About Crossroads Canine - A Lifelong Passion for Dogs

In the early 1990s I grew up watching a show on TV called "The Adventures of Rin Tin" which was an old black and white TV show that they still aired re-runs of in the late 80s/early 90s. I wanted a dog just like Rin Tin Tin so my mother finally agreed to buy me a German Shepherd. I was 7 years old when we picked out the little American bred female German Shepherd puppy I named "Flash" and this was where my dog training interest began. She would accompany me on my bike rides, long walks, as well as my frequent horseback rides, trotting along next to the horse as I rode. On one occasion her presence was a deterrent and prevented two men from abducting me as a child. This had a lasting effect on the way I viewed dogs and their importance in our lives. She is part of the Crossroads Canine logo in honor of her memory.

     When I was 11 or 12 years old, I was gifted my second dog, Alex who was Schutzhund titled by his previous owner. The protection dog sport of Schutzhund has since been changed from its original name, which translates in English to "Protection Dog", to what is now the sport of IGP/IPO. I was determined to learn how to train a dog to be like Alex. 

At around the age of 14, I studied any books both old and new that I could acquire about advanced dog training, protection dog training, military dog training programs, and canine behavior. I learned a lot of valuable information from those books and the skills I developed from that education are still an asset to me today. The first online source of training working dogs that I discovered was Leerburg which even back then was a wealth of information. I must give an abundance of credit to Leerburg as I learned a great deal from the extensive study and application of their training methods early on in my dog training journey. I also was a diligent student of canine behavior to better understand dogs as a species. At around the age of 16 and after a couple years of dedicated study on training working dogs, I purchased a puppy to raise and train as a Personal Protection Dog.

Pictured Above: My first two German Shepherds. Photo taken in 1997.

"Alex" (SCH II), the first fully trained working dog I owned, pictured on my left and "Flash" on my right.

At the age of 18, I joined a local Schutzhund dog training club.

From around 2005-2012 I was a hobby breeder and competitor in local conformation shows. I was also training horses at the time. Many of which I purchased from local auction houses, and I typically selected from the group of horses that would mostly otherwise be purchased by the other buyers at the auction to sell to slaughterhouses. I would pick out the horses I had room to take in and that showed promise as being good riding horses, spend a couple months or so working with them and breaking them to ride, then re-home them as riding horses.

I enjoyed the challenge of the process and was happy to see the horses go off to new homes and live out good lives.

Around 2015 I started taking in dogs with behavioral problems that the owners were no longer able to manage. I primarily took in dogs from "working breeds". They would either live out their lives with me or I would place them into new homes after I spent some time training them and modifying behavioral issues.

I have been training dogs now for 20+ years.

I'm knowledgeable in various training methods, and I'm experienced with many different breeds of dogs with most being large working breeds. Through my experience over the years, I am better able to work with dogs as individuals. I am still a lifelong student of dog training and continuously pursue advancing my knowledge in training along with all aspects of proper dog management and care. I have studied numerous different training styles from some of the top dog trainers across the globe. Due to being knowledgeable in various training methods and "training styles", I am better equipped to communicate with and train dogs on an individual level. What works for one dog may not work for another dog. The relationship between dog and handler is the foundation to everything. I teach and shape behaviors through positive reinforcement. Corrections are as minimal as possible and are always done very fairly to the dog so the relationship and trust is not damaged. After years of experience combined with extensive study of various methods, I have found this to be the best method to achieve having a well behaved, confident, happy dog while strengthening the bond between dog and handler. If you are interested in our Dog Training Services, contact us for more information on our various dog training options and programs. For many years I never provided my services to the public, only taking in dogs with behavior problems and helping a few people with issues they were having with their dogs. I now offer my services and experience to the public through the founding of Crossroads Canine, a multi service dog company, in 2024.

I want to provide you a service in which you will be happy with the results! Whether you are buying an already trained dog from us, a young puppy, or bringing in your own dog for obedience training or behavior modification, I want you to be comfortable with the 

process. I make sure you have the information and resources you need to be successful with your canine companion.

Whether you select our raise and train package, complete a private training session package, or your dog is here for a board and train, we remain supportive of our clients and customers!

If you are interested in a Raise and Train Program, Board and Train Program, or Private Lessons, we offer several options customized to suit your needs. From Reliable Obedience and Trick Training to Task Training!

Contact Us Today!

Available Trained Adult Dogs

Started Puppies and Raise and Train Options

Contact us so we can help you select a puppy from one of our current litters to train for you OR get matched with one of our trained adult dogs to suit your specific needs and lifestyle.

Click Here for Available Trained Dogs!

Click here to go to our available puppy page!