Karen Anderson
Beginner through Advanced Obedience
 When Karen was 9 years old, a neighbor who competed in obedience, mentored her. Since then training dogs seems to have always been a part of her life.
In the early 1960’s Karen began competing in AKC shows in breed and obedience. Through the years, she has trained and competed with many different breeds, earning numerous titles and awards on her dogs through out the United States and Canada. She is also an AKC Obedience and Rally judge.
Karen has been teaching obedience classes for over 15 years and has been on our staff since 1995.
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Sue Hahnen
Conformation
Sue has been in professional dog activities for over 35 years and in the pet wholesale/retail business for over 25 years. She is a breeder (having bred over 100 Champions) and exhibitor of Irish Setters since 1967 and is still actively showing.
Besides her Irish Setters Sue has handled many other breeds and has judged a number of Sweepstakes in different breeds to include National specialties. She is an honorary member of the Land O’ Lakes Kennel bluc, a member of the Irish Setter Club of Minnesota, and since 1967 a member of the Irish Setter Club of America.
Sue has been teaching conformation class for over 25 years and enjoys sharing her knowledge with all her students. Expecially beginners starting out, seeing them progress with time, and watching them put their first point on their dog and on to their championships. Being a successful breeder and handler adds to her credibility with her students and they enjoy the camaraderie it brings to the learning process.
Sue says, “There are few mistakes the dogs make, for most part errors are with the owner/handler. It isn’t long before they learn how easy it becomes when they connect the right way with their canine friends. It’s pure enjoyment on all accounts to see the process work”.
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Mary Moran
Conformation/Small Breeds
 Mary has shown dogs for over 40 years including Collies, Shelties, Afghans, and Whippets. She has also shown Italian Greyhounds and Chinese Crested. Most of her experience has been with Miniature Pinschers.
Mary also has judging experience doing all breed matches, futurity and sweepstakes for several breeds, and point shows for the Australian Shepherd Club of America.
She has conducted training classes for many years at Show Quality and we are now very happy to have her on our staff.
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Denise Nord
Puppy Kindergarten, Clicker I & II
 Denise lives with her 5 Beagles and has been a dog owner her entire life. She competes with her dogs in conformation, obedience, tracking, agility and rally. Her beagles have earned High In Trial in obedience, group placements, Awards of Merit in the AKC breed ring, 2 UKC Bests in Show and regularly appear in print ads, store displays and commercials. She is also an ASCA (Australian Shepherd Club of America) obedience and tracking judge, and a Canine Good Citizen evaluator for the AKC.
Denise has been an instructor since 1990, a charter member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and has been a Certified Pet Dog trainer since the program began in 2002.
Her goal is to create a great human/canine relationship using dog and people friendly training methods.
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Linda Schindler, CPDT
Basic Manners
 Linda started working with dogs in competitive obedience 30 years ago and soon added showing in the conformation ring, which she continues to do. She has always owned Irish Setters and currently lives with 2 Irish and 1 Mini Longhaired Dachshund.
She started training and competing in agility 12 years ago and has been teaching that sport for 8 years.
Linda became interested and started teaching Puppy and Basic manners classes in the fall of 2001. In the Spring of 2002 she attended the Dog Academy at the SPCA in San Francisco which concentrates on ethology, learning theory, training, and problem behaviors in dogs. She is a member of a variety of canine organizations, one of which is the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. The APDT is the first organization to create a system of certification for canine trainers. In November 2002 she became the 11th trainer in Minnesota to become certified. While she loves training and competing with her own dogs, she sees the most urgent need for education as a preventative to the behavior problems that cause people to give up their dogs.
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Peg Thomas
Puppy Social Hour/Small Dog Play Group
 When a grooming shop opened up a half block from her St. Paul home, 11 year old Peg spent all of her spare time there. Working with dogs and puppies was her passion. During her teen years, Peg learned how to groom and show Poodles while working at an active show kennel. Peg was also a Junior Handler. She explored the world of competitive obedience, training dogs for others, and went on to become a Certified Master Groomer and competitive grooming contest winner. Peg is certified with International Pet Groomers’ Association and is a member of the National Dog Groomers Association and Minnesota Professional Pet Groomers Association.
Peg currently lives with her champion Portugese Water Dogs and rescue White German Shepherd mix. She has been breeding and showing PWDs since 1986 and also competes in obedience and national water trials. Peg is a past president and member of the Portuguese Water Dog Club of the Twin Cities and the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America. She is also a Wisconsin representative for the PWDCA.
Peg worked as a vet tech in a private veterinary practice for 15 years and has owned and operated a grooming and boarding operation for over three decades. She is currently an employee at Pet Junction and has been assisting in the Puppy Kindergarten classes for over 6 years. Peg is excited about offering Pet Junction’s newest class, the Puppy Social Hour and Small Dog Play Group..
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Jim Shea
Conformation
 Jim has owned, bred, and shown Samoyeds in Conformation (and even some in obedience) for more than 20 years. He has instructed Conformation classes for approximately 15 years and has handled various breeds such as Rottweilers, Dobermans, Akitas, Great Danes, Newfoundlands, Miniature Pinschers, Etc. He has produced and shown multiple American and Canadian Champions, Sweepstakes Winners, the Grand Futurity Winner in 2000, Group Placers, and Group Winners. He has also Judged miscellaneous Conformation Sweepstakes, miscellaneous A and B Matches, and has held handling seminars for various breed clubs.
Jim is a member of Land O’Lakes Kennel Club, Samoyed Club of America, and the Samoyed Association of Minneapolis-St. Paul, in which he has held numerous officer and board positions.
He is a firm believer in training for conformation at an early age starting as early as 10 weeks. “There is no such thing as too much puppy socialization for dogs and people”.
Jim’s goal is to someday become an all-breed judge.
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Carol Wirkkunen
Beginner Obedience
 Carol became interested in dog training when she adopted a Belgian Sheepdog six years ago. She knew nothing of his background, but it was obvious that he needed training since she couldn’t even hold on to him when taking him for a walk.
Carol started attending obedience classes at Pet Junction. Beginner, then Intermediate, and on to Novice. By then she was hooked and decided showing a dog in obedience would be fun.
Domino (her Belgian Sheepdog) has gone on to earn his CD and CDX degrees and is currently working on untility. Carol also has a border collie who has earned her CD and CDX degrees.
Carol is working and instructing with Karen Anderson in the Beginner Obedience Classes. She is also working with the Intermediate and Open Classes as well.
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