As a life time animal lover, Debbie has been involved with the Humane Society (OSPCA), volunteering time at a local center and participating in walk-a -thons and other fundraising events.
 

Before she even knew dog backpacking was a judged event, Debbie ordered a back pack for her Shepard/husky-cross out of practicality.  Debbie and her husband John did a lot of canoeing and kayaking trips with rigorous portages.  They wanted their dog “Jake” to pull his own weight, so he would carry water, his food, and what they called “quick access” stuff such as first aid and our trail munchies in his backpack.
 

Deb’s first Bernese “Lyn” was a pleasure to train and work with.  She fell in love with the companionship, loyalty and willingness to please found in Lyn after the challenge of working with a Shepard/husky cross that had a mind of his own.
 

Debbie joined the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Ontario (BMDCO) and began obedience work with Lyn and completed a CD title.  While she got to know the people in the “Berner” club, she was introduced to carting.  She started training Lyn for draft and she was a natural!  After three years of hard work they were proud to complete and receive “DD” and “DDX”. Sadly, Lyn passed away a year later.
 

Enthusiastic about the sport of drafting, Debbie volunteered to help at carting work shops. Getting great pleasure from seeing other people work successfully with their dogs, she volunteered to work as a draft test steward.  After receiving much good advice, support, and encouragement from some people close to her, Deb qualified as an all-breed draft judge for Draft Dog and Draft Dog Excellent Tests in 2004.  Debbie judged the draft tests at the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Canada 2005 Specialty in Fredericton, NB and most recently the BMDCO All-Breed Draft Tests in September 2006, and BMDCC All-Breed Draft Tests in August 2007.