Veterinary Nurse/ Animal Groomer/ Obedience Instructor/ Puppy Preschool Instructor and Teacher/ Parti and Phantom Poodle Breeder.
I was born and raised in Port Macquarie. Went to school there and grew up on the beaches and riding my horses all around the then small country sea-side town where no one locked their doors.  Went to Pony Club and local Shows and had lots of other ’horsy’ friends.  Back then  there were dirt roads to ride down and plenty of green open paddocks to go adventuring.
I purchased my first show dog 30 years ago and started showing, competing in obedience trials and breeding dogs, first with English Springer Spaniels then Belgian Shepherds.   This is when I also began grooming dogs. A very experienced lady in Newcastle taught me how to clip and groom the various breeds of dogs and cats. All the family would pile into our Campervan and go off to Dog Shows/Trials most weekends. It was a lot of fun and we enjoyed travelling to see different places.
I started working as a Veterinary Nurse in 1986 at aVeterinary Hospital where I also did the Grooming. I was a Vet Nursing full time at that practice (until my retirement this year 2014) and loved looking after both the animals and the great clientele we had there.  I have known a lot of our clients for over 20 years and many of their pets all their lives.
I started running Puppy Preschool  Classes in 1990 after attending many seminars held by leading Australian and overseas experts on dog behaviour and training. I trained and became a qualified Obedience Instructor with the Royal NSW Canine Council (Novice to UD) and I am a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc.
My Preschool usually ran  two evenings a week for 5 weeks with classes for puppies 8 to 18 weeks of age. I limit my classes to approximately 7 puppies so that they and their owners receive maximum attention and I must say was is a very rewarding part of my job.  To see owners come in with a new puppy - unsure how to handle the new little bundle and  finish preschool knowing how to train the puppy plus be well informed on all health issues. They also learn how to solve problems like Toilet Training, biting and mouthing, jumping up, digging, chewing - all the things puppies do but need to be taught the correct behaviours to settle into their new homes smoothly. Owners need to learn to set boundaries and become leaders as well as learn the techniques of positive reward based training. Classes were relaxed and due to the fact we have gorgeous baby puppies bouncing around, always fun and there was plenty of laughs. This then becomes the basis of a life time association with the owners and the dog and some of my ‘puppy preschoolers’ are now ten years old plus - they never forget those fun times we had in puppy class.
 I also helped with Behavioural Consults in the clinic and enjoy the challenge.  It is not only puppies that require guidance and training but often older dogs and their owners need help with problems such as separation anxiety, leadership issues, boredom/environmental enrichment, barking, socialisation or aggression. I assisted the owners with strategies and training to solve the problem and make life more rewarding for both pet and owner
I have been breeding bi-coloured Miniature Poodles for over 14 years and my poodles are my life and interest. For many years I trained and trialled them successfully in Agility - travelling to compete in trials and having fun with like-minded people. I do not run a breeding kennel and my dogs are my companions.  I ensure that every puppy goes to an excellent home with people who care as much as I do about their well being. Quite often this starts a new friendship with owners emailing me photos and updates regularly and when possible  they come back to visit. Quite a few of my puppy owners have come back to purchase a second puppy from me because the first little gem was so much fun and easy to live. Some have three Antiquity progeny!
So as you can see, most of my life has revolved around animals in some way and quite frankly I would not have it any other way.