An athletic child, Kim enjoyed basketball, softball, tennis,  racket ball and  skiing,  but it was swimming where Kim excelled.   Kim just loved the water.  After taking swim classes at her hometown YMCA  Kim was hooked and jumped in for the big splash as a competitive swimmer.  Competitive sports taught her about self discipline and success through teamwork.    When she wasn’t training or in a swim match Kim and her dog were off in nature, rooting around streams, catching tadpoles, frogs and other aquatic creatures for study.  Her family also loved the water and Kim and her family spent their summers swimming and sailing the beautiful waters of Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay.  Kim’s fondest memories are of her childhood “best friend”, a  Boxer named Duchess, but Kim was also a sibling to Golden Retrievers, Labradors,  and  a German Shepherd. Dogs were just part of the family  back then and they shared in all the family adventures.  During these years Kim learned to appreciate the companionship of a good dog, to respect their nature and to lead through kindness and motivation.  The first dog  Kim raised  as an adult was a wise and gentle soul named Celie.  She was a Bichon who blossomed  under Kim’s study and practice of the emerging “reinforcement” based training methods. It was Celie who taught Kim the language of “dog” and a level of awareness, respect and patience never before experienced with her dogs.  Kim remembers Celie often and is forever grateful for Celie’s loving lessons and the special connection they shared.