MEET YOUR TRAINERS

Kristie Wilder, Trainer/Owner

Kristie began training dogs for obedience in 1990, beginning with her Boxer, Rocky. She has been training dogs for pet obedience since 1994 and hunting and field trial retrievers since 1995. She worked with her husband, Joie, to title Austin. At that point, they began training retrievers for AKC and UKC hunt tests.

Kristie received her Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in Management in 1995 after completing her BA in Management in 1994. She received both degrees from Bryant College in Smithfield, RI and then completed post-graduate work in Sports Marketing at George Washington University in Washington, DC.

Kristie and Joie established WaterDog Kennels as a boarding and training facility the fall of 1996. The business was started as a part-time training business, where they traveled to clients homes to help them train their dogs. As the demand for their services increased, they became unable to accommodate everyone. They began inviting clients to their home for lessons. Clients then began asking for boarding services. So they began to build what is now the WaterDog Kennels training center and boarding facility. It has evolved greatly since 1996, is still growing, and provides an exciting retreat for hundreds of dogs every year.

Sadly, Joie passed away on November 6, 2007 just eight short months after completing veterinary school. Kristie has chosen to continue the business they worked so hard to build.

Since 1996, Kristie has trained and/or rehabilitated hundreds of companion dogs for both her clients and as rescues.

She also has four years of experience in Search and Rescue training, is NASAR SAR TECH II certified and has an active, although technically retired, search and rescue Lab, Emmie, that's also an AKC Master Hunter.

She has actively competed in AKC hunting tests for retrievers since 1996, titling dogs at all levels and completing the prestigious AKC Master National. Her black lab, JTM's Alli Oop MNHoF earned a place in the Master National Hall of Fame as well as on the Women's Challenge Trophy for her performance as a team with Kristie.

In 1996, she began organizing and conducting a retriever training workshop for women called Retriever Retreat for the Ladies. She has hosted teams of up to 20 women and their dogs in South Carolina, Mississippi and Wisconsin for the four-day all-inclusive training retreats.

She has also been published in both "Retriever Journal" and "Retriever News."

And last year, she, Joie and WaterDog Kennels were featured in Purina's "Today's Breeder" -- an honor extended to only a select few retriever kennels.

Kristie is a member of the Professional Retriever Trainers Association.

Andrew Stanley, Assistant Trainer/Kennel Manager

Drew joined WaterDog Kennels in the spring of 2008. He has had a love for dogs his entire life, but the transiency of his childhood and military career prevented him from having his own dog until recent years.

Drew has worked and or lived in over 42 countries, mostly thanks to the travels of his missionary parents. Although he was born in Knoxville, TN, he grew up in Ecuador, where he lived until he was 13. As a result, Drew speaks fluent Spanish. He is also a former Marine and combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom with the Army National Guard.

Drew took immediately to the dogs, the kennel activities and training. His unending patience and affection for the dogs endear them to him. He is a natural trainer that has picked up quickly on the programs and structure we offer and maintain at the kennels.

Melissa Barnett , Assistant Trainer/Kennel Manager

Melissa interviewed with us early in 2004. WaterDog became her first job. I'm glad Joie interviewed her because I was concerned she was too quiet to deal with a big group of crazy dogs. Boy, was I wrong!

It's now almost five years later and Melissa has never skipped a beat. She's never late for work, never misses work -- I think I forced her to go home once because she was sick. She never complains, even when the four-wheeler tips over into the pond with her on it on a cold day.

She is always here for your dogs and has been an indispensible employee for whom we are very thankful.

Melissa keeps the rest of us straight and keeps the dogs and their stuff neat and organized. She works with each of them every day during playtimes and going in and out of the kennel and house.

Melissa recently graduated from the State University of West Georgia.