My Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are my hobby. I enjoy the challenge of training a dog that asks why. I've hear it said that a well trained dog is the best toy, and while I don't view my dogs as toys, I totally agree with the sentiment. I bring my dogs everywhere I can, even to work, and throughly enjoy their company.
I've been a member of the GSMDCA (our national club) since 2001, I previously served as the president (2016-2020), on the board of directors (2009-2014), was the chair the versatility committee, the awards chair and working titles chair. Additionally, I belong to the local swissy club for New England (SCONE) for which I am the treasurer, as well as the Pioneer Valley Kennel Club, and ASCA (Australian Shepherd Club of America, as I compete in their herding events). I was the treasurer for the 2008, 2014, and 2017 GSMDCA national specialties and am on the show commitee for the 2021 GSMDCA National Specialty (the 26th for the GSMDCA) and the first in New England.
In 2015, I was award the Friend of the Swissy Award, for my service to the GSMDCA in the preceeding year. In 2022, I was award the AKC Sportsman Award by both the Pioneer Valley Kennel Club and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America.
Feel Free to contact me, if you are interested in a swissy, you'd like to meet up a dog event or stop by and see how the dogs have taken over my house.
In the other part of my life, I'm a university professor, an environmental microbiologist, who studies microbial fuel cells and other interactions between electrodes and bacteria. I also enjoy scuba diving and traveling, Africa is my favorite.
