| Class Instructors |
Canine Sports Academy has brought together a well-rounded group of instructors. Below are the biographies of the instructors who will teach our classes. |
Kathy Rasmussen is the person who
invisioned and developed the Canine Sports
Academy. She has thirty years experience in the
sport of dogs having competed in conformation,
obedience, rally obedience and agility. She
welcomes you all to come and enjoy the facility.
invisioned and developed the Canine Sports
Academy. She has thirty years experience in the
sport of dogs having competed in conformation,
obedience, rally obedience and agility. She
welcomes you all to come and enjoy the facility.
Kari Smith - is a 2nd generation dog show enthusiast.
She started showing in JR Showmanship and for the past 10
years has been professionally handling show dogs for clients.
She has finished numerous champions, has wins at
Specialty shows, as well as at the group and breed levels.
She mentors new people in the sport of dog shows and looks
forward to the success of Canine Sports Academy. She has
also put obedience and rally titles on her dogs.
She started showing in JR Showmanship and for the past 10
years has been professionally handling show dogs for clients.
She has finished numerous champions, has wins at
Specialty shows, as well as at the group and breed levels.
She mentors new people in the sport of dog shows and looks
forward to the success of Canine Sports Academy. She has
also put obedience and rally titles on her dogs.
Jim Baum is a Certified Kennel Operator. He has
owned and operated Rewind Countryside Pet Resort
since 1984. He has shown dogs for over 30 years
and has taught basic and novice obedience having
attained CD titles on a number of his show dogs. He
is actively involved with Therapy Dogs Int'l (TDI) and
visits the Norman Veterans Center on a regular basis
with his therapy dogs (shown)
owned and operated Rewind Countryside Pet Resort
since 1984. He has shown dogs for over 30 years
and has taught basic and novice obedience having
attained CD titles on a number of his show dogs. He
is actively involved with Therapy Dogs Int'l (TDI) and
visits the Norman Veterans Center on a regular basis
with his therapy dogs (shown)
Sandy Ludwig started training and showing obedience
with German Shepard dogs in 1985. She was an active member
of the Cape Fear dog Training Club in Fayetteville, North Carolina
for 7 years. She taught all levels of obedience from Novice to
Utility and served as training director for 6 of those 7 years. After
moving to Oklahoma in 1992 she continued to show obedience
and became involved with Therapy Dog International. She judged
fun matches and administered the AKC Canine Good Citizen test
in Oklahoma for the Oklahoma German Shepard Club in the mid
1990s. After a 6 year hiatus from showing while completing a
PhD from the University of Oklahoma in Special Education, Dr.
Ludwig has been showing her GSD Allie in Rally and Obedience.
She has put several obedient titles and two Rally titles on her
GSD, Allie.
with German Shepard dogs in 1985. She was an active member
of the Cape Fear dog Training Club in Fayetteville, North Carolina
for 7 years. She taught all levels of obedience from Novice to
Utility and served as training director for 6 of those 7 years. After
moving to Oklahoma in 1992 she continued to show obedience
and became involved with Therapy Dog International. She judged
fun matches and administered the AKC Canine Good Citizen test
in Oklahoma for the Oklahoma German Shepard Club in the mid
1990s. After a 6 year hiatus from showing while completing a
PhD from the University of Oklahoma in Special Education, Dr.
Ludwig has been showing her GSD Allie in Rally and Obedience.
She has put several obedient titles and two Rally titles on her
GSD, Allie.
Susan Spencer Susan Spencer has been training and
showing dogs for 32 years, taking a couple of short "retirements"
from the show ring to raise her two children. Susan passed on her
love for dogs to both her kids. She ran a 4-H dog club while her kids
were growing up, and many of the kids she trained went on to put
titles on their dogs, including her daughter, Kristy, who put CD titles
on both her dogs. After moving to Oklahoma in 2003, Susan worked
as the Pet Adoption Coordinator in Norman. She has put CD titles
on two of her past dogs, a Doberman Pinscher and a Sheltie, and is
now working with her rescue Miniature Pinscher, Junior, in agility
and Rally. Junior has his first Q in TDAA agility and they plan to get
their first title this fall, as well as their first novice title in Rally. Susan
also has a new addition, a Shetland Sheepdog puppy named
Chance, who she'll be training in obedience and agility.!
showing dogs for 32 years, taking a couple of short "retirements"
from the show ring to raise her two children. Susan passed on her
love for dogs to both her kids. She ran a 4-H dog club while her kids
were growing up, and many of the kids she trained went on to put
titles on their dogs, including her daughter, Kristy, who put CD titles
on both her dogs. After moving to Oklahoma in 2003, Susan worked
as the Pet Adoption Coordinator in Norman. She has put CD titles
on two of her past dogs, a Doberman Pinscher and a Sheltie, and is
now working with her rescue Miniature Pinscher, Junior, in agility
and Rally. Junior has his first Q in TDAA agility and they plan to get
their first title this fall, as well as their first novice title in Rally. Susan
also has a new addition, a Shetland Sheepdog puppy named
Chance, who she'll be training in obedience and agility.!
Susan Park has worked her dogs in
numerous events from conformation to
obedience and rally. She has a great
personality and helps new people feel
comfortable training her dogs. More info to
come!
numerous events from conformation to
obedience and rally. She has a great
personality and helps new people feel
comfortable training her dogs. More info to
come!
Jan Ellis recently joined our staff. She has
trained and shown for many years with
numerous titles. Jan has Golden Retrievers and
is a member of the Golden Retriever Club as
well as one of their trainers.
trained and shown for many years with
numerous titles. Jan has Golden Retrievers and
is a member of the Golden Retriever Club as
well as one of their trainers.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
"Where we help turn your dog a better family member"
Matt Kane has been working with the Canine Academy
in Atlanta, GA for over six years prior to coming to Oklahoma.
Together with his wife Laura (who has been spotted
discussing agility exploits with Alex Trebek on Jeopardy!), they
have trained two medium-sized herding dogs. Cammi is a
9-year old shepherd/border collie mix, and Graham is 5-year
old deaf Australian Shepherd. Whennot telling his dogs to go
over jumps, through tunnels, or into weave poles, Dr. Kane
can usually be found giving similar direction to electrical
engineering students and researchers at OU.
in Atlanta, GA for over six years prior to coming to Oklahoma.
Together with his wife Laura (who has been spotted
discussing agility exploits with Alex Trebek on Jeopardy!), they
have trained two medium-sized herding dogs. Cammi is a
9-year old shepherd/border collie mix, and Graham is 5-year
old deaf Australian Shepherd. Whennot telling his dogs to go
over jumps, through tunnels, or into weave poles, Dr. Kane
can usually be found giving similar direction to electrical
engineering students and researchers at OU.
Mary Garner became interested in agility when
she lived in Houston. She and her husband went to a
demo on agility at the big Houston AKC show one day
and they thought it looked like so much fun! A few years
later, after moving to Oklahoma City, they found Cassy,
the Border Collie and started training her in 2002. They
began trialing in the fall of 2003 and Cassy started
gathering Qs at her first show. Cassy trialed in NADAC
mostly, but also UKC and a little AKC, earning Qs and
titles in all three avenues. Cassy is semi-retired and Mary
is now is training Miss Ellie another Border Collie. Ellie
earned her first title at her first UKC agility show.
Mary has attended training seminars with Sharon
Nelson, now of Oklahoma, and Debi Spence of Texas.
You can also see her "girls" in television commercials for
Atwoods Farm and Ranch Stores.
she lived in Houston. She and her husband went to a
demo on agility at the big Houston AKC show one day
and they thought it looked like so much fun! A few years
later, after moving to Oklahoma City, they found Cassy,
the Border Collie and started training her in 2002. They
began trialing in the fall of 2003 and Cassy started
gathering Qs at her first show. Cassy trialed in NADAC
mostly, but also UKC and a little AKC, earning Qs and
titles in all three avenues. Cassy is semi-retired and Mary
is now is training Miss Ellie another Border Collie. Ellie
earned her first title at her first UKC agility show.
Mary has attended training seminars with Sharon
Nelson, now of Oklahoma, and Debi Spence of Texas.
You can also see her "girls" in television commercials for
Atwoods Farm and Ranch Stores.
Jessica Riffe- is one of our conformation instructors
and travels as Kari's associate showing dogs in AKC dog
shows. Jessica is showing and training her Chinese Crested
and has guided him to his AKC Championship, multiple Best
of Breeds and his AKC Rally Novice title. She is working him
in advance obedience classes and agility.
and travels as Kari's associate showing dogs in AKC dog
shows. Jessica is showing and training her Chinese Crested
and has guided him to his AKC Championship, multiple Best
of Breeds and his AKC Rally Novice title. She is working him
in advance obedience classes and agility.
