Instructor Bios

After a 38 year career with IBM as an Executive Assistant, Laurie is thrilled to pursue her passion of training dogs and helping others do the same. 

Laurie has owned and trained numerous breeds including Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, a Cocker Spaniel and some rescue mix breeds, which has given her training experience with both large and small dogs.   She has obtained numerous titles in obedience in both AKC and CDSP and has trained dogs from the Novice thru Utility level. She also achieved tracking, NACSW nosework , dock diving, BCAT, WC, Canine Good Citizen, Rally and Trick Dog titles. Two of Laurie's dogs won challenge trophies this year for their accomplishments in both obedience and the breed ring.

One of Laurie's  German Shepherds  appeared on the television show, Law and Order SVU and a program on the  Hulu network.  Her Golden Retrievers have appeared in a movie, an ad for  NY Lottery, and one of her Goldens was displayed on a Purina dog food bag.

Laurie enjoys working with people and motivating them to enjoy the sport of obedience.  She believes that maintaining the bond with our dogs is of paramount importance.  Laurie's mantra is "Have fun and be fun in your training.

Laurie currently has 4 dogs:  Lucy, Brenley, Deeks and Shelby and a very supportive husband of over 40 years.

Contact Laurie at LaurieC@odtcw.com

Mindy Costanza has been showing in obedience for over 30 years and teaches all levels of obedience.  She enjoys the challenges of the sport, especially the problem solving.  Mindy has successfully competed with Chow Chows, Norwegian Elkhounds, and Australian Shepherds in all levels of AKC, UKC, ASCA, and CDSP Obedience earning UD’s, UDX’s and an OTCH.  She currently conducts a variety of weekly obedience classes at the Obedience Dog Training Club of Waterbury in Oxford, Connecticut and competes in Obedience trials with her partners Stryker and Scout.

Contact Mindy at MindyC@odtcw.com

After a successful 30 year career as Technical Director of a large chemical company, Frank switched to a career he enjoyed - working with dogs. He taught his first dog training class in 1999. Went full-time in 2001. Since then he has helped more than 4,000 dogs ranging from the diminutive Chihuahuas to the enormous Irish Wolfhound. Such variety enabled Frank to develop a training methodology he calls the "adaptive balanced approach."

He regularly runs his own dogs in AKC competitions ranging from Rally to Obedience to Field Sports. In doing so he has put 63 AKC obedience and field titles on 16 different dogs, amassed over 300 ribbons, qualified for the Master Retriever National 16 times, placed 2 dogs (St. Jude's Autumn Field Poppy and Autumn's Sunka Luta Sioux) in the Golden Retriever Hall of Fame, and appeared several times on ESPN television. 

But of all his canine accomplishments, his favorite achievements are seeing dog class students smile when their dogs succeed.

Contact Frank at FrankM@odtcw.com

Laurie Strimavicius grew up her whole life around animals. Having competed seriously riding horses as a young girl and throughout her teens, her passion for training and competing quickly transferred over to dogs when her parents finally allowed a dog to come into the household. Fascinated by dog behavior and what makes them “tick”, Laurie soon discovered a a new found love for teaching dogs new behaviors and tricks. Laurie has an extensive back ground in Veterinary medicine after being a surgical technician for a busy, animal hospital for 15 years prior to becoming a stay at home mom. Becoming involved as a leader with a local 4H club, alongside her daughter, sparked a serious interest in teaching people how to train dogs both in pet life as well as for the competition ring. Soon after becoming a leader, Laurie acquired her very first dog, a Labrador named Mary Elizabeth, who she has been training for the last four years in both AKC Rally, AKC obedience, and CDSP Obedience. Together, Laurie and M.E., have earned several titles in all three venues, including placing 7th in the Excellent class at the 2020 Rally National Championship, OTCH-C, and is currently working on her first UDX and OTCH in AKC. Laurie also has a young dog named Ever, who is training to make her obedience debut. Laurie is an AKC CGC evaluator and teaches competition obedience and rally classes at ODTCW. 

Contact Laurie at LaurieS@odtcw.com

Barbara’s dog career started in 1974 managing a breed kennel with Alaskan Malamutes and showing them in conformation. Through the years she has trained and showed in obedience and agility - CGC/TDI, Rally, AKC and USDAA. At Bobbie Bhambree’s North-East Regional Dog Training Academy she had hands on dog work and apprenticeship with Karen Reilly, Nancy Field and Mary Horn in Manners and with Kris Seiter and Chris Tucci in Agility.

In more recent years Barbara continued training in obedience and agility, along with scent work and herding. Her dog, Ivan, earned his AKC Masters Preferred Bronze in Jumpers and Standard and is still going at 12 years young!

When not training and competing with her own dogs in agility and fieldwork she teaches at an agility club in Middletown, NY.

Contact Barbara at : barbaras@odtcw.com