Julia has been working with dogs since childhood. As an adult she has taken many courses and programs to learn more about the bond between human and canine. She has also worked extensively with dogs with behaviour problems. Having trained many different breeds and cross-breeds she offers a varied background to assist students with pursuing many different dog sports. Currently she lives with four Bouvier des Flandres, and one Norfolk Terrier.

*Julia is now a government certified security officer and has been certified with a labrador retriever for narcotics detection.*

Background

Conformation showing of numerous breeds. Many acheiving their Canadian Championships.

Competitive obedience training.

Carting

Herding

Agility Training. Member of the Superdogs National Performance Team in 1998.

Public education and demos.

Has attended Various movement and structure seminars.

Annually attends Suzanne Clothier seminars to learn more about movement and behaviour.

Have attended Sally Jones agility seminar and Larry Painter cattle herding seminar.

As well as attending an AAC judges clinic and Stuart Mah course design and handling seminars.

Has trained many rescues and owner-giveups for rehoming.

Has taught classes from started and intermediate levels with the Dogwood Pacesetters agility club.

Is actively training in CKC/AKC obedience, AAC/CKC/AKC agility, draft competitions, herding, musical freestyle, flyball and french ring sport.

Qualified for the 1st and 2nd Annual Agility Association Nationals with Can.Ch.Rangoria's Breathless Mahoney CDX TT CGC HCT JHD Am/Can HS VMADC STDd in the Veteran 16 inch division.

Also trained and trialed the first bouvier with any kind of Masters agility title within the Agility Association of Canada

Also was the 2002 summer season flyball instructor for Camp Ruffin It.

Have also worked experts in bouvier des flandres - Jim and Kathy Engels, Caya Krijnse Locker, Bill Hollinger and Karin Caporal.

excerpt from professional resume:

Animal Experience

Commercial dairy farm with approximately 30 cows. Cows are milked twice daily. Also some veal calfs as well as the younger cows growing up. Learned the daily routine for morning milking. Moving cows into the barn area and then into the milking parlour. Learned how to clean teats, sanitize and use automatic milkers. Fed milk to the young calfs that were not weaned.
Accomplishments:

Learned about how dairy cows react to various stimuli
Learned about dairy operation
Learned about feed quality and balance for proper nutrition
Learned about commercial milk production
Learned about hay, growth and marketing
Learned about the care of diary cows from feeding to veterinarian care

Family Farm. Rented 5 acre hobby farm with approximately 50 head of sheep, 3 dozen chickens, dozen heritage turkeys, flock of ducks, 2 emus, 3 llamas, 1 mini horse, dozen rabbits, 1 donkey, 3 pigs and a jersey calf. Also taught herding lessons.
Accomplishments:

Purchasing livestock from various sources
Purchase of quality feed
Care and feeding of all livestock
Assisting ewes with lambing
Care and revival of newborn lambs
Dealing with mortality
Hoof trimming, castration, vaccination, worming
Decision making of when to call in the vet
Repair of fencing, plumbing
Redesign of paddocks to manage grazing areas
Working with neighbours, SPCA and by-law officers in semi-suburban area
Selling of livestock
Record keeping
Successful Herding Clinic
Weekly herding lessons

Brigand's HideOut is a small family farm that has expanded it's dream, becoming a community resource in sustainable farming.
Accomplishments:

Moving livestock (sheep and young steers)
Assisting with sick animals
Working various dogs on livestock (sheep/cattle)

A privately owned herddog facility featuring approximately 100 head of sheep and a flock of ducks. Joe Kapelos, one of the owners, is known in the area as a dog trainer that can help straighten out aggressive dogs. I first went to him to learn about sheep herding and also received help on my dog aggressive bouvier male. Through Joe I learned many things about dog aggression and how to deal with such dogs.
Accomplishments:

Yearly vacation relief
Care and feeding of livestock
Daily grazing, foot bathing
Daily monitoring of fence lines, water lines, etc
Exercising farm dogs and boarding dogs
Working with dogs with behaviour problems

Dog Training experience

My own agility school. Specializing in the harder to deal with dog. Received many referrals from other agility schools in the area as we are the only agility school to take dogs with behaviour problems.

Working with my own bouviers and kerry blue terrier. So far I have worked with a total of 6 bouviers and 1 kerry blue terrier. I have accomplished several titles and several High in class awards with my bouviers. I have also worked with other breeds to assist their owners when they are physically unable to work with them.

Started handling my own dogs. Took courses in order to learn more about how to win in the ring. I then handled other dogs for people to either help them out or to help pay traveling expenses.

Interested in the heritage of the bouvier led me to this sport. I have trained 2 dogs to pull a cart or wagon, trialed with one and worked with introducing carting to many other dogs and people.

Discovered herding as a sport. Setup herding clinics and trials in both Canada and the USA. Trialed my own bouvier in the USA and gained Top 10 and Top 20 herding bouvier status. Learned about dog versus prey animals. Also learned about reactions of prey animals to different stimulate as well as flocking instincts.

Constantly educating the public on care of dogs. How to define aggression. How to handle dogs as well as explaining the various dogs sports and resources that are available to them.

Recently worked with a bouvier transferred from Naniamo SPCA. Also checked out a bouvier and tested its behaviour/socialization for placement with bouvier rescue at Vancouver Animal Shelter. Currently housing an 11 year old bouvier who was surrendered to rescue (me) by a Burnaby SPCA worker that couldn’t handle him. That rescue has been living with me for two years and is a happy well behaved member of my household. Also currently housing a Norfolk terrier cross from the Thurston County Humane Society. This terrier was seized on an abuse case. Once the owner was charged and convicted the dog was released for adoption. Workers at shelter didn’t think he could ever be integrated into society but after a volunteer had worked with him and saw a glimmer of hope she found me and I took him on. Within 3 months he was walking on leash, doing tricks and had learned to start trusting people. Now, three years later there is only a small residue of the abuse present.

Part of club duties. Taught several beginner agility classes.

Began with testing own dogs through the association and then went on to work as an apprentice tester in 1998.

Flyball Instructor Camp Ruffin It 2002

Explained ‘safe’ flyball procedures for dogs. Analyzed dogs’ movement looking for structural problems and giving advice to owners.

Now working my young male bouvier in French ring sport. Have also trialed him in Schutzhund BH. Decoying other dogs – Doberman Pinscher, extra large bouvier, Puli and several Belgian Malinois, including a Ring III from France. Learning motivation for encouraging bite and techniques on curbing bite.

Competing with own dogs and judging. Also facilitated a workshop in Naniamo. Also held position in local club as disciplinary committee. Handled disputes about dog aggression. Also judged competition.

Assisted with Working Aptitude Test. Spent time speaking with Cory learning about temperament and manifestations of temperament issues within the test.

Assisted with Doggie day care. Monitored play to ensure no fights.

Assisted with daily kennel cleaning and disinfecting. Bathed dogs and prepared them for pickup by their owner.

Professional development

Livestock Production (sheep, goats, small livestock) UCFV 2005
Lower Mainland Sheep Producers Seminars 2002 –2004
Underwood’s Dog Obedience 1992-ongoing
Jim & Kathy Engel Seminar (protection, structure) 2004-2005
Bill Hollinger III Seminar(protection, structure) 2004-2005
Caya Krijnse Locker Seminar(behaviour, structure) 2004-2005
Karin Carporal Seminar(behaviour, protection) 2004-2005
Barb Gordon Seminar (obedience, agility) 2005
Sue Matthews Seminar (Service Dogs in the USA) 2005
Suzanne Clothier Seminar (behaviour) 2001-ongoing
Sally Jones agility Seminar 2002
Stuart Mah/Patty Hatfield Agility Seminar 2002
Larry Painter Herding Seminar 2002
Pat Hasting’s Seminar (structure) 1996
School of Hardknocks ongoing

 

contact info
julia byrnes
jbyrnes_2000@yahoo.com
604-992-8473