Terry Swanson

I have loved dogs since the age of 3 when I would sit for hours petting the neighbors elderly dachshund. Finally, I got my own first dog, a border collie, and by second grade I was spending time at the local armory in obedience training classes.

All through the years, dogs have shared an important part of my life. I have had many dogs over the years and several different breeds. Some of the breeds included a German Shepherd, Shar-pei, Doberman, Huskey and several mixed breed rescues as well. I love training and working with dogs and their people.

For over 35 years I worked in the health care industry. I have a Bachelors Degree in Business Communication, and a Masters Degree in Public Administration with an emphasis in health care administration. I worked in health care in administrative roles from 1979 until 2018. The last 26 years were devoted to working in hospice care and support. As part of a comprehensive Hospice Community Bereavement program, we provided grief support programs that were open to children, adolescents and adults. These programs were open to anyone who had lost a loved one due to death. The bereavement support included grief support groups, school system and individual support and annual grief camp weekends. Each year we provided a children’s, weekend camp, a Teen weekend Retreat and Adult weekend retreat. Therapy Dogs provided an important source of support in all those programs. My own Golden Retriever Aidan was certified as a therapy dog and provided grief group support, camp support and regularly visited Long Term Care Facilities, Assisted Living, and Adult Foster Care facilities. He often went to work with me and visited with the hospice staff and volunteers.

I have been privileged to teach dog training classes to families for over 35 years. I have competed in Agility, Obedience, Rally, World Canine Freestyle Organization Canine Musical Freestyle and Trick Dog. I have earned titles in all those venues. I also have certified dogs as a Therapy Dog. I currently have two Golden Retrievers. I am a judge for the World Canine Freestyle Organization. I also am certified as a judge for C- Wags.

I am certified as an evaluator for Canine Good Citizen, Fetch Dog, AKC Trick Dog and Do More with your Dog Trick Dog, AKC Fit Dog and Do More with Your Dog Fit Dog, AKC Temperament Testing, and Do More with Your Dog Stunt Dog. I am a Therapy Dog Evaluator for Therapy Dogs International (TDI).

I am a lifetime member of Companion Dog Training Club in Flint and serve on the Board of Directors. For 15 years, I served as Trial Secretary for their Obedience and Rally Trials.

I am on the Board of Directors for the World Canine Freestyle Organization and also serve as the Membership chair and Treasurer.

I regularly attend and have completed on-going courses in dog training and behavior presented by trainers such as: Ian Dunbar, Connie Cleveland-Nolan, Kyra Sundance, Matthew Twitty, Janice Gunn, Petra Ford, Bridget Carlsen, Patricia McConnell, Denise Fenzi, Attila Szkukalek, Roni Sagi, Susan Garrett, Chris Bach, Sandra Ladwig, Richard Curtis, Bobbie Lyons, and Mental Management Classes with Lanny Basham and Heather Sumlin, and many others.

I love working with dogs and the entire family to help train their dogs to have manners, polite behavior, and solid foundation as members of their family. I also enjoy training the dogs and helping to prepare them for competition as well.

Dogs provide such important gifts of unconditional love, support, and companionship. They can teach children valuable life lessons. Dogs teach us daily the value of friendship, sportsmanship, and the ability to be truly present with someone.

I believe the bond we share with our dogs is essential and a very real privilege. Our training of our dogs supports that development of our relationship with our dogs. From early puppy days to senior years with our dogs, we are privileged to walk along beside them and share our lives with our dogs.