Our Team
Kathryn Gordon, M.S.W., KPA-CTP, CPDT-KA
Kathryn Gordon, M.S.W., KPA-CTP, CPDT-KA has enjoyed training dogs since childhood. She has titled in Obedience, qualifying for both the Nationals and the Regionals, but she has focused on handling search and rescue (SAR) dogs, primarily in the area of human remains detection (HRD), nationally certifying multiple dogs in land cadaver and crime scene detection with both IPWDA and NSDA. Kathryn and her dogs have deployed on various cases in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. She stays current on research related to scent detection and canine behavior and training.
Since her social work days, Kathryn has enjoyed helping people learn new skills, so teaching people dog training is a great fit. She has taught weekly puppy and basic manners classes, as well as scent detection classes, since 2012—developing one of the first and most successful nose work programs in Michigan before moving to the Ann Arbor area. Kathryn’s students have had success at shows, winning many titles and awards. Over the past few years, Kathryn has been invited to give multiple full- and half-day seminars on scent detection and canine olfaction in Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina, and Florida.
Kathryn loves working with dogs and their people on behaviors that are creating difficulties in the human-animal relationship. She has successfully completed Dr. Susan Friedman's Living and Learning with Animals course and has completed the Aggressive Dog Master course with Michael Shikashio. She offers private lessons and behavior consults upon request. She has a special interest in behavior cases involving reactivity, aggression, and fear. She is also a certified AKC CGC and trick evaluator.
Kathryn currently partners with a Border Collie named Ffion in human remains detection and agility. Angus, her former SAR dog is retired from work, but they are pursuing a new adventure, along with Ffion--learning Freestyle!
Hanna Gould, B.S., CTDI, CCFC, KPA-CTP, FDM
I've always been passionate about animals, but my true love for dog training began when I got my fearful rescue dog, Roarie about 8 years ago. Working with her I have learned a lot, not only about dogs, but about myself as well.
Below are my accomplishments and certifications :
- Karen Pryor Certified Training Partner
- DMWYD Certified Trick Dog Instructor
- DMWYD Certified Canine Fitness Coach
- AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator
- AKC STAR puppy evaluator
Rebecca Bastien, CCTBS, CPDT-KA
Rebecca is an experienced dog care professional with a passion for canine behavior and body language and with expertise in dog walking, dog sitting, shelter work, and doggy daycare.
Since Rebecca started working with her rescued Doberman mix, Nirvana, with great success to address her fear reactivity, Rebecca has developed an interest in leash reactivity. Although her personal journey is nearing its end, Nirvana has made significant progress under Rebecca's guidance and patient approach, and is more confident and relaxed in a variety of situations, Rebecca continues her learning on the topic, assisting with reactive dog classes and cases, rapidly gaining expertise in the area.
In the future, Rebecca hopes to continue working with Nirvana on scent work and agility training, allowing Nirvy to reach her full potential as a well-rounded and accomplished canine companion and Rebecca to learn more about sport dog training.
Rebecca holds an Associate's degree in Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Her commitment to the well being of the dogs under her care, informs her practice, making her a welcome addition to our team.
Yoko Ichikawa, CPMP, CCFC
Yoko Ichikawa has been passionate in canine musical freestyle with her current 4-legged partner, Kei the Bichon Frise, since 2010. They have received numerous first places and special awards in competitions, including multiple High Technical Merit and Artistic Impression Awards, High Scoring Freestyle/In-Sync Awards and many other awards given to the highest scoring team. In 2016, they earned their Perfect Dance Partner title, the highest title in the World Canine Freestyle Organization (WCFO). They also earned their Veteran Grand Champion title in Rally Freestyle Elements (RFE) in 2019. Kei is the first Bichon that has finished these highest titles in freestyle. Yoko was honored to be a nominee for one of RFE’s annual special awards, the Storyteller Award in Honor of Michele Pouliot for the years of 2019 and 2020, reflecting her peer’s recognition for her excellence in musical interpretation and choreography through her storytelling or theme-based routines.
Yoko and Kei also enjoy competing in Rally-FrEe in REF and finished their Grand Champion title in 2019. They have been awarded many first places and Rally-FrEe Top HAT (High Scoring Heelwork Attention Teamwork) Awards. They are one of the very few teams that have earned their titles with the distinction of Magna Cum Laude, which is given to the teams that earned a title with the average score of 190 or higher out of 200, not just once but multiple times.
Kei is also known as an excellent trick dog, and he is the first Bichon that has earned the Trick Dog Champion title in Do More With Your Dog (DMWYD).
Yoko has also competed with Kei in obedience, rally, agility and nosework in the past.
Yoko has taught classes, private lessons and workshops in musical freestyle, Rally-FrEe and tricks since 2016. She pays close attention to unique strengths and needs that each of her students and their dogs has, and helps them continue to progress based on positive training methods. She loves to share with her students her knowledge and experiences not only in technical aspects of each dog sport, but also in mental/psychological foundations toward excellent performances in general. She especially focuses on how to build dog’s positive attitudes and joyfulness when the handler and the dog are working as a team. Her goal is to help her students have the happiest dog in training and competition.
In addition, she has enjoyed her life with dogs as a certified dog massage/reiki practitioner since 2010, as well as a DMWYD’s certified Canine Conditioning Fitness Coach (CCFC), to help the dogs of her clients and students stay healthy and perform safely and comfortably.
Debbie Harrison
Debbie, entered the world of agility back in 1992 with her first Dalmatian, “Autumn.” Since then she has loved, trained, and competed with another Dalmatian, 2 Jack/Parson Russell Terriers and 8 Border Collies in the following disciplines with the noted titles & accomplishments.
- AKC agility – MACH 2 & MACH 4, multiple qualifications & attendance at AKC Agility Nationals
- CKC agility – AG.MX’s, first Dalmatian & Jack Russell Terrier to achieve this title
- UKC agility – UACHX’s, first Dalmatian & Jack Russell Terrier to achieve this title, with multiple HIGH IN TRIALS
- NADAC agility – NATCH’s, first Dalmatian to achieve this title & be invited to the North American Agility Nationals and place 2nd overall
- USDAA agility – MAD
- CPE agility – CATCH’s, first Dalmatian & Jack Russell Terrier to achieve this title
- AKC/CKC/UKC Obedience – CDX’s
- Rally Obedience (AKC) – RE’s (Rally Excellent)
- Flyball, - FDGCH’s
- Earthdog – ME (Master Earthdog)
- Conformation – AKC Ch
- UKC GrCh with:
- 2 Best in MultiBreed Show, 1 Best in Terrier Group
- 19 Best of Breeds
- 3 UKC Total Dog Awards (2 at the UKC Premier)
- 2001 - #1 Top Ten Point earning JRT, went on to win Top 10 competition to become the #1 Jack Russell Terrier for 2001
For a total of over 400 (and growing) titles! Debbie’s Dalmatian, “Dallas”, and Parson/Jack Russell, “Houston” are each the most titled dogs in the history of their respective breeds, with over 100 titles each. Houston has also been recognized by the Parson Russell Terrier Association of America as a Versatility Champion and he was the first dog inducted into the PRTAA Agility Hall of Fame.
These titles serve to represent the joyous, interactive and FUN relationship Debbie has with all of her dogs. This is also demonstrated by her dogs’ work ethic, speed and genuine desire to team with Debbie in whatever dog sport they are training or trialing. Debbie believes that relationship value & relationship building are key building blocks in a solid training program.
Debbie obviously enjoys training dogs in multiple dogsports and disciplines! Her goal is to build a dog handler team (with her own dogs and for her students) that is confident, communicative, connected, and collaborative. This is achieved via positive reinforcement training and techniques coupled with motivation/drive, enthusiasm, understanding, clarification, and most of all FUN!!! She enjoys working with all breeds/types of dogs and analyzing the training methods/techniques that most benefit each dog, handler and dog/handler team.
Debbie has attended numerous Clean Run Agility Camps and trained/studied agility with many national and international experts including Linda Mecklenburg, Nancy Gyes, Ann Braue, Karen Holik, Julie Daniels, Stacy Peardot Goudy, Stuart Mah and Pati Hatfield Mah, Jen Pinder, Wendy Pape, Dana Pike, Steve Frick, Webb Anderson, Jeff & Chris Bolton (from England), etc., etc. Debbie considers continuing education in the field a must and continues to attend annually multiple seminars, conferences, and workshops to stay updated on the latest training methods and techniques that could benefit her students and their canine partners.
Debbie is also a certified Agility Instructor from Julie Daniels’ White Mountain Agility School.
