Bio
I have been training and competing for several decades in a variety of sports including Hunt Tests, Field Trials, Nosework, Agility and Rally. My first love has always been competition obedience. I have been fortunate to win the AKC National Obedience Championship four times with three different dogs. All my dogs have earned placements at Nationals. My dog Tyler won the World Cup and was First-Runner Up. All my current dogs have earned OTCH’s, multiple High-In-Trial and High-Combined awards, wins and placements at Regionals, as well as numerous perfect 200 scores.
I find training endlessly fascinating. Figuring out how to be a better communicator with each of my dogs is a never-ending challenge that I whole heartedly embrace. I love solving training puzzles. It’s what has kept me in the sport for so many years. I especially love the incredible relationship developed with my dogs through training and competition.
Although not currently practicing, I am a Physical Therapist and a Canine Rehabilitation Therapist. These days I’m an instructor at FDSA and own a Boarding Kennel. I’m passionate about teaching and sharing what I have learned over the years. Watching students grow and succeed is incredibly rewarding.
In my spare time I love hiking and playing with the dogs, running, practicing yoga, meditating and spending time with friends. I enjoy writing blogs and working with my friend Laurie on our Canine Connection Podcast.
Current and Upcoming Courses
OB195: Creating Confidence in Your Obedience Dog
Most dogs are not innately confident. Especially when it comes to obedience. A sport that is not inherently self-reinforcing. A sport where dogs must learn to perform complex ...
February 1, 2026
OB305: Fronts & Finishes: From Foundations to Fabulous!
There are lots of fronts and finishes in obedience! Fronts and finishes are incredibly complicated. They consist of many pieces that all need to come together. Because t...
February 1, 2026
OB440: Utility Fun - Putting the Pieces Together
Utility IS fun!! In this class, I deconstruct all the exercises into manageable pieces. Each piece is taught and maintained like a trick. This makes the ex...
February 1, 2026
OB480: Train to Trial
How do I get the same performance in training and in the ring? That is one of the most common challenges in competitive sports. It is something everyone struggles ...
April 1, 2026
OB485: Step it Up: Advanced Heeling for Competition
In this class we will be challenging the dog AND handler to step up their game! We will use fun games to build and maintain drive, engagement and precision. When heeling is we...
April 1, 2026
FE405: Thriving Under Pressure
There is no escaping it. Our dogs will be under pressure in the ring. So let’s prepare them for it! Many people are not aware that the majority of errors in ...
June 1, 2026
OB315: Balancing Motivation & Precision
Dog training is like balancing on a tightrope. We want our dogs to be happy, engaged and motivated. Yet we also need precision which often leads to a loss of enthusiasm. It’s ...
June 1, 2026
OB215: Competition Heeling Part One - Fundamentals
Great heeling is a pleasure to watch. Dog and handler moving together as one. The dog is happy, animated, joyful and confident. Heeling is a dance that should express jo...
August 1, 2026
OB355: Open Foundation Fun!
Open Obedience Foundation Fun! It’s time to move away from thinking of obedience as serious. An open run is really just a long chain of pet tricks! Breaking the exercis...
August 1, 2026
OB375: Enhanced Engagement - Building Competition Skills
Most dogs know how to do the exercises. They even have a foundation in engagement. But when they compete, things often fall apart. Competition requires another level of engage...
August 1, 2026
Contact information
Have a question about an upcoming course taught by Petra? Not sure if your dog is suitable for a specific class? We welcome you to contact instructors by email to make sure the course is suitable for you and your dog.
