Professional and Personal Service

For Dogs and Their Owners!

Meet the Trainers

Christine Grove Williams | Cheyenne Williams | Melissa Simpson | Leah Seely | Rick Wiersum

Christine Grove Williams

Christine has over 20 years experience working with dogs professionally in the area of training and behavior problem resolution, including 15 years experience working in a Veterinary setting. Christine is a AKC C.G.C. Evaluator and AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Class Instructor. Christine’s K-9 Service first opened it’s doors in March 1999.

Christine's areas of special interest are dominance/aggression, anxiety related cases, and the relationship between children and dogs.

Endorsement by the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors - provides an assurance of knowledge, skill, and positive training methods. www.nadoi.org

Christine offers service to the greater Grand Rapids and Ionia areas. (MI)

A high level of professional and personal ethics is upheld at all times. Christine offers personal caring and attentive service for discriminating clientele. The emphasis is always on customer satisfaction and quality, not quantity.

Professional Affiliations

The Association of Pet Dog Trainers www.apdt.com

Medallion Rottweiler Club www.mrcrottweiler.org

Midwest Bullmastiff Fanciers Club http://clubs.akc.org/aba/regional/midwest/regmw.htm

National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors (membership & professional endorsement) www.nadoi.org

Canine Good Citizenship Evaluator www.akc.org

Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce www.lowellchamber.org

Paw's Unlimited-Grand Rapids Dog Training Club

Professional and personal references are available upon request.

Cheyenne Williams (Exercise Enrichment Specialist)

When Cheyenne became the proud owner of his first Rhodesian Ridgeback in 2004 he realized the importance of early obedience training, socialization, and the need to provide adequate exercise for his companion. (meeting the dog’s mental, emotional, and physical needs)

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is an energetic breed and Cheyenne wanted to provide a variety of exercise options that he and his companion could enjoy together. Offering a variety of options provided for more mental stimulation, less boredom, promoted a teamwork attitude, and has enhanced the bond between handler and companion. It is also important to Cheyenne that his dog be in optimal physical condition, as they compete together in the sport of lure coursing.

Cheyenne offers a new service option to our clientele. He will help you find ways to meet your dog’s need for exercise and mental stimulation, while strengthening your relationship. Treadmill training, biking, roller blading, weight pulling, and use of a lunge line are among the exercise options currently being offered for consideration.

You may want to visit the following links that outline the importance and benefit of exercise.

Lure Coursing Event Slide Show

A photo show of Cheyenne competing with his dog “Sulawesi’s The Trixter SC CGC” (call name = Xaos) in a lure coursing event, where Xaos earned the title of Senior Courser.

Links:

http://www.pedigree.co.za/index.php?section=5&item=0

http://dogshealthinfo.com/excersize/proper-exercise-for-dogs-natures-dictates-and-mans-desires/

Melissa Simpson

CPDT: Certified Professional Dog Trainer by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers
AKC Certification: Canine Good Citizen Evaluator Training certification: Animal Behavior College
Other education: Masters in Business Administration – Grand Valley State University
Professional Affiliation: APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers)
Special interest: adolescent dog behavior issues and reactive behavior while on leash

Melissa has a special interest in working with adolescent dogs. This age group of dogs often frustrates owners – they have quickly outgrown their puppy cuteness and are often jumping up, stealing items, and pulling on their leash. Melissa’s goal is to work with dog owners to help them understand how to use positive reinforcement training methods to establish communication with their dog, eliminate unwanted behaviors, and develop a well mannered companion dog.

Leah Seely

CPDT Certified
AKC Evaluator
Operator of Grace's Place Rescue Organization
Lengthy History Of Working In Veterinary Practice

Leah Seely has been working professionally with dogs for ten years. She acquired her knowledge and experience through years of working in the veterinary setting, the animal rescue field and with local trainers including Christine Grove. Leah currently enjoys teaching puppy and basic obedience classes as well as conducting puppy orientations for new pet owners, seminars, breed selection, temperament evaluation, and private consultations. Leah believes a truly happy well trained dog is one who is sound in body, mind, and spirit. She views training in a positive reward based manner and recognizes that each individual dog has specific needs that must be met and understood in order to achieve success between human and animal. Therefore, her main goal is to instill benevolent leadership skills and teach clear understanding of core principles and concepts to pet owners in order to keep a pleasant home environment and to keep pets in their homes and out of rescues and shelters. Areas of interest include behavioral issues of shelter/rescue dogs, fear-based issues, and the roles that nutrition and overall health play in a dogs behavioral development.

Leah is a fourth generation Boxer-lover and shares her home with her beloved Boxer, "Grace", as well as her hound mix "Hunter", 2 cats, a fish, and last but not least, her better half Mark- who helps her keep newest member of the pack - rescue dog "Patrick", (a Dachshund) from trying to take over the world with his can-do tenacious attitude. Holistic and alternative canine care is also a main area of focus and interest in her spare time.

Rick Wiersum

Rick has been a dog lover and owner all of his life. He realized the importance of training early on having German Shepherds in his pack. He has been employed for the last six years as the lead on training, behavior, and enrichment for a local animal sanctuary.

He developed and implemented a training program designed for a volunteer based organization and shelter environment. He also developed an enrichment program that has been a national ASPCA model for shelters.

Rick believes in using positive reinforcement to shape/mold a dogs behavior. He believes a well trained dog makes for a happy dog and dog owner. He acquired his knowledge through experience working in animal rescue, working with trainers, and attending workshops with Dr. Patricia McConnell and Dr. Emily Weiss.

Rick’s special interests are working with dominant/ aggressive dogs, fear, anxiety and other stress related aggressions. He enjoys assessing dogs for temperament and aggression, and giving in home consultations and basic training.

Christine's K-9 Service

(616) 868-0057

This website created and supported by Hauptli Enterprises.