Mountain View's instructors

Averill Ring has taught dog training classes since 1985. She has trained and exhibited Saint Bernards and Australian Shepherds in obedience, conformation and agility since the early '70s. She has participated in many seminars, conferences, workshops and camps on dog behavior and training. Agility has become her passion since Ken and she saw a demo at the Philadelphia Kennel Club show in 1994. She competes in agility with their Border Collies Jolt and Jig as well as Cairn Terrier Ernie in AKC and USDAA trials. Jolt completed his USDAA ADCH in 2007. Up and coming are Border Collie Joon and Aussie wannabe Genie. When not playing with her dogs or teaching classes, Averill works as a web designer.

Cathy Hughes has been training dogs and caring for animals for more than 30 years. She was an animal health technician in Washington state for 15 years and it was then that she started behavior counseling for pet dog owners. Her first position training dogs was with a security company in 1971; since then she has apprenticed with trainers and instructors, a professional handler and two boarding/training kennels. In an effort to stay on top of all techniques, Cathy has attended countless continuing education courses, conferences, camps and seminars related to animal care, animal behavior, behavior modification, dog training and class instruction. She has trained dogs in obedience, agility, herding, tracking and protection. Her current menagerie consists of a Border Collie, a Golden retriever, two Labrador retrievers, an Italian greyhound, a BC/Aussie mix and a Malinois.

Holly Hammerle. Owned by dogs for 33 years and training in agility for 11. Holly trained her sheltie, Twister, through an MX, AXJ and a UACHX and competed with her in Advanced USDAA and in NADAC before retiring her due to an injury. Her second sheltie, Summit, is trained through an AX, MXJ and a UACH and is running in Novice USDAA, Novice NADAC. Holly has also handled several other shelties and corgis as well asTess (the first St. Bernard to achieve an AKC Novice Agility title) through her AX and OAJ and a Novice NADAC Gamblers title. Holly has also titled dogs through CDX and UCD in Obedience. She's now running her young Sheltie Scamp in agility trials, and training her puppy Journey.

Holly recently became a UKC certified agility judge. She also travels the area presenting workshops and seminars. Holly brings to agility a unique combination of 34 years of teaching PE and coaching that allows her to take agility techniques and break them into manageable parts and to provide drills that will work those specific skills. She works to challenge handler/dog teams to work ahead of their current skill level for constant improvement.

Ken Ring was dragged kicking and screaming into the world of dogs and dog training when he married Averill in 1986. He has trained and shown Aussies and Saints in obedience and agility, and trained their Saints to work (carting and weightpulling). Sadly, there are no more Saint Bernards at Mountain View, the last one dying in 2007. Ken and his Aussie Badger (who has since moved on to chasing bunnies in the Great Beyond big bunny field) completed a UKC ACH and AKC AX, and Ken has been trialing quite successfully in UKC agility with their Border Collie Jolt (pictured with Ken). Jolt and Ken completed their UKC Grand Agility Championship in 2007. Ken is Mountain View's master welder and equipment designer, and teaches UKC agility classes here.

Linda Vance, our puppy kindergarten instructor, has been training dogs and caring for animals for more than 20 years. She received her Veterinary Technician training at Bel-Rea/Alameda East in Aurora, Colorado. (Yes, the same Alameda East featured on "Animal Planet"; go ahead, ask her about Drs. Taylor and Fitzpatrick.) After leaving Colorado, Linda worked at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Virginia Tech for ten years, and then for several years as office manager for a local veterinary hospital. During this time she also held leadership positions in the Virginia Association of Licensed Veterinary Technicians and was voted Veterinary Technician of the Year by her peers.

Linda teaches that dogs are happiest when the owners are able to communicate with them in a clear, unambiguous manner. After an unsuccessful response to traditional compulsion training, Linda discovered "clicker training" as a means of communicating,saw the positive results, and quickly became an advocate. She is a strong supporter of early training and, because her methods are so gentle, there is every reason to "get 'em young and raise 'em right." She frequently attends training seminars and workshops to keep current and hone her skills. She has a wonderful sheltie named Libby, on whom she tests all her new ideas, and a Tibetan spaniel, who makes a wonderful couch potato. He says, "after all, somebody's gotta do it."

Patty Lane saw her first agility trial in 1997 and began training with Annie, her red headed ACD (Australian Cattle Dog), in 1998.  That same year the Patty-Annie team flew to California for the ACD Nationals and their first trial. After earning her AX, AXJ, and NJP, Annie has retired from competition to focus full time on being Alpha Bitch of the world.  Meanwhile Patty has participated in numerous agility seminars and workshops.  Patty is now competing in agility with her Working Kelpie, Seeker, and Jack Russel terrier Kermit.

In the early years, Patty didn't understand why ACDs were considered a non-traditional breed for agility.  Once she began working on the toy motivation phase of their training she realized it's not that they aren't smart, motivated, or athletic enough, it's that few handlers can survive their enthusiasm!  At any given time, Patty may be sporting a few bruises from having "fun" with the girls.  That said, Patty believes strongly that motivation and focus are extremely important and has developed many techniques for achieving this.  She has put all of these skills to use with her Jack Russell Terrier pup, Kermit.  Kermit is doing fabulously in his agility competition!

When not playing at agility or trick training, Patty and her dogs spend hours roaming through the woods and kayaking on lakes. Patty and Kermit do the kayaking, but the ACDs, Kelpie and the Catahoula do the swimming.

Verne Foster has been competing in Obedience for 18 years in New England and accumulated multiple Obedience titles including a CDX, a UD, 2 UDX's, and an OTCH on Portuguese Water Dogs and a mini poodle. Along the way, she attained multiple High In Trials in both the US and Canada. She has shown in both AKC Invitational and Regional events.

For 10 years Verne has been writing an Obedience column for the award winning breed magazine, The Courier. She has given programs on Strategies for Success and a ring prep class for beginner competitors. She enjoys training and competing in Agility, Water Work and Freestyle.

Verne has been enjoying and performing Freestyle since 1995, and has presented routines in St Louis, Florida, Kentucky, Boston and the New England area. She belonged to a Freestyle group called Paw Steps who performed at nursing homes during the holidays. She was the editor of the New England Freestyler News, a periodical for freestyle enthusiasts in the Northeast. She has given Freestyle clinics, seminars and private lessons. She is a Canine Freestyle Federation (CFF) judge.

Call or write for information on classes or other events at Mountain View

Check out Mountain View's grounds!