HAPPY TAILS RANCH

Nikki

Office MAnager

I have been with Happy Tails since 2014. I am the office manger at HTR. I used to be a vet tech and love working with animals. I am a mom of 3 human kids and 3 furry kids and they are all my life. 

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At Happy Tails I help the team ensure that your dogs are safe and comfortable while they are here with us. 

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Sarah

Agility, Obedience, Kennel Manager

My name is Sarah! I am HTR's kennel and board and train manager. I teach obedience and agility classes Sundays.

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In 2017 shortly after starting my first semester of college at the University of Louisville I rescued my border collie named Lilac. Lilac is my medical service dog and together we completed a fifteen month service dog training program in Kentucky.

Through my knowledge gained with this program I now train service dogs at HTR. 

Lilac and I currently train and compete in obedience, agility, nose work, barn hunt, dock diving, fast cat, and rally. We will soon be trying our hand (and paw!) at herding in the spring of 2021. 

Lilac and I look foreard to sharing our knowledge of the numerous sports we trial in with our clients!

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Li Like A Collie CGCA CGCU TKA CD RE RATM BCAT DJ

KRISTINA

Obedience, Rally, Nosework

 I have been training dogs since 2014 and competing since 2016. I specialize in competition obedience, rally, reactivity, resource guarding, clicker training, shaping and amongst many other techniques that I have gathered from my many mentors. I continuously learn new techniques to help whatever team that is in front of me. I love training and inspiring others to work towards their dreams and encourage people to want to show what their dog can do in any sport.

I currently have a German shepherd named Bane. Bane earned he’s CD Companion dog title under 2 years with scores 190+, all first places and he made it to the top 10 of German shepherds in the USA for AKC novice dog titles for high scores. Bane and I obtained CDX companion dog of excellent with all placements and being recognized as the #1 Open A GSD in the US in AKC for 2018. Bane was invited to the National Obedience Championship 2x for Novice and Open. Bane and I went onto the Rally ring Earning RACH, RM2, RAE2 with over 30 High combines and High Triple Q’s multiple placements and awards.

Bane and I have been invited every year since the rally novice title to the Rally National Championship. Bane was recognized as number 7 in GSDs by Front & Finish for the American Kennel Club Rally Master class earning 77 points on our Rally Master title and RACH title journey! Bane was recognized as 2nd GSD out of all, 7th in all herding breeds out of all in AKC Rally presented by Front & Finish! Bane and I are currently working towards the UD utility dog title and will see where the world takes us! Bane also competed in nosework achieving multiple 1st places and high in trials/class! 

Bane: RACH Shewana’s Handsome King CGCA, CGCU, TKI, CDX, RM2. RAE2, TDI, RATN, TDI, SNC, SNB, SNE, 

Tessa, a conformation Boxer, is the newest member of our pack. Tessa has been a great addition with different challenges. Tessa who was born in August 2017. Tessa earned her CD with all HIT (High in Trial) 1st place finishes with one score of 197.5/200. Tessa was recognized as 3rd top boxer

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Tessa: Cloud N Wilk’s Audacious Darling TDI, CGCA, CGCU, CD, RE, TKN

jaci

obedience, nosework, Website Manager

My name is Jaci and I am a special education teacher by day and dog trainer by night! I have been training since 2016. At home I have a German Shepard named Vera, and a Husky mix named Kain. I also regularly foster dogs for a local German Shepherd rescue. I became interested in training when I discovered the behavior theory behind training dogs is the same behavior theory you study to teach children and they both have been an integral part of my life since! I began looking into becoming a trainer formally when working with my Husky to get him through his many behavior issues. 

Vera is a certified therapy dog and has been my partnerin crime since I brought her home in 2015. Vera loves to visit my students at school with me and is a great ambassador for German Shepherds and therapy Animals. Vera and I are working towards our rally titles and currently have our RN and RI with goals to achieve our RAE and RACH before the end of 2021! Vera is a new convert to the sport of Nosework and has discovered that she can put her sniffer to good use to earn cookies. Vera and I are working toward her ORT for NACSW and training more intently for future Nosework goals. 

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Kain joined my family in 2016 from a hoarding situation in rescue. Kain is affectionately known as my Oklahoma mutt because he is a transplant from Oklahoma. Kain was from a hoarding situation and came to me with a plethora of behavior issues including separation anxiety, dog reactivity and people selectivity. Since working with Kain he has become a functioning member of my family and his separation anxiety is a thing of the past! Kain is an excellent sniffer and enjoys Nosework and competing with his sister. In August 2020 Kain earned his ORT for NACSW and we have hopes to earn a NW3 if we can ever get into a trial! 

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I am a firm believer that all dogs are capable of learning and training is an integral part of making any dog find their place within the workings and routines of your family.

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Rescued Royalty Queen Vera CGCA CGCU TKA RE ACT1 ACT2

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No Kain, No Gain CGCA CGCU TKI RI NC ORT

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TIFFANY

obedience, conformation

My name is Tiffany Grap, and I am one of the trainers at Happy Tails Ranch.  I have worked here for almost 5 years and I absolutely love working with the dogs!!!  I also got my first Boxer from owner, Amy.  Jewel is a conformation show dog and a breed champion. I decided to start showing her in obedience and rally as well because I love working with dogs. Jewel has earned her CGC title, beginner novice obedience title, rally novice title, and she has two of three legs towards her rally intermediate title.

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I love teaching and training obedience because it builds such a wonderful bond between you and your dog!! I love working at Happy Tails and working with all different dogs.

KarIn

Barn Hunt

My name is Karin Magnuson and I am thrilled to be joining the Happy Tail Ranch Family.  I trained my first dog when I was 16 years old. He was a shep / St Bernard mix my brothers and I found in the woods. As a teenager I spent the summer on my Uncle’s Horse farm, he raised Standardbreds for Harness racing trotters and pacers.  My job was to work the foals and years to halter leads and ground reining. I joined the Air Force after high school and spent a year at Lackland Air force base. In boot camp and tech school I volunteered to help with the military working dogs. I served 8 years between active duty and reserve time. 

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Upon returning home, I started working with the local animal shelter, as an adoption consultant/ admin. I did this for almost 3 years.  I left the shelter to become an Animal Control Officer and a Humane Investigator, which I did for 23 years. At the same time, I was working with a local trainer Marge Gibbs at collar and Leash.  Marge referred me to a local park district to teach classes there. I am still teaching classes today for over 25 year. My classes are Puppy, Basic and Advanced Obedience class, Beginner Agility, Intro to Nose work, Rally Classes, triball, Therapy dog, Trick dog, and a new class we call ruff and rally.

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I currently train my 3 Dobermans in conformation, obedience, rally, barn hunt, nosework, and have just started dock diving, and tracking with them.  My dogs have many titles and we enjoy going to trials most weekends.

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I am also a Judge and evaluator, for the Following, S.T.A.R Puppy, CGC, CGCA, CGCU, TRICK DOG, FARM DOG, AKC ATT TEST, and LURE COURSING ABILITY TEST (CAT). I am currently waiting for approval for TDI to be able to certify therapy dogs. 

Gena

Agility, Conformation, Obedience

I've been training and competing dogs in obedience for over 30 years. I've worked in shelters, dog kennels, animal hospitals and am a registered nurse.

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I started training and competing in AKC agility 13 years ago, titling 5 boxers to excellent and masters levels. It's a sport that I find passionate, rewarding and fun to share with your dog.

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I bred 4 boxer litters and show in conformation. I've taken many group wins as an Owner Handler. I also assist Professional Handler, Amy Bieri in the ring as well as ringside.

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Ch Happy Tail's Moment Of Trust CD BN RN OA OAJ NF ACT1

GCH JoKar's N Happy Tail's Blonde Moments DOM CD RE MX MXJ

Happy Tail's Blonde Ambition CD AX AXJ

Happy Tail's Bold Contender CD (2 CDX legs)

AX AXJ Bruin's Blizzard CDX (2 UD legs)

Frank

Retreival, obedience

I started training a male Sheltie in 1983. He got his CD in 1985, and CDX in 1986. The sheltie was being trained in utility but getting home at 10 and up at 5 was too much. So, I never showed him in utility. I had 2 other Goldens that I trained but never trialed. Life and work got in the way, unfortunately. Tyler my previous Golden got his CD with three firsts and 200 and HIT for the third leg.

I have been training dogs since about 1983, Tyler got 3 firsts, a 200 with HIT. Otherwise, the accolades are sparse. I have encountered a lot of trainers that I would classify as cooks, not chefs. My training style is best described as balanced. I do not believe purely positive is effective in achieving high levels of performance. Patrick my current golden is trained through utility and currently shows in Hunt tests. He went 4/4 in Junior Hunt tests to earn his Junior Hunt title!