Instructors

Cindy Rubin - Director of Competition Obedience Training

Every dog and handler can find joy and satisfaction in training.

I have been Obedience Training Director for PCOTC since the summer of 2007. I started teaching for PCOTC in 2000 and had taught for the Kaeley Obedience School in prior years. In the year or so that I have been Training Director, the world of dog sports has seen a continued decline of interest in competition obedience. I am happy to say that PCOTC continues to have a strong competition obedience program and we continue to offer new and different classes.

My career in dogs starts in 1977 when I was employed as a licensed veterinary technician. After working in private practices, I retired from the position of chief surgical nurse for Surgical Animal Welfare League of Westchester County Spay Neuter Clinic in 1979.

I started training in competitive obedience with my English Cocker Spaniel, Muffin in 1988. She went on to be a CH UD, and at the same time I was training Willie, the first UDX dog in the breed's history. Guy came along and remains the breed's only CH UD MX MXJ. Yes, I have branched out into the world of agility, but I remain committed to obedience. My Border Collie has a CDX as well as agility titles.

I pride myself in being able to accurate "read" dogs of all breeds and adapt my training methods to best help that dog and handler team. I believe in upbeat, positive methods and my students have gone on to earn over 50 obedience titles. Aside from titles, I want my students to be happy members of their families and our communities. 

I take great joy in recently helping an "untrainable" dog become a happy canine citizen (oh yes, she is also a CGC TDI RE ARCHX ARCHEX CDX-H). I will work through any problem in a consistent, reassuring way, both for the dog and the owner.

Ann Mandelbaum

Ann Mandelbaum, CPDT has been training dogs for 30+ years. She earned her first title in 1979 with her Novice A dog, Nobble. Since then she has earned over 30 titles in Obedience, Rally and Agility, in the United States and Canada, on six different dogs, including several Obedience Highs in Trial. Four of her dogs have earned the Utility title.

She as been teaching for about 25 years, helping others learn to enjoy their dogs and to earn more titles than she can keep track of. As a Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT) she is required to maintain ongoing training in approved dog-related seminars, etc. for periodic recertification.

Currently she teaches competition obedience at PCOTC. She also teaches obedience, rally and Leslie McDevitt’s “Controll Unleashed” program and works with clients privately on dog training and behavior issues.

Joanne Sheffler

I've taken classes at PCOTC since 1991. In 1998 I was elected to PCOTC's board and have been on the Board since then as Seminar Chair. I'm a regular contributor to the Club's quarterly newsletter.

In 2002 I began teaching with Introduction to Clicker Training, and now teach advanced Advanced Clicker Training as well. In 2003 I became PCOTC's first Rally instructor. In 2008 I added Family Manners Foundations to the classes I teach. I've also taught CGC/Therapy Dog and Flyball. I was CPDT certified in 2007 and I'm an APDT member trainer.

I currently have with two dogs in competition. My white Boxer Jeter, ARCHEX Brillig's Sweet Jeter Jive CD RE CD-H (and too many APDT Rally titles to list), along with our oldest Boxer, Margo, were the first Boxers to earn the AKC Rally Novice title on January 2, 2005. Jeter is the first Boxer to earn the APDT Rally ARCHEX. When retired from AKC sports due to a knee injury, Jeter had earned two legs towards his CDX and several RAE legs. He continues in APDT Rally and St. Hubert's CDSP Obedience competitions, earning his CD-H.

My Sheltie Lola, ARCHX Brigadoon's Bi Sheer Luck CD RE CD-H (and too many APDT Rally titles to list) is presently competing in Obedience and Rally.

I believe it is all a game for the dogs, from the sit, to skateboarding, to scent discrimination—and when it stops being fun, we need to put the fun back into it.

Mary Elizabeth Simpson

An experienced trainer since 1987 and the owner of Joyful Canine Training, Mary-Elizabeth Simpson (APTD, IACP) has worked with various training schools and with professional trainers over the years. She is an AKC CGC evaluator. Mary-Elizabeth teaches both obedience and breed handling at Port Chester Obedience Training Club.

Mary Elizabeth is an active competitor in Obedience, Agility and breed competitions with her Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Australian Shepherd and Border Collies. All of her dogs are titled in one or more of those areas. Some have even attained their Canine Good Citizen's Certificate and have attended nursing homes. Not only has Mary-Elizabeth competed her dogs but has done obedience and agility demos, appeared on Channel 12 news in both CT and NY, appeared in the Stamford Advocate and Times as well as Greenwich Times newspapers documenting her training accomplishments. In addition to running her dogs in performance she has also handled other people's dogs in agility and breed and has done very well, placing at the Westminster dog show and even qualifying for Crufts twice.

Mary Elizabeth is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, International Association of Canine Professionals and various breed clubs. Mary-Elizabeth works on a private basis with dogs who have behavioral problems or need basic training or re-training, as well as working with people who are serious competitors in agility and obedience. She does Pembroke Welsh Corgi rescue and has retrained and re-homed many Corgis as well as mixes successfully.