Meet our Instructors

Cathi Blackburn

Classes taught: Attention and Advanced Classes

Breeds: Belgian Tervuren & Labrador Retriever

Titles and Awards: Titles showing highest in each area:

American Kennel Club: Conformation- Champion; Obedience- Utility Dog Excellent;  Agility – Master Agility Excellent & Master Agility Excellent Jumper; Tracking- Tracking Dog;  Hunt Tests - Senior Hunter.
United Kennel Club: Conformation - Grand Champion, Obedience - Utility Dog; Agility – Grand Champion.
United Schtuzhund Clubs of America - Ausdauerpruefung (AD).
ASCA - Obedience - Companion Dog Excellent.
Awards: Dog World Award. Obedience High in Trials and High Combines. Agility High in Trials. EOC's Blumenauer Award (twice)

Biography:  I have been training dogs for competition since 1989.  Obedience has always been my main focus but I have also trained dogs in tracking, agility, and retriever work.   I have been an EOC member since 1994 and am currently its Training Director.  Other club membership:  Local hunt test clubs, local obedience and agility club, French breed club, national breed clubs.  Other club service involves serving on the board  of several local clubs and one national/international club, magazine editor of national club. 

Becky Browning

Classes taught:  - I have been instructing a Beginner I class for 8 years; 2 as an assistant and 6 as “lead instructor”.

Breeds:  Shetland Sheepdog (1), Airedale Terriers (2)

Titles and Awards: 

U-CD, CDX; Canadian CD, CDX, UD; AKC CD, CDX., UD, UDX.

Fletch, my Shetland sheepdog, and I have received the Evansville Obedience Club’s Jody Kimm award for achieving the AKC UDX title; also the club’s “Team” award and the Darlene Blumenaur award 2 years in a row for Highest AKC Scores.

 Biography:   I have been a member of EOC for 11 years and have been competing in AKC, UKC and Canadian obedience trials for 10 years. As far as dog performance events, my primary and only interest is competitive obedience. I have participated in Airedale terrier rescue and have traveled all over the city of Evansville for programs promoting responsible dog ownership. I developed an “Oh, What A Good Dog” program” for the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library that is presented at childrens’ story times and also for the library’s Summer Reading Program.

Training Philosophy - I believe in dog training that makes sense… to the dog and to the handler. I believe that communicating with dogs involves clear, precise commands and body language that says to the dog, “I am the pack leader.” I believe that dogs learn in “black and white” and are happier and better behaved when they have specific parameters to follow. I believe that what is learned in training classes must be reinforced at home in the dog’s activities of daily living. I believe that dogs give back to us the behaviors that we have taught them.

Kitty Gilbertson

Classes taught: Puppy Class

Breeds:  Lhasa Apso and Tibetan Terrier

Titles and Awards: UAG1, RN and CGC

Biography: I've been a member of EOC since 2000. After taking my first class I was hooked! This was not surprising since my love affair with dogs started at an early age. These kind of training opportunities were not available to me growing up, so I love to encourage people to take advantage of everything that's available today for them and their dogs.

Training Philosophy: The purpose of the Puppy Class is to introduce the handler (you) to training your puppy. And to introduce the puppy to learning. My goal is to make it fun for everyone. This class is purely positive reinforcement. The idea is to create an environment where the puppies can be successful. We address basic behavioral issues privately before and after class sessions, but class time is for learning and fun!

Stacy Harris

Classes taught: Beginner 2, Intermediate 1 & 2, Retrieve/Broad Jump/Go-Out, Advanced 1, Misc. special classes

Breeds:  Papillons (also training a Sheltie).  Have also trained a Samoyed and a Bichon Frise

Titles and Awards: 2 UDs, 4 CDXs, 5 CDs, 3 RNs, UCDX, 3 UCDs, 2 ASCA CDs, Can. CD, CH, MACH, MX, MXJ, 2 AXs, AXJ, 2 OAs, 2 OAJs, 3 NAss, 3 NAJss, NAP, NJP, AKC High in Trial, 2 Blumenaur Awards (High Scoring Dog at EOC), EOC Dog and Handler Team Award, UKC High in Trial, Multiple High Scoring Toy and High Scoring Papillon awards

Biography: I have been training dogs since 1995 with a Samoyed.  We took a beginner's obedience class at K9 College in Indianapolis and on the last night of class my instructor did a demonstration with one of her dogs.  The retrieve over the high jump was incredibly impressive-- I wanted to teach my dog to do that.  While the Samoyed was working on her CDX, I decided I'd like to train a different breed and found my first papillon.  I now have 9 Papillons, 4 of which I am currently training and showing for one or all of the obedience, agility and breed rings.  I have been a member of EOC since 1996, began instructing in 1997, and have served as its President, Vice-President, and Treasurer.

Name:  Sherri Hurm

Classes taught:  Have assisted beginner one class on Wednesday nights for 7 years.  Also assist Puppy class on occasion. 

Breeds:  Miniature Schnauzer and Giant Schnauzer

Titles: Pepper – UCDX, UACH, CDX, MX, MXJ, RN, O-NJC, O-NAC, OAC, TN-N, CGC, TDI, TT, FFX Gold Obedience and Agility.  4 First and Foremost Honorable Mention Ratings.

Cayenne – UAG1, NA, NAJ, RN, CGC, TG-N, NAC

Biography:   I started puppy class with Pepper almost 8 years ago, we enjoyed ourselves in class and the people of the club so much, we joined the club began showing and helping with classes.  Then we added our Giant Schnauzer Cayenne to the family and the fun continues.  The beginner class is very rewarding for me.  To see such a transformation between dogs and handlers in 7 weeks is amazing.  I have learned as much from the students and their dogs as I have in training my own.  I served as secretary for EOC for 5 years.  I’m also an Agility Club of Evansville member, a member of Lincoln Trail Belgian Shepherd Dog Club, a member of the Giant Schnauzer Club of America and serve as the GSCA’s agility statistics coordinator.   

Mary Mullen

Classes taught: Rally Novice, Rally Advanced, Proofing classes

Breeds:  Shetland Sheepdogs (currently four)

Titles and Awards:
AKC titles: (obedience) CD, CDX, UD, (rally) RN, RA (agility) NA, OA, AX, MX, NAJ, OAJ, AXJ, MXJ, NAP, OAP, AXP, NJP, OJP, AJP
UKC titles: (obedience) UCD, UCDX, (agility) AGI, AGII
NADAC titles: (agility) NAC, OAC, EAC, NJC, OJC, EJC, NGC, OGC TN-N, TG-N
ASCA titles: (agility) RVN, JVN

Certificates:
AKC Canine Good Citizen Award
Therapy Dog International therapy dog certification.

Special Awards:
EOC 1992  Dog and Handler Team Award with my oldest sheltie, Jake
Front and Finish FFX Award Agility (twice) with my oldest sheltie, Jake
Front and Finish 2001 First and Foremost Honorable Mention with Jake.

Biography: My husband, Rick, and I have been members of Evansville Obedience Club since 1998. We currently train and compete with our four shetland sheepdogs. For the past two years, I have taught all levels of the rally classes at EOC. I also teach public agility classes for Agility Club of Evansville, of which I am club secretary.

I have judged 4-H dog obedience trials and agility trials both locally and in neighboring counties. I have given rally seminars to local clubs who were interested in getting started in the sport. Rick and I together hosted the monthly obedience C-matches for Evansville Obedience Club from 1999-2002 and have hosted C-matches for other local clubs.

I still have my first obedience dog, Jake (10), and I am currently competing in obedience, rally and agility with my 2 year old sheltie, Indie. Indie and I are also training in tracking and herding and hope to be competition ready sometime in 2006.

Rick Mullen

Classes taught: Beginner through Advanced + retrieves

Breeds:  (4) Shetland Sheepdogs

Titles and Awards: CD, U-CD, CDX, U-CDX, and many Agility titles in the AKC, UKC, ASCA, and NADAC registries. I have been awarded the EOC good Sportsmanship award three times by the membership of EOC, and my Sheltie, BJ, and I have been awarded the EOC Dog and Handler Team Award for 2005.

Biography: I have been an EOC member since 1998 and have been showing dogs since that time. My wife, Mary, and I also participate in rescue efforts for Shelties when needed. I am also a member of the Agility Club of Evansville (ACE), and Lincoln Trails Belgian Shepherd Dog Club. I have been very active in all three clubs having held club offices and participated in obedience and agility trials in a variety of positions from Trial Chair, to Trial Secretary, and a variety of other event support positions. These positions have been held through a number of events sanctioned by AKC, NADAC, UKC, ASCA and others.

Name:   Mimi Nicholson

Classes taught:   Rally

Breeds:   Border Collies

Titles:    All have their CGC and RN.  Lark and Grace have CDs, UCDs, and RAEs.  Lark and Angel have UCHs and are working on HTs.  Lark is AKC championship pointed.  I have a PhD in English from Purdue  :>).

Biography:   Originally from St. Louis, MO with several stops before Evansville.  For many years taught English composition, literature, and other subjects at the college level.  Had a state and federal grant for regional teacher training and development for the last 10 years before retirement.  Served on the Evansville-Vanderburgh County School Board for 24 years.  Was a Master Gardener until the weeds won.  Am now happily retired and spending time and money on four border collies:  Flirt, Grace, Lark, and Angel.