Casa del Mango

Dogs, Cats, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, Fish, Farm Animals
No pet too big or small - we take care of them all!

I am a DVG Certified Training Director (Schutzhund), as well as an American Kennel Club Certified Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. I train with the Dog Obedience Training, Et Cetera club in Southwest Ranches, FL and am a member of the American Belgian Malinois Club, United Schutzhund Clubs of America, The GSDCA-WDA and the Collie Club of Greater Miami. I also volunteer for Malinois Rescue.  

I have been training dogs for since 1990, beginning as a volunteer at the Monmouth County SPCA in Tinton Falls, NJ. That experience was so amazing and enlightening, that it inspired me to major in Animal Behavior studies at College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, ME. During those college years, I adopted a collie-keeshond mix from the MCSPCA named Murphy - he was my first "very own" dog (though we had dogs in our family for years) and a great dog to "learn" on... 

After graduating college, I began working as a Veterinary Technician and got my first Belgian Malinois, Mango. She was the one who really got me hooked on "dog stuff"  -- being a typical Malinois, she needed a "job," so through her need to "work" I ended up getting hooked on training and showing in performance events - Competitive Obedience, Agility, Herding, Conformation, Water Work, Tracking, Protection, you name it - Mango and I tried it! I spent almost 7 years training with Shelly Leibowitz at Shelly's School for Dogs in Freehold, NJ, and thank him for all the knowledge he shared with me. He was a big reason Mango and I were so successful in the ring. 

Mango and I competed in Schutzhund, earning our first title of a "BH" (a temperament and basic obedience test - on and off lead) within 6 months of starting training, and when I retired her a few years later due to Idiopathic Epilepsy, she was at an "FH" (an advanced Tracking degree) level of training. We also easily earned a Canine Good Citizen and a United Kennel Club Companion Dog title with an average score of 195 (maximum score 200) , and kudos from the judges who praised Mango's obvious enthusiasm and natural flashiness - she loved to work!

Right now, I have two Belgian Malinois, a Rough Collie and a German Shepherd Dog in my home. One Malinois, Maiya, is our resident couch potato, though she occasionally makes an appearance at Belgian Shepherd Dog events, and does Herding with my husband (her person). Our other Malinois, Zorro, competes in the Conformation Ring and I have begun titling him in Rally Obedience. We also train in Schutzhund Obedience and Tracking and Herding. He also does Mobility Assistance for me. Our collie, MacLeod is retired from the show ring, but serves as a working Service Dog for me as needed, and earned his share of titles in the ring. Kiri, the German Shepherd, is being groomed to replace MacLeod as a Service Dog, as well as competing in Conformation and Performance events. She recently started Herding training at only 5 months old, and should do well in the German Conformation Ring as well as Schutzhund. A big Thank You to my mentor Shelly Leibowitz for importing her for me. 

I am also President and co-founder of the Dog Obedience Training, Etc. (D.O.T.E.) club that meets in Southwest Ranches and various other training locations.