Meet Annette Frederick
How did you get involved with dog training? I always felt a special bond with animals, and enjoyed showing sheep in the 4H program. Well into my 4-H years, my Grandmother became the proud owner of a pit bull terrier puppy. I thought that would be a great project – so off to 4H dog classes I went. Within my first year of training, the owner of Good Neighbor Dog Obedience School, Mildred Zeno, took me under her wing as an apprentice dog trainer. I went on to teach 4-H and adult obedience classes. After Grandma’s Pit bull, I purchased a Doberman Pinscher puppy. I ran the county 4H dog program for a few years, started the 4-H agility program for my county. I became involved in Key City Kennel Club shortly after purchasing a miniature pinscher. I trained obedience classes and starting the agility training program there. It was in the process of learning agility that I first embraced the concept of behavior shaping. It was like magic and I was HOOKED! Then I got my first Border Collie, China. She was my introduction to the world of herding. It is amazing doing something that your dog is passionate about. I became so passionate about herding and my dog’s enjoyment of the activity that I bought them a farm and a flock of sheep.
Tell us about the dogs with whom you currently share your life. Today I have 3 Border collies, Braq is a 7-year-old male that Is a pretty good herding dog and sleeps on my bed every night. I got Lace from a cattle ranch in North Dakota and a couple months later whelped and raised a litter of pups by Brag. Baby Nora was my pick puppy that never left. My young girls work on their self-control, some behavior shaping, and novice herding skills. They have a lot of things to learn yet.
What activities do you do with your dogs? My dogs are my companions. They help me do my chores. They are at my side as I play on my hobby farm. They help me move my sheep and help me set up and control livestock for my herding students.
What’s the best piece of training advice that you’ve ever heard? “Dogs do what works.” It is a very simple statement that gives a lot of insight to the reason that a dog’s behavior may occur. It can set the foundation for analyzing current behavior and setting up a training plan to enhance, modify or extinguish a behavior to get the desired behavior.
What is your teaching background? I have been teaching dog classes since I was 16 years old. First obedience, then agility and herding.
What is your favorite thing about teaching dog training classes? I find the successes of my students to be one of the most rewarding things in life. It drives me to learn new ways to help my students learn new skills and understand new concepts.
What do you do when you are not training dogs? I work for the Farm Service Agency for the USDA and work at home on my sheep farm “Red Barn Hill”.
What are some special memories you have of your dogs? I took my Grandma’s Pit Bull Terrier went to the Mankato City Council meeting and showed that there are not bad breeds, only irresponsible owners. She was instrumental in preventing the city from imposing breed-specific legislation.