Meet The ACA Family

Dory Kowal, CPDT

President/CEO - American Canine Academy, Inc.
Certified Pet Dog Trainer - Association of Pet Dog Trainers
Certified CGC Evaluator - American Kennel Club
Certified Therapy Dog Evaluator - Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs
ABC Mentor Trainer - Animal Behavior College

Puppy Kindergarten Instructor
Obedience Instructor
Agility Instructor
Animal Behavior Consultant

NCRC/AACR Northeast Crisis Response Coalition - Animal Assisted Crisis Responder
NCRC - Salvation Army
FEMA Certified - Animals in Disaster, Awareness & Preparedness
FEMA Certified - Incident Command System
American Red Cross Certificate - Pet First Aid

Click Here for Additional Credentials/Education

Obedience Training dogs since early childhood
Owns & Trains Rescue Dogs
Retired 20 Year Business Owner
American Canine Academy: 2005 - Bill Delaney

Volunteers - Pet Therapy Visits
Sets up nursing home facility Pet Therapy programs
Sets up Pet Reading Assistance programs
Captains various nursing home Pet Therapy programs

Currently proud "Mom" to 6 beautiful "kids":

Elle - Blacksmiths Elektra, CD, RE, RL1 - Recipient of APDT's Award of Excellence, NCRC Level II Disaster Relief Dog, Certified B&B Therapy Test Dog, Certified B&B Therapy Dog, CGC - 5 year old Rottweiler
Cruiser, RL1 - Recipient of APDT's Award of Excellence, NAC, NGC, Certified B&B Therapy Dog, CGC - 10 year old All American Mixed Breed
Stryker - El Tigre do Guardian - 4 month old Fila Brasileiro
Pickles - 13 year old Pot Bellied Pig and 2 Cats - Booties & Sweet Pea

On the other side of the bridge to forever, our animal friends wait for us…

Duelly, Certified B&B Therapy Dog, CGC - 8 year old Fila Brasileiro ~ Rainbow Bridge: 4/5/08
Tia, NAC, Certified B&B Therapy Test Dog, Certified B&B Therapy.Dog, CGC - 15 year old German Shepherd ~ Rainbow Bridge: 3/14/08
..

Arlene Spooner

Training Dogs since: 1998
Competing with dogs since: 1999
Trainer at American Canine Academy since: 2000

Instructor for Agility Classes - Beginner through Competition Levels

Tri-State Agility Instructor (NJ, NY & CT)
Hosts Seminars in the Northeast
Weavepole Seminar is in demand every year

Volunteers Pet Therapy Visits
Recipient of NJ Veterinarians Animal Hall of Fame Award for recognition
for outstanding therapy work with the families of the World Trade Center
Recipient of NJ Department of Human Services Award for working with
hearing impaired children

2000 AKC Nationals Finalist and 3rd across all jump heights in New Jersey in State Team
competition with Papillion "Alix"

Attended 2007 Clean Run Agility Instructors Camp

Currently the proud "Mom" of:
Holly - NATCH MACH Hollypeno, CD, TG-E, WV-O, CGC, TheraPet - rescued 8 year old Cocker Spaniel - Champion Agility Titles in Two Venues AKC & NADAC, 2003 All-Stars Tournament Placement - Featured on the cover of CLEAN RUN agility magazine
Tasha - Box Kashi Twist, OA, OAJ, NAC, UAGI, CGC, TheraPet - 8 year old rescued Afghan Hound
Blitz - CH MACH3 Burmack's Hvn HiV Bobi, EAC, EJC, EGC, TG-E, WV-O, UAGI, CL3-R, CL3-H, CL3-S, CL3-F, BSLA, BTA, CGC, TheraPet - 5 year old Manchester Terrier

More on Blitz!

19 Agility Titles in first year of competition
AKC 2004 Top Dog Honoree
1st Manchester in history to complete an AKC MACH2 - Ranked #1 Manchester in the US
1st and ONLY Manchester in history to complete an AKC MACH3
2006 AKC Nationals - No faults in both individual runs and State Rounds
2006 State Competition - 2nd Place jump heights in New Jersey
2006 All Stars Tournament - 1st Place
Total Dog Award at first UKC trial
2007 AKC National Agility Invitational Finalist - 6th place - Top Toy Dog

Joanne Silver

Training Dogs: since 1978
Class Instructor: since 1989
Trainer at American Canine Academy: since 2002

Instructor for Pet Therapy Classes

Breeder: Silvercreek Chesapeakes - AKC and CKC Multiple Title Champions, Obedience, Judges Award of Merits,
Competing with Dogs: since 1989, Show, Obedience - UD, Hunting
Best in Shows, CD Am/Can, Mulitple CDX's, Am/Can CH's, Field & Hunt Titles

Association of Pet Dog Trainers - Member
Ramapo Kennel Club - President, VP, Board Member and Recording Secretary
Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs - Serves on the Board of Directors
Ramapo Kennel Club - Obedience Show Chair, Point Show Chair, Match Show Chair
American Chesapeake Club - Chairman Service and Therapy Dogs
American Chesapeake Club - Historian
American Chesapeake Club - Judges Mentor

Recipient of Commendation from the Bergen County Board
.....of Chosen Freeholders for outstanding therapy dog work
Certified Evaluator for Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs
Former Evaluator for Delta Society
Former Evaluator for Therapy Dogs Int'l
Certified AKC CGC Evaluator - since inception and did their first video
.....on the program
Specializes in setting up hospital pet therapy programs
Captains various hospital & nursing home facility programs
Contributed to Delta Society Training Manual
Breeder of 4 generations of pet therapy dogs
Author of several articles
• Pet Therapy
• Enjoying your Older Dog
• Getting Ready to Bring Home Your New Puppy

Volunteer for Chesapeake Bay Retriever Rescue, Pet Therapy visits, Secretary Children's Charity Organization MHBC

Currently the proud "Mom" of 9 Chesapeake Bay Retrievers and a litter or two of puppies!
Lucy - Am/Can/PR/World CH*Silvercreek I Love Lucy JH WD CGC, Delta, TDI, B&B12 1/2 year old
Jeannie - Am/Can CH Silvercreek I Dream of Jeannie CGC/TDI, B&B - 10 1/2 year old CBR
Archie - BISS Am/Can CH*Silvercreek All In The Family - 2 1/2 year old CBR
Vanna - Am/Can CH*Silvercreek Wheel of Fortune JH - 5 year old CBR
Margie - Am/Can CH*Silvercreek My Little Margie - 8 year old CBR
Cheers - BIS/BPIS Am/Can CH*Silvercreek Casbar Cheers -4 1/2 year old CBR
Brook - BPIS Am/Can CH*Silvercreek Our Miss Brooks - 2 1/2 year old CBR
Maddie - Am/Can CH Silvercreek Moonlighting CGC, Bright and Beautiful 6 year old CBR
Xena - Am/Can CH Chesepi Xena of Silvercreek JH 4 1/2 year old CBR

Cindy Mauro

Training dogs: since 1978
Training at American Canine Academy: since 2002

Certified Therapy Dog Evaluator - Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs Certificate in "Canine Aggression Management"
American Red Cross Certificate - Pet First Aid

Continuing Education Lectures and Seminars:

2006: Dr. Ronald Schultz - Canine & Feline Vaccines & Vaccination Programs

2006: Turid Rugaas - On Talking Terms with Dogs & My Dog Pulls, What do I do?

2007: Mindful Tails - T-Touch for Companion Animals

2008: Sue Sternberg - Adapting temperament tests to in-home behavior consultations

Owns & trains rescue dogs: since 1978

Owned & showed horses: since 1973
Trained horses: since 1976
Equine Riding instructor: since 1977
Licensed Groomer/Exerciser at NJ Meadowlands Race Track: 1978-1982

Works with dog rescue groups including "Twin Tiers Rescue"
and various others through rescue network

Volunteers: Pet Therapy Visits

Currently proud "Mom" of 7 beautiful rescue dogs:
Emma -15 year old Golden Retriever - Retired Certified B&B Therapy Dog
Sam -15 year old Pomeranian
Cayenne - 8 year old Pomeranian
Kukla - 6 year old Pomeranian
Ollie - 6 year old Pomeranian - Certified B&B Therapy Test Dog & Certified B&B Therapy Dog
Bayou - 2 year old Pomeranian
Fresca, CGC - 5 year old Pomeranian - Newest Addition!

Cayenne, Kukla & Ollie - 2006: starred in Intel Commercial

"Poms are like Popcorn - you can't have just one!"

Toni O'Brien

Working with ALL animals: since 1991
Training at American Canine Academy: since 2000
Certified Veterinarian Technician

Continuing Education Lectures and Seminars:

2001: Lyme Disease Seminar - Parsippany, NJ
2001: Atlantic Coast Veterinary Conference
2002: NJVMA - Surgical Prep
2002: Tufts University - Vaccination Protocols
2006: Dr. Ronald Schultz - Canine & Feline Vaccines &Vaccination Programs
2007: Mindful Tails - T-Touch for Companion Animals

Owned and Trained Rescue Dogs: since 1992

Rescue & Wildlife Foster Mom: since 1991
Volunteers: Pets Alive Animal Sanctuary in Middletown, NY

Currently proud "Mom" of 5 beautiful rescues and a foster critter or two:
Piglet - 8 year old Mixed Breed Dog - Model for J&B Pet Supplies
Elmer - 16 year old Beagle
Kermit - 10 year old Cat
Meatball - 6 year old Cat
Oscar - baby Raccoon (Successfully released!)
Buffy - baby Squirrel (Successfully released!)
Opossums, Birds, etc... (All Successfully released!)

Dave Brown

Training dogs since: 1994
Trainer at American Canine Academy: since ACA was first founded
Mentored under Bill Delaney

Puppy Kindergarten Instructor
Obedience Instructor

Competing with dogs: since 1995

Volunteers: Fire Chief - Rochelle Park
Member: since 1991

Currently the proud owner of:

Copper - Sir Copper Rotten Brown - Basset Hound - 8 years old
Hershey - Brown's Chocolate Kiss - Bloodhound - 7 years old
Bubba - Bubba Buck Run, CD - English Mastiff 1993 - 2002

"The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue."