Instructors

All our instructors volunteer countless hours of their time and give freely of their knowledge. The only pay they receive is the joy of seeing an uncontrollable, very boisterous puppy or dog be magically transformed into a well behaved, obedient companion. The threat of perhaps being relinquished to the shelter only a distant memory.

Our instructors are constantly upgrading their knowledge and skills by attending seminars and workshops and competing in their fields of expertise.

Susan McAllister is President of the Sault Ste. Marie Kennel Club and has been a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Kennel Club for over 20 years. She has been breeding and showing Shetland Sheepdogs under the name of Masterpiece Kennels since 1985. She has shown 6 dogs to their conformation Championships and has put 3 Companion Dog Titles on her dogs. She has also obtained one Canine Good Citizen title on one of her dogs. Susan is also a Canine Good Neighbour Evaluator for the Canadian Kennel Club.

Linda Abernot is Secretary of the Sault Ste. Marie Kennel Club. She has been a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Kennel Club since 1992. She breeds and shows her German Shepherd dogs under the kennel name of WINNING WAYS http://www.winningways.org Nine of her German Shepherds have been St. John Ambulance Therapy Dogs. Currently there are still 3 therapy dogs that regularly go out visiting the elderly residing at Winning Ways which is on Old Goulais Bay Road. Linda has put multiple CD's, one CDX, and multiple CGN's on her German Shepherds. Linda is an evaluator for the CKC Canine Good Neighbour Program and an Evaluator for the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program.

Shelagh Mosher is our current OBEDIENCE CHAIRPERSON for the SSMKC. She is very involved with St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program and is an Evaluator for them. She owns a Golden Retriever, Lucky. Shelagh spends many hours arranging our classes and programs for our Club.

Kirsten Wilson is one of our Obedience Instructors. She owns 3 Shetland Sheepdogs. Masterpiece Cassandra's Angel, Angel earned her CD title in 2008 under the capable handling of her daughter Cassandra. Masterpiece Abby has a Secret, call name Abby earned her CD (Companion Dog title) and her CGN (Canine Good Neighbour) in 2006. Angel was trained by her daughter Cassandra who learned her training skills by attending the classes that we offer. Masterpiece Last to Go, call name Tanner earned his CD in 2008 and his RN (Rally Novice title) in 2009 in Elliot Lake.

Karen Coutu has been a member of the SSMKC for 25 years, showing and breeding CKC registered Shih Tzu's, under the Pot O' Gold Kennel name for the same length of time. She has many Canadian Champions and five obedience titles on her dogs and also grooms dogs. Originally, she started with teaching beginner obedience for 14 years and then switched to instructing the Show Handling classes. She especially enjoys teaching Junior Handling to the children that wish to go on to competitive conformation at sanctioned Dog Shows. She currently has four adult Shih Tzu females, Autumn, Tara, Star and Miley. Star and Miley are both Conformation Champions. Karen also does dog grooming for the public.

Brandie Sanderson has been member of our club and training in obedience for 5 years. Brandie teachs our Obedience and Rally classes. Chelsey her mixed breed dog has her Nambr Companion Dog Excellent Title (N-CDX) and her Rally Advanced Title (RA). The team is presently working toward their Utility Title and their OTCH! She is also involved in agility and clicker training. Brandie has recently purchased a German Shepherd puppy, Sonny. Watch for Sonny in an obedience ring near you.

Michael Sanderson has been a member of our club and training in obedience for 5 years. He is one of our Rally Instructors. His mixed breed,Beta has earned her RN (Rally Novice Title). Photo of Mike and Beta below.

Susan Plastino has been a member of our club since March 2008. She has obtained a Nambr CD titled on her mixed breed dog, Farley and is training her Papillion, Randy in Rally and Obedience. Susan is an obedience instructor for us. Pictured below Susan and Randy, Papillion..

Stephanie Blaney has been a member of our club since November, 2006. She is currently teaching our Rally classes and is actively competing in Rally and Obedience with her two Golden Retrievers Murphy and Kohler who both have Obedience CD's, CGN's. Murphy has his Rally Novice Title and Kohler has his Rally Advanced Title.

Instructors in Training:

Gabriela Duran has been a member of our club since May 2008. She is interested in Obedience and Conformation and has a Conformation Championship and Obedience title (in Mexico) on her Min. Poodle, Fergie. Gabby is active in dog rescue and she also does dog grooming for the public.


All our instructors volunteer countless hours of their time and give freely of their knowledge. The only pay they receive is the joy of seeing an uncontrollable, very boisterous puppy or dog be magically transformed into a well behaved, obedient companion. The threat of perhaps being relinquished to the shelter only a distant memory. Our instructors are constantly upgrading their knowledge and skills by attending seminars and workshops and competing in their fields of expertise. Meet our Instructors Susan McAllister is President of the Sault Ste. Marie Kennel Club and has been a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Kennel Club for over 20 years. She has been breeding and showing Shetland Sheepdogs under the name of Masterpiece Kennels since 1985. She has shown 6 dogs to their conformation Championships and has put 3 Companion Dog Titles on her dogs. She has also obtained one Canine Good Citizen title on one of her dogs. Susan is also a Canine Good Neighbour Evaluator for the Canadian Kennel Club. Linda Abernot is Secretary of the Sault Ste. Marie Kennel Club. She has been a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Kennel Club since 1992. She breeds and shows her German Shepherd dogs under the kennel name of WINNING WAYS http://www.winningways.org Nine of her German Shepherds have been St. John Ambulance Therapy Dogs. Currently there are still 3 therapy dogs that regularly go out visiting the elderly residing at Winning Ways which is on Old Goulais Bay Road. Linda has put multiple CD's, one CDX, and multiple CGN's on her German Shepherds. Linda is an evaluator for the CKC Canine Good Neighbour Program and an Evaluator for the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program. Shelagh Mosher is our current OBEDIENCE CHAIRPERSON for the SSMKC. She is very involved with St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program and is an Evaluator for them. She owns a Golden Retriever, Lucky. Shelagh spends many hours arranging our classes and programs for our Club. Kirsten Wilson is one of our Obedience Instructors. She owns 3 Shetland Sheepdogs. Masterpiece Cassandra's Angel, Angel earned her CD title in 2008 under the capable handling of her daughter Cassandra. Masterpiece Abby has a Secret, call name Abby earned her CD (Companion Dog title) and her CGN (Canine Good Neighbour) in 2006. Angel was trained by her daughter Cassandra who learned her training skills by attending the classes that we offer. Masterpiece Last to Go, call name Tanner earned his CD in 2008 and his RN (Rally Novice title) in 2009 in Elliot Lake. Karen Coutu has been a member of the SSMKC for 25 years, showing and breeding CKC registered Shih Tzu's, under the Pot O' Gold Kennel name for the same length of time. She has many Canadian Champions and five obedience titles on her dogs and also grooms dogs. Originally, she started with teaching beginner obedience for 14 years and then switched to instructing the Show Handling classes. She especially enjoys teaching Junior Handling to the children that wish to go on to competitive conformation at sanctioned Dog Shows. She currently has four adult Shih Tzu females, Autumn, Tara, Star and Miley. Star and Miley are both Conformation Champions. Karen also does dog grooming for the public. Brandie Sanderson has been member of our club and training in obedience for 5 years. Brandie teachs our Obedience and Rally classes. Chelsey her mixed breed dog has her Nambr Companion Dog Excellent Title (N-CDX) and her Rally Advanced Title (RA). The team is presently working toward their Utility Title and their OTCH! She is also involved in agility and clicker training. Brandie has recently purchased a German Shepherd puppy, Sonny. Watch for Sonny in an obedience ring near you. Michael Sanderson has been a member of our club and training in obedience for 5 years. He is one of our Rally Instructors. His mixed breed,Beta has earned her RN (Rally Novice Title). Photo of Mike and Beta below. Susan Plastino has been a member of our club since March 2008. She has obtained a Nambr CD titled on her mixed breed dog, Farley and is training her Papillion, Randy in Rally and Obedience. Susan is an obedience instructor for us. Pictured below Susan and Randy, Papillion.. Stephanie Blaney has been a member of our club since November, 2006. She is currently teaching our Rally classes and is actively competing in Rally and Obedience with her two Golden Retrievers Murphy and Kohler who both have Obedience CD's, CGN's. Murphy has his Rally Novice Title and Kohler has his Rally Advanced Title. Instructors in Training: Gabriela Duran has been a member of our club since May 2008. She is interested in Obedience and Conformation and has a Conformation Championship and Obedience title (in Mexico) on her Min. Poodle, Fergie. Gabby is active in dog rescue and she also does dog grooming for the public.		Susan McAllister and Spencer, Shetland Sheepdog
		Shelagh Mosher and Luckey, Golden Retriever, Therapy Dog Karen Coutu and her Papillion, Jade Linda Abernot and her black German Shepherd Dog Monty, OFA, CD, CGN, Therapy Dog Brandie Sanderson and her mixed breed Chelsey, N-CDX, RA Gabriela Duran and her apricot poodle Fergie. Champion Fergie has obtained many conformation titles in Mexico. Kirsten & Tanner, Sheltland Sheepdog, CD Stephanie Blaney and her Golden Retriever Kohler, CD, CGN, RN with Judge, Guy Touchette. Stephanie is one of our Rally instructors and she's hoping to find time in her busy work schedule to take on Agility class instructor too.