Heidi was born into a family of canine professionals and shared their passions: Her Mother was prominent breeder & exhibitor of German Shepherds and Rottweilers for many years, was a founding member of New England Rottweiler Fanciers; President of the Bay State German Shepherd Dog Club and managed the family's large boarding and training facility. Her Father was the first training director of the Boston Police K9 Unit & helped institute K9 programs for 43 other police departments around the United States; founder of the North American Police Working Dog Association and was Vice President of the United States Police Canine Association.

Needless to say her youth was spent either at the end of the leash or on the back of one of her horses. She titled her first dog in obedience at age 12 & put the first championship points on her parents dog at 15.

After years of assisting under her father in classes, service dog, personal protection & police training as well as their school for professional trainers, she struck out on her own. With an initial focus on family dog training, re-schooling rescue dogs and coaching obedience competitors, she has instituted training programs & worked with students from New England to the Carolina's under her own business for the past 30 years.

After moving to the Westerly area in 2015, her long term goal became clear – to create a training center that offered all the wonderful sports & activities available to dog lovers and encourage people to do more with their dog.

In 2021, she teamed up with a former client and Discover Your Dog! opened its doors to an enthusiastic and welcoming community!

As the former director of a herding breed rescue she founded in the 90's, she has a special love & understanding of the working breeds. Her teaching methods are eclectic and all encompassing – drawing on a variety of proven methods with the knowledge that not one style suits all students and the method should be fit to the dog, not ever forcing a dog to one single minded method.

Continuing education is a priority for Heidi and throughout the year she attends seminars, enrolls in courses involving canine behavior, nutrition & biology and regularly participates and takes the lead in peer discussion groups. Most importantly, she knows that there is always something new to be learned every day and learning is always easier in a fun atmosphere.

In her 'off' time, Heidi is almost always found training/competing with her dogs in Rally, Obedience, Barn Hunt, Disc Dog, Dock Diving, Herding, Scentwork, Coursing, Tracking, FastCAT's or in the Conformation ring. In February of 2026, she won one of the most difficult & esteemed awards of all: Best of Breed at The famed Westminster Dog Show with her Lancashire Heeler, Ziggy.

She has earned numerous titles in various sports over the years, but the one she values the most is the title of Best Friend to her four legged family.