Addi is the shepherdess, trainer and owner at Green Paws. She has lived with dogs her entire life, and got her start in dog training from her mother.

Addi's mom was involved in agility, obedience and SAR (search and rescue) in Germany with her French Briard, Aika. She traveled to different venues and searches before having children.

Mom imparted the importance of asking for respect from your dog, consider their boundaries and to have certain expectations. Using force free, positive reinforcement, and LIMA (least intrusive, minimally aversive) my mom was able to communicate clearly with any dogs.

Addi was fortunate enough to be taught by her mother, and later train her first dog (Rylee) under her guidance and expertise. It was during these training sessions, that Addi understood that giving her dog a clear path, direct guidance and help made all the difference. Having the support of a dog trainer and being able to learn how to communicate, elevated Addi's and Rylee's relationship and made them inseparable.

Getting a border collie caused a lot of havoc in Addi's family with her mom insisting that Addi should give Bella the chance to work sheep and see if that is what she was meant to do. After months of searching Addi found the Dog and Crook Farm in Pittsford, Vermont, where Jim McRae herding tested Bella. The rest is very much history and a complete 180 on Addi's and her dogs' life.

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Rylee is a Jack Russell Terrier (DOB: 08/2014). A few of the common breed personalities are jumping, running in circles and nonstop barking. Addi's parents clearly had no idea when they gifted Rylee to her. Rylee, however, is different. Having been born in Germany, Addi brought her over to Vermont in January 2015. She was a college student, wasn't allowed to have a dog in her apartment, and Rylee just hated being left alone. Addi alternated between bringing Rylee to her friends, to classes and even had her mom watch over her via FaceTime.

Since those college days, Addi and Rylee have come together. They built their confidence and overcame a lot of their insecurities. Addi started Rylee in agility, went to several trials, including the USDAA Regionals in 2019 and the UKI virtual Canadian Open in 2020 placing in the top three in agility and jumping. Nowadays their life looks a little different, but the same nonetheless. They go for hikes, walks and annoy sheep for fun, as Rylee retired from the agility ring in late 2020.

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Bella is a Border Collie (DOB: 10/2020). Addi had a lot of reservations about getting a dog breed that is known for its endless energy, constant need to work and no off switch. Bella while being all that, is also the most loving, snuggly and respectful dog.

Bella was meant to herd sheep. She loves it and wants to do it, and Addi has catered to that need for the better part of almost three years. The relationship that has formed between them is nothing short of magical and wonderful. Bella being the border collie that she is, will find a job if Addi does not give her a job, and that job is probably not to anyones liking. Herding training has given Addi insight into dog training that respect for and from dogs that she only dreamt of until then. 

Jim McRae, Jack and Kathy Knox allow their dogs to make mistakes, to learn from experience and to help the dogs to think through problems rather than drilling in the skills and mechanical behaviors. After Addi's grandmother passed away in February 2022, Addi started working at Dog and Crook Farm to help Bella and her become better at stockmanship, read sheep better and grow as a team.

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Dog training is not a straight easy road. It can be fast, it can go incredibly slow. The amount a dog can learn and the time involved is solely determined by the dog.

If you do not give up, it may actually turn out rewarding...

this thing they call dog training.