Debi brings an extraordinary, multi-decade background of credentials, competitive excellence, and advanced behavioral science to her clients. She has deep roots in the sport, competing extensively in Conformation in both the United States and Canada as a dedicated breeder and owner-handler since 2002, alongside her active involvement across diverse dog sports.

A certified, professional trainer since 2008, Debi is an honors graduate of the Animal Behavior College—where she now passes on her knowledge as an official Mentor Instructor—and the prestigious Karen Pryor Academy (KPA CTP #98753). She has also earned professional credentials through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers as a Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed (CCPDT-KA).  Committed to continuous education, her advanced coursework includes specialized certifications as a KPA Puppy Start Right instructor, extensive training in puppy temperament development, and the successful completion of over twenty advanced behavioral courses through the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy.  Debi’s specialized public safety credentials feature comprehensive training in Dog Bite Prevention, as well as specialized protocols for maintaining canine safety during human pregnancy, infancy, and toddler development.

To master the fundamental principles of operant conditioning at the highest level, she also spent four intensive weekends training exclusively with chickens at the renowned ‘Chicken Camps.’ This unique, advanced conditioning work strips away social bias and requires a micro-second precision of mechanical marking and reinforcement delivery—bringing an elite depth of training clarity that many handlers never achieve.

Debi has dedicated her life for many years to the art of  training, competing, and teaching.  Her students appreciate her patience, comprehensive behavioral knowledge and unwavering commitment to force-free training methods.  As a passionate, life-long learner, ongoing education remains a vital part of her daily practice.

An authorized instructor and evaluator for a comprehensive array of AKC programs, Debi regularly evaluates and instructs teams across the complete suite of national events, including Canine Good Citizen (CGC), AKC Fit Dog, Trick Dog, Farm Dog Certified, Temperament Testing, and the AKC Fetch and Retrieve tests.

Debi has spent years supporting the youth 4-H Dog Program, serving as an official judge, instructor, educational clinician, and as the County Superintendent of the entire program, where she successfully organized and hosted multiple 4-H dog shows. 

At home, Debi is an AKC Bronze Level Breeder-of-Merit in her personal breed, the Shih Tzu, which she has shown to multiple conformation championships in both the United States and Canada.

With a profound passion for studying canine anatomy and structural movement, Debi’s hands-on experience spans a diverse array of breeds she has personally lived with and trained, including Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Border Collies, Doberman Pinschers, Poodles, Cocker Spaniels, and Australian Shepherds. Her deep understanding of physical conditioning and animal partnership was forged early in life; she grew up on a cattle ranch in Montana, training young horses and successfully competing in the rigorous disciplines of show jumping and dressage—a lifelong equestrian journey whose intermission only occurred upon her recent relocation to Hawaii.