Paula loves to share her belief in working to develop a profound connection with one’s dog through canine sports activities.  "People are their dog’s caretakers and guardians, not just owners" Paula likes to remind her students.  Therefore, she believes it is our job as guardians to provide them with meaningful mental stimulus along with the basics of food, shelter and love.  That translates into lots of fun for dogs and their guardians.

Paula graduated from the Carolina K-9 Command Dogs, Ltd. instructor program in 1976, and in 1995, from Julie Daniel’s Agility Instructor Certification course. The latter segued into teaching puppy agility programs at Wiz Kid Dog Camp for 1996-97 and The Dog’s Camp in 1998.   She has undergone further continuing education through participating in workshops conducted by well-known behaviorists and trainers every chance she gets.  Paula instructs and consults in pet dog training, competitive obedience, agility, conformation, flyball, tracking, behavioral issues and is bringing K9 Watersports to her area. While tracking and water activities are now her first loves, she has competed, along with her dogs, in obedience, agility, conformation, freestyle and tracking.  Paula is the Training and Events Director at The Gray Dog Lodge in Lenoir City, TN. 

Paula is also an advocate of holistic health work with dogs and currently received her Level 1 certificate from La Paw Spa’s Heart of Canine Water Therapy.  Paula also utilizes Integrative Manual Therapy, Reiki and TTouch to keep her own dogs in top-notch condition.  And, of course, swimming!

Paula shares her life with two spirited and beloved Belgian Tervurens:  Trevor, 12-years-young and Riggs, 7-years-young.