Carol & Dana each have over 25 years of training experience teaching group classes, private instruction and behavior consultations. Their experience includes rehab and placement of shelter dogs and working with local rescue organizations. They have a broad base of personal experience with a variety of breeds and breed types over the years, from sighthounds (Whippets, Greyhounds and Borzoi) working breeds (Dobermans) herding breeds (Australian Cattledog, Sheltie) Sporting (Irish Setter) and mixes (cockapoo and a samoyed/sheltie cross). Over the years their dog family has included smaller breeds, Rat Terriers Benny & Higgins, Dana's mixed breed former shelter pup named Howard (pictured below) and a Beagle/Rat Terrier named Stanley. Our training philosophy.

"Carol, Thank you for the special training both in class and at home. You and Dana have that special touch, kindness, patience, and cheerleading ability that make you one in a million." -Ann Gillen, DVM

The Journey

Both Carol & Dana were long time members of Lilac City Dog Training Club in Spokane, where Carol began her instructing career and over many years served as an officer, board member, and assistant director of training. She helped develop their first Puppy Preschool curriculum.

Carol has been involved with training and showing dogs in both conformation and obedience since 1974. She began assisting in 1977 and teaching in 1978. Dana started instructing and assisting for LCDTC in 1989. During the 80's they were founding members of the Inland Empire Doberman Pinscher Club and Doberman Rescue. While following every show circuit competing in AKC conformation and obedience and hanging ribbons on the wall was once a focus, Carol & Dana started traveling great distances to spend weekends at behavior seminars instead of show rings. Captivated by the study of canine behavior, they found their calling: teaching families to better understand their pets. They abandoned their choke chains and military style "forward & halt" training in favor of motivational no-force methods and haven't looked back.

Carol & Sonny take 2nd place in Open and High Scoring Doberman at an AKC trial. Sonny 1981- 1993

LCDTC awarded Carol with the Ken-L-Ration Medal for Good Sportsmanship in 1994. Carol & Dana instructed for The Family Dog from 1992-96. During the years when the greyhound track was operating in Post Falls, ID, they provided occasional foster care for retired racing greyhounds through the Eastern Washington Chapter of Greyhound Pets of America. They continue to work closely with area rescue organizations and occasionally provide foster care/rehab for dogs with special needs for SpokAnimal C.A.R.E.

In the community In 1991, Carol began work with area hospitals to research and draft protocols for the first pet-assisted therapy programs which continue to this day. Carol's whippet Rio was the first dog to set paw in a Spokane hospital in 1992. They were well-known by staff and patients at Deaconess, Sacred Heart, St. Luke's Rehabilitation Institute, Shriner's Hospital for Crippled Children and Sunshine Gardens elderly care center, where Carol & Dana provided pet-assisted therapy visits with their whippets Rio, Spinner, & Eddie for many years. Carol served as a certified evaluator for the Delta Society in Renton to provide Pet Partners® aptitude and temperament screening for potential pet-assisted therapy animals until 2001. Carol enjoys providing classroom presentations for Spokane area schools, clubs and libraries as part of her "day job" as humane education director for SpokAnimal C.A.R.E. She presents bite safety seminars for letter carriers, meter readers and other delivery professions and has spoken at emergency medical conferences and for the Washington Animal Care & Control Association.

Rio - Spokane's first pet therapy dog. 1987 - 2000

Credentials

In 1995, Carol completed the required endorsement test and was accepted as a member of the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors (NADOI). Carol and Dana are professional members of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT).

Carol & Higgins

In March of 2004, Carol and Dana took a 4-hour Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers certification exam and passed, becoming two of only four trainers in Eastern Washington to earn their Certified Pet Dog Trainer titles. The other two CPDTs are also DITR instructors, Cathy Fox and Lisa Lucas! In April of 2005, Carol was accepted as an Associate member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and is completing the application process to become a certified member.

In print

Carol's other interests are website design, graphics and illustration. Carol is the illustrator for "Forward" - the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructor's quarterly newsletter and commissions illustrations for east coast clicker trainer Virginia Broitman including the video cover and chapter headings for video, "The HOW of BOW WOW," which won the 2004 Dog Writers Association of America competition. in 2006 Carol completed cover artwork for Virginia's newest DVD in the series: "The Shape of Bow Wow." Several of her illustrations appear in Terry Ryan's new book "Coaching People to Train Their Dogs" and she provided illustrations for Dani Weinberg's new book "Teaching People, Teaching Dogs - Insights and Ideas for Instructors."

Carol is also SpokAnimal's web designer and the editor of their quarterly newsletter, "Companion Animal News."

In 2006, Carol was interviewed by "Dog Fancy" magazine writer Cherie Langlois for an article entitled "Winter Games" featured on page 17 in the November 2006 issue. She was also featured in the book "Careers with Animals" by Andria Pavia.

On screen In January of 2007, Carol's Beagle/Rat Terrier mix Stanley was chosen by North by Northwest productions to play the role of "Buster" in a Lifetime movie channel production "The Holidays" which was released Nov 6 and out on DVD. It will air on the Lifetime channel on Dec. 22 at 9PM. "A Dog. Two Kids. A Nanny & A Loveable Con-Man Unwrap The True Meaning Of Christmas" Available on pre-order from Barnes & Noble < Shown at left, actors Abby, Brant, Stanley and Dave Coulier in a shot from the movie.

"The Holidays" is a story about 2 homeless kids, a homeless dog and people coming together in time of need. It's not a story about a dog per se' but the dog takes you from scene to scene and he guides the viewer to the various settings introduces each of the human characters. Stan's training and social skills were put to the test as they were on set for all but two days of filming over the course of a 3 week shoot. Go here to see photos of his movie making experience! See Stanley's interview on Luken's at Large on KXLY, Monday April 2nd, 2007

In September of 2007 Carol was again contacted for movie work for The Golden Door. Stanley was requested to play the role of "unconscious dog in an elevator." His training challenge this time around was to play a dog whose leash was caught in an elevator who must be resuscitated via CPR and mouth-to-snout by lead actor Joseph Cross. Go here to see the trailer! Carol on-set for the Golden Door keeping the group busy between takes. Several of our instructors' and students' dogs appeared in the film. We're always keeping an eye out for that special student for future projects!   At right, Rachel Leigh Cook and Joseph Cross with Charlie, Ranger, Tabby, Gretchen & June. >

Stanley with actors Joseph Cross, Sam Pancake, and Andrew Elvis Miller, who played Stan's owners. Carol and DITR assistant Laura Felgenhauer "wrangled" a variety of dogs to play in various scenes in the movie featuring the lead's sister Cate the "dog walker" played by actress Rachael Leigh Cook. Great photos courtesy of Steve Navratil, Ranger's owner.

Carol & Benny on a classroom visit.

DIAMONDS IN THE RUFF Carol & Dana opened Diamonds in the Ruff in 1996 with the goal of offering positive, dog and people friendly training for Spokane's pets and their whole families. Their goal is to teach not just the mechanics of training, but provide instruction that helps their students develop an understanding of how dogs learn and how they view the world, and educate our canine friends using positive, motivational methods. Carol is an avid clicker trainer. She continues to be amazed at the power of operant conditioning and the connection that develops between canine and human as the two learn how to learn together.

Making training fun. "Hi Dana, First of all, we REALLY enjoy your classes! Your lively, entertaining instructing style makes the information easy to understand, remember—and fun! Although we already thought Sammy was the cutest, most brilliant and lovable puppy in the world (I’m sure you’ve probably noticed how enamored we are of him), the things we are learning at Diamonds In The Ruff are helping give us a better understanding and deeper appreciation of Sammy and our relationship with him. The training and daily practice is providing a fun, new dimension to the bonding experience I think we might otherwise have missed out on. I think all young couples should first try using the basic principles you are teaching to raise a polite, respectful, well-mannered puppy BEFORE they try raising kids of their own. It is too easy in America today to inadvertently ingrain our kids with an insidious “sense of entitlement” that can become destructive to their families, relationships, and to themselves. Training Sammy has required John and I constantly examine and communicate—and come to agreement on—our expectations, methods and discipline. - Annie & John Edwards"

Dana and the best little dog ever, Eddie. Pet Therapy dog extraordinaire. 1992 - 2003 He did everything with style.

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