Congratulations on your winning book, The Business of Dog Training: How to Succeed as a Professional Dog Trainer. Non-writers/artists often ask this question.  Why did you start creating?

I have been a traditionally published author since 1970 when my first short story was published. The Business of Dog Training is the second half of the program that I created and taught at two universities as an Adjunct Professor (retired).

In my career which spans about 60 years, I have met many dog trainers. For various reasons, some were successful and some failed. I want to help anyone who wishes to go into the dog training business, and those already in the field to be successful. This is why I developed the university program and subsequently, wrote the book.

Tell us about your experience and expertise, and how this relates to your entry.  What target audience did you write for, and why?

I started as a dog trainer while still in high school. When I attended college and studied psychology and education, I realized that the methods of training dogs used at that time did not benefit the dog’s physical and mental well-being. I began experimenting with positive reinforcement-based training before it was a recognized method of training.

When the field of animal behavior became recognized and accepted, I became a certified animal behavior consultant with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, (IAABC) specializing in dogs and cats.

As a behavior consultant, I saw how some dog trainers could not solve training problems because they did not recognize that the problems were not training issues, but behavior problems caused by other circumstances. Therefore, I wrote my book to try and help dog trainers understand the differences and to help them succeed. If the dog trainer is successful, the dog and the dog’s owner benefit.

My target audience is very general. It includes high school students who aspire to become dog trainers, people who want to make dog training a retirement career, those who have started a business, and even those people who are curious about the field.

What prompted you to submit this specific entry?  Why do you think it struck a special chord with the public and the judges—and with you?

The reason why I submitted this specific entry is simple.  It is my latest book that was published during the time period allowed for entries. I think it struck a chord with the judges because as dog people, they realized how important the book material is for trainers and would be trainers.

How large a part have dogs played in your personal and professional life?  Was there a particular dog that sparked your interest in interacting with the public?  Tell us about this special dog, and/or the dogs in your contest entry.

I do not remember a time in my life that I did not live with or own a dog and a cat. The first dog that brought me in the public eye was a mixed breed named Pal. I taught him everything that I knew at the time. I was about eleven or twelve years old when we got Pal.

Each year our community had a dog show for kids and one of the categories was “trick dog.” I taught Pal many special tricks, even to jump through a fire hoop and a hoop covered with paper. He won the trick dog category just about every year. Pal and I also performed in the ninth-grade talent show at school. It was about that time that I started training dogs for other people for a paltry fee of 50¢ a lesson.

As I gained experience, I wanted to do something real with my dogs. I trained dogs for personal protection, drug detection, and hunting.  I never killed anything. I just wanted to find the birds.  I raced a team of huskies, showed in conformation and obedience, then I found what I was looking for--K9 search and rescue.  I have been active in SAR for over 40 years.

What part have people played in your association with dogs?  Family?  Friends?  Do you have any favorite writers/bloggers/media or graphic artists?  How have they influenced your career?

There have been so many special people I cannot pinpoint one. Some of my clients have become lifelong treasured friends, as well as some of my SAR teammates. My love of people is just as strong as my love of animals. My work with animals has given me friends all over the world.

When you consider both your personal and professional canine-related achievements, which one of each stands out the most?  And why? What is the driving force that sparks your work?

This again is a difficult question to answer. I am deeply grateful that I have helped hundreds of people have a good life with their pets.  In doing so, the pet owners keep their pet instead of giving them up because of behavior problems. I also feel strongly about the SAR work that I continue to do. I have been able to help units around the world solve training problems. One of my books specifically addresses this topic. By having a reliable dog, the SAR units have been able to save lives.

What ongoing or future canine projects do you have planned?  Are they personal (cuddling your favorite pooch or volunteer work) or professional (selling articles and books, training, dog shows, or conducting medical research)?

At this point in my life, I plan to continue to help people with training/behavior problems with their dogs and cats for a few more years. I will never stop writing because it is the best way I can reach people to help with their pet related issues. I do write articles as well as books.

My blog site, for the most part, is strictly a brief review of scientific studies that relate to animals. I realize that many people do not have time to review scientific literature, so the purpose of my blog is to bring what I feel is important information to my followers’ attention.

What would you recommend to those peers who wish to enter your winning category in next year’s contest? 

I think that an entry should be a topic that appeals to a wide range of people interested in pets. While specific or limited topics may help some people, reaching more people offers a greater benefit.

To conclude this interview, what thoughts would you like to share?

Being a successful writer takes time and practice. Being traditionally published takes patience to find a publisher or an agent, and to not become depressed or give up when you get rejections. Just as important is to find a good publisher who will work and stand by you.

I have worked with several publishers over the years. I can honestly recommend Kallisti Publishers. They have worked with me, stood by me and have been a delight to work with.

Congratulations again on your win.