, taking initiative when necessary because they understand what is going on and they know their boundaries. However, it can be equally valuable as a quality for sensitive detection dogs, mobility dogs, hearing dogs, and therapy dogs.
Lori has advised and helped law enforcement agencies put K-9 programs in place. This has included fundraising and grant writing suggesions, writing and developing standard operating procedures and policies, and providing certification and annual recertification for the handler and the K-9. She has had frequent media interviews and has written articles on on issues concerning the use and training of service dogs, search and rescue dogs, and dogs that are trained for narcotics detection, tracking/trailing, agility, and apprehension. She is often asked and does give seminars and demonstrations for many organizations, events, schools, and agencies.
*For more on police K-9's see the Police K-9 link below. For questions regarding SAR , therapy, or other service dogs , write to Lori by using the Contact Us page. In the near future, a website dedicated to these will be available through the Helpful Links link.