About The Trainer
"From the time I could crawl there wasn't an animal I wasn't interested in. If it flew, walked, hopped, swam,ran or galloped I tried (and sometimes
succeeded) to bring it home. I brought home some strange ones to the dismay of my mother with the ever faithful "He followed me". The one lie I continually
told my mother and was not punished for. Though all of my ramblings and collections the one constant was a dog. My dog followed me everywhere and
also supported my endeavors to fill our house with all kinds of critters. Spending this amount of time with my constant friend allowed me a lot of freedom
to wander, explore and learn about the world I lived in, and I lived in a world of animals. So began my life long education and understanding of dogs and
to this day it has not wavered."
Good Dog Training was officially founded in Colorado in 1983 while Lesa was working as a kennel manager, but she had been training dogs prior to that
under her own name. Her dog Thor was so well trained that many people began asking if she would train theirs. Thor was a mixed breed shelter adopted dog
with many problems not limited too biting people and dog aggression. "With patience, time and proper direction Thor ended up being one of the best working
dogs I've ever had and even won a couple of obedience competitions designed for mutts". He lived a long happy life until he died at 17 instead of the
euthanasia he was facing at the shelter.
While in Colorado Lesa attended college at the University of Colorado and received degrees in Biology and English with a minor in mathematics. She
also had the opportunity to work under what she still considers one of the finest veterinarians in the country and even today continues self study of animal
medicine, nutrition and behavior. She taught a course in veterinary technician medicine, surgery and x-ray technique to university students for some time
and trained veterinary technicians for two clinics over a period of several years. All the while continuing her study of what makes a dog a dog.
In 1989 Lesa was contracted by Fannin and Gilmer counties in northern Georgia to design, set up, implement and run an Animal Control program as
they did not have one in place. She worked as the only Animal Control Officer for both counties with her primary responsibilities being cruelty
investigation, confiscation of animals, court appearances to prosecute and designing the guidelines for future animal control officers there.
While doing so Lesa attended and completed courses at Columbia University in Animal Science.
In 1991, completing her contract in Georgia she moved back to Colorado and trained under some more experienced trainers to expand her knowledge and
abilities in regards to training dogs. She also had the good fortune to work with and train several of the police dogs for the Aurora Police Department,
including the Chief of Police's own GSD in obedience.
2003 took Lesa to Gulf Shores, Alabama where She concentrated on family companion dogs while continuing to compete with her own dogs. She also went
to work at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo keeping the wolves and avians.
She became certified by the AKC to train, test and award certifications for the AKC's CGC (Canine Good Citizen) and S.T.A.R Puppy programs and
promote their efforts and encourage all dog owners to work towards having their dog become Good Citizens.
As well as working with family companion dogs and preparing them for Good Citizenship, Lesa trains and competes with her own dogs and some
belonging to others, in AKC Obedience trials, Earth Dog events, hunting trials and the Conformation breed ring.
Lesa is a proud supporter of ARF (Animal Rescue Foundation) and works with them assessing and helping to rehabilitate some of the dogs that come into
their care. As well as helping teach some of their volunteers to become better trainers and evaluators.
She is as well a volunteer with ESRA (English Springer Rescue Association).
She also teaches "Good Dog" for Kids at local schools to help educate children about proper care and contact with dogs as well as the many fun things to do
with them.
If your school is interested in this program feel free to contact Lesa @ 251 233 2168 for details. The program offers printed literature from the AKC as well
as a handbook written by Lesa specifically designed for children of elementary school age.
Member: AKC, Ducks Unlimited, ESSFTA, AWTA, ACTBC
AKC Certified/Registered CGC and S.T.A.R. Trainer and Evaluator #19855
Supporter of ARF, ESRA, CHF
AKC Certified/Registered CGC and S.T.A.R. Trainer and Evaluator #19855
Supporter of ARF, ESRA, CHF
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