CDTC has a dedicated group of volunteer instructors whose goals are to help you and your canine partner become a great team.  Whether you just want to have a well behaved companion or your goal is competition agility, obedience, rally or scent work we want to help you achieve those goals by providing a positive training environment.

Beth Berg - Tricks

Beth Berg has been training dogs since she was 10 years old.  Her mom showed her how to train their miniature poodle to do tricks.  She loved it and was able to take him to some demos.  Through the years Beth has trained several dogs to various levels. In addition she trained  horses and gave riding lessons in Dressage up to 3rd level and a touch of Hunter/Jumpers for over 30 years.  Her current passion is a Miniature American Shepherd, Teddy Bear.  He is 13 months old and knows 46 commands.  He has his Novice Tricks Title and has the Intermediate Tricks in the bag as soon as the filming is complete. Beth has fallen in love with CDTC as a member, assistant and instructor.  She is teaching tricks and is working on Obedience and Rally with Teddy. Plans for Teddy include Obedience, Rally, Therapy, and in a year starting agility. She has trained in agility and assisted her daughter in training her daughter's dog in agility. Please join our tricks class to learn training concepts and to get your Novice and/or Intermediate title and, most importantly, have a blast!!  Your dog will have fun and learn new commands as you learn the foundation of training tricks.  See you soon!!

Victoria Carey - STAR Puppy

I began my dog training adventure at 12 years old when I got my PBGV puppy and continued through high school by training our golden retriever in obedience and certifying her as a therapy dog. Through the encouragement of the great trainers and mentors at CDTC, I was an assistant in the AKC STAR puppy classes. I enjoyed that so much that I became a Canine Good Citizen evaluator and now have fun teaching the STAR puppy classes! I am also active with the local Therapy Dogs International chapter. Currently, my husband and I enjoy taking obedience, tricks, and agility classes and competing in Fast CAT with our two golden retrievers, Luna and Poppy.  

Carol Hamblin - Agility

Carol grew up in the mountains of Southwest Virginia before moving to Charlotte.  Growing up she begin her love of poodles the first were toy poodles. Followed by two miniature poodle rescues which lead her to CDTC for training as well as lots of friends whose friendships have lasted over the years.  While the intention was to take a puppy class she never left and has trained several other dogs over the years.  Currently training Chinese Cresteds.  Over the years her dogs have titled in Obedience, Rally, Fieldwork, Fast Cat, Agility and Scentwork. 

Dawn Heath - Scent Work

Stan Hoffman - Obedience

I started training dogs after retirement from the Army over 20 years ago. I have trained my own dogs and titled in Obedience, Agility, Sent Work, and Rally. My wife and I live on a small farm just outside of York SC, with five dogs, goats, geese, and chickens.

Valerie Licausi - Tricks, CGC

I have always had dogs in my life and felt very connected to them.  A little over four years ago, Patsy and I started a wonderful journey  together.  As she looked to me for guidance, I started getting information from Ian Dunbar, Jean Donaldson, Karen Pryor, Susan Garrett and others who train with game based, positive training.  I also love to read books on how dogs think, etc . We took some puppy classes and when we finally got a chance to enroll in CDTC's Good Citizen Class, I told them all of the tricks that Patsy can do and she worked her way up to her Advanced Trick Title.  We are currently working on her Performance Trick Title and have been learning Obedience, which Patsy loves and hope to compete in the near future. I also bring my friends Puppies into my home for 10 days and teach them their manners and get them started on a lifelong journey as well.   

Anne Nored - Scent Work

Anne Nored has been a member of CDTC since 2010 when she and her first Newfoundland puppy, Lizzie, registered for the AKC STAR Puppy class. She has since trained and competed in scent work, rally, obedience, conformation, water rescue, and draft with her three Newfs and Cavalier. Lizzie was the first Newfoundland to title in AKC Scent Work, and Anne has enjoyed teaching this favorite sport with others!

Liz Petko - Pet Classes/Obedience

I have been involved with dog training starting in the 4-H dog program and showing German Shepherds through my teens. I have been a member of CDTC wince 2011 and believe that every dog should have the training and socialization needed to become a valued family member done with positive methods.  I have taught and assisted in pet classes and competition obedience classes.  I have two wonderful dogs, a 9 year old Boxer and a 2 year old Papillon who compete and have titled in obedience, rally, agility and fast CAT.  They also have completed Canine Good Citizen, worked as a Therapy Dog (Boxer) and Trick Dog Titles.  I am also an approved AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator (CGC).

Patricia Ray- Agility

I have been training dogs for many years and I joined CDTC when I became interested in agility. My Clumber Spaniel, Sandy, was the first clumber to obtain an NA/NAJ and the first clumber to get an Excellent Std leg. I have also competed in Conformation, Obedience, FastCAT, Barn Hunt and Rally. I helped with the the pre-agility class for a while before taking over the class several years ago. I now compete in Agility and Rally with Mick, my Vizsla and have a young Vizsla up and coming.

Debbie Roen - Agility

In 2000 I joined an agility club where I began training in agility with my Labrador, Bailey.  I moved up to assisting in agility classes and then started teaching agility.  During this time Bailey and I also started competing in agility, solidifying my love for the sport.  In 2014 I began taking classes in obedience and agility at CDTC with my current Labrador, Alli.  Shortly thereafter, I was asked to be an assistant in both classes and in 2016 started teaching agility.  Alli and I are currently competing in agility.  I love every minute of training, teaching, and competing. It is not only rewarding to spend time with Alli, but it is also rewarding to watch dogs and their owners transform into a team as they grow and progress through classes.

Debbie Sherier - STAR Puppy

Debbie joined Charlotte Dog Training Club in 2011. After titling her two pet collies in Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog International she began volunteering in the AKC Star Puppy   program. At this time Debbie also started to show and breed collies. With mentoring from seasoned trainers at CDTC and personal study she became an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. Debbie now conducts AKC Star Puppy classes for all breeds of puppies.  She is active in her breed specialty and believes all puppies can be “stars”.

Monica Swanson - Agility

I started competing in USDAA agility in 2007 with the late great Cookie.  I joined CDTC after the AKC began to allow mixed breeds to register as Canine Partners in 2010.  I volunteer at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control, where I found my wonderful Ivy.  We are working on her Masters titles in agility and Excellent/Masters titles in scent work.

Beth Warren - Obedience

I have owned 9 Standard Poodles, 2 Mini Poodles and 8 other breeds of dogs.  I have earned 2 AKC conformation champion titles, 2 AKC utility titles, 6 AKC Open obedience titles and Rally excellent, advanced and novice titles. Three poodles earned hunting certificates from the Poodle Club of America. I own two horses at present.

If I wasn’t showing dogs, I showed my horse in dressage. With my new Standard Poodle, I would like to return to the training ring.