2010 Award Winner - Karin Bridge
Karin has been active in promoting positive training in Australia since 1995 as a dog club instructor, Canine Good Citizen Coordinator, assistance dog trainer, and as an agility, obedience and dog dancing competitor. Beyond her own community, Karin reaches an even broader audience, as a writer, lecturer and teacher – one of the first to promote clicker training in Australia starting in the 1990’s.
What gave Karin the final edge over the other well-qualified competitors for this award is her commitment to the APDT organization on top of all her other admirable achievements. Karin has been an APDT member since its earliest days, and served on the Education Committee (2002); as Newsletter Editor (2003-2005), and as President (2006-2009). She also contributes articles to the Newsletter as well as providing a Science Review on a regular basis. She currently represents APDT on the Australian Companion Animal Council.
2009 Award Winner - Georgia Karajas
Among Georgia Karajas's many accomplishments, the one that stands out above all others is her work with shelter dogs in her capacity as Manager of Dog Behavior and Enrichment at the Dogs Refuge Home of Western Australia.
Established in 1935, the DRH, located in Perth, is one of the oldest animal rescue organizations in the country. They take in hundreds of animals each year, with a maximum capacity of about 150 dogs at any one time.
With a 74-year history of animal care and protection, only in the past three years have they transitioned to a policy and philosophy that incorporates positive training methods – thanks to the exceptional efforts of our award winner, Georgia Karajas. Georgia’s duties at DRH include development and implementation of environmental enrichment programs, volunteer and staff training, behavioural assessments, and postadoption training. In addition, she teaches eight group classes per week, and has developed a CGS program and a Level 1 Rally program.
Georgia is clearly doing much good for many Australian canines and their humans.
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