My Philosophy

I consider myself an advocate and preservationist for the Manchester Terrier as a breed, companion and part of history. My goal is to preserve and support the breed through participation in the sport of purebred dogs, breed rescue, and active membership in the AKC-recognized parent club for our breed. Through these activities, I work to support other Manchester Terrier breeders. Our dogs are pets who live in our home and happen to compete in dog shows, earthdog, lure coursing, animal assisted therapy and many more activities. You can read more about my views on what makes a responsible breeder here.

Spanning three decades in the breed, we have worked with other like-minded breeders in the Manchester world such as Regal, Fwaggle, Burmack, and Rustic Lane Manchester Terriers. We have also mentored a number of new breeders.

Dogs have been my passion since I was a young girl. In the late 1980s, my mother was the only approved foster home for the city dog pound. Our house had a steady flow of rescue dogs that she would rehabilitate and assist the city in rehoming. Eventually she became interested in training and showing purebred dogs. From the age of 5, I began to show and train dogs with her. When I was 10, she bought our first Toy Manchester Terrier named Princess, soon followed by Kitty. At age 13, I was showing the dogs my mother bred under her Bleu Springs name and others began asking me to train and show their dogs.

Despite our success in the show ring, my mom never left her passion for rescue behind. For more than a decade, she devoted herself to rescuing Manchester Terriers across the United States, while also striving to produce healthy and sound Manchester Terriers for the show ring and companion homes. My mother instilled a sense of responsibility in me for not only my own dogs, but for those who have been abandoned by others. My dedication and devotion to man’s best friend has dictated my career choices, the causes I support and how I choose to spend my time outside of work.

My degree may be in Public Relations and Communications, but I have spent a lifetime learning from those who came before me, listening to mentors and studying everything dog related that I could get my hands on. I am an AKC certified Canine Good Citizen (CGC) evaluator, which means I can help owners train dogs for the CGC test and I am approved to administer the test and certify dogs to receive AKC CGC titles. I have written for dog publications and acted as media spokesperson in two dog related industries. My interest in dogs includes but is not limited to canine structure, therapy, service work, behavior, genetics, reproduction, training, husbandry, rescue, legislation, ownership and general care.

Professional Experience

I graduated with a degree in Communications and worked in public relations for the American Kennel Club (AKC) for a number of years. The AKC is a not-for-profit organization that is best known as a registry for purebred dogs. It also donates millions of dollars to charitable causes that help dogs every year, promotes responsible dog ownership, advocates for the rights of dog owners, and regulates sporting events for dogs (conformation shows like Westminster, companion events like the National Agility Championship, and performance events like field trials and earthdog tests).

I never really left the AKC behind. Five years after leaving the organization, I was asked to become an AKC Delegate. The AKC Delegate body governs the AKC along with the AKC Board of Directors. In fact, the AKC Board is selected from the delegate body, by the delegate body. In 2015, I gladly accepted the honor of becoming an AKC Delegate.

I currently work in public relations/communications for a 501(c)3 non-profit that breeds, raises and trains service dogs. In my current role, I manage all media relationships, write various communications, coordinate awareness and fundraising events, act as spokesperson, manage social media accounts and much more.

Volunteer Activities

Volunteering and giving back to the community is very important to me. I spend much of my free time working on projects that help others, both human and canine.

Animal Assisted Therapy Work

I began pet therapy work with my Ibizan Hound Alydar and continue it today with my Manchester Terrier Solar. We are certified through the Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs and Crisis Response Canines, two non-profits that evaluate, test, train and qualify owners and their well-behaved dogs as therapy dog teams. Alydar and I made two visits per week to patients at two local hospitals. Alydar was one of the few therapy dogs that was admitted to work in the emergency wing of the Morristown Medical Center and today, Solar follows in his pawsteps there.  We work to cheer up and ease the stress of staff, patients who are receiving treatment, and families who are visiting or waiting to hear about the status of loved ones.

Our Seeing Eye puppy

In 2023, my husband and I are raising a puppy for The Seeing Eye. It has been a rewarding experience to raise a puppy for The Seeing Eye and prepare him to help someone with blindness or low vision to lead a more independent life.

AKC Parent and All-Breed Clubs

American Manchester Terrier Club (AMTC) is the parent club for the Manchester Terrier breed in the United States. Parent clubs are sanctioned by AKC and its members are considered the guardians of the breed. Our role is to work towards responsible breeding and ownership. Members must adhere to a code of ethics. I have been a member of the AMTC since 2001 and have helped in many different areas.

In 2014, I was extremely honored to be presented with the club’s AKC Outstanding Sportsmanship Award in recognition of my contributions to the breed and club.

In 2017, I was selected to judge the 2nd annual Manchester Terrier of the Year competition at the AMTC National and cannot describe how surprised and humbled I felt to be given this honor. Then in 2021, I was voted by the membership to judge the AMTC National Specialty Sweepstakes. It was such an honor!

Today, I serve on the AMTC Board and I chair three AMTC committees, administering the rescue, health and breeder mentor programs.

• Rescue chair: My mother re-vamped and ran the AMTC Rescue program for roughly a decade. She retired from showing, breeding and the club. A short time later, I became the rescue chair and once again updated and re-structured the rescue program to what it is today. I work, with the help and support of fellow breeders and Manchester enthusiasts, to help Manchester Terriers in need, no matter where in the United States they may be.
  
• Health chair: I am the health chair for the AMTC and my primary focus is on providing information to support research and help breeders produce healthy dogs. In 2010, I joined an international team that formed to advance the study of juvenile dilated cardiomyopathy (JDCM), a heart disease that is relatively recent in our breed’s history. In 2013, I took the lead role on that team.  By working with breeders, researchers and veterinarians, we have raised awareness about the disease with breeders and in the winter of 2015/2016 we raised $15,000 in funds from the Manchester Terrier community for research. In 2016, the gene mutation responsible for JDCM was located and we now have a DNA test for breeding stock. Click here for the latest news.
  
• Breeder Mentor Chair: This is newly created position and committee that was created with encouragement from the American Kennel Club, the help educate aspiring and active dog breeders who are looking to learn more about how to produce healthy and sound Manchester Terriers. In 2023, I created the first webinar for breeders about health testing available to Manchester Breeders.
  

Ibizan Hound Club of the United States (IHCUS) is the parent club of the Ibizan Hound. From 2008- 2023, I served as the club’s rescue chair for the only rescue dedicated solely to Ibizan Hounds in the United States. With the help of many dedicated Ibizan Hound breeders and owners, we helped around 100 Ibizan Hounds. Since June 2015, I have served as the AKC Delegate that represents IHCUS. In 2016, the IHCUS membership awarded me a 2nd AKC Outstanding Sportsmanship Award.

Schooley’s Mountain Kennel Club (SMKC) is a local dog club established to help promote responsible dog ownership and host events for dog owners such as its annual dog show and annual agility competition. I am a member and currently serve as the secretary. I have also served on the Board of Directors. I have also administered the club’s veterinary scholarship program which donates to students from NJ who are studying in the field of veterinary medicine. In the past, I have taught show handling classes (for owners looking to learn how to show their dog) to benefit the club.

The New Jersey Federation of Dog Clubs (NJFDC) is a not-for-profit organization that represents the interests of dog owners in the state of NJ. It is a club of clubs, in the sense that members are not individuals but clubs of dog owners such as SMKC. Each member club elects delegates to represent their group to the NJFDC and I am one of those delegates.  I currently represent SMKC as a delegate to the NJFDC.