Oak Spring Kennels

About Oak Spring Kennels

Personally Shari’s great love is the dogsport of agility. She made her agility debut in 1998 with her first dog, a German Shepherd named Casino Chip. They competed in Flyball, Agility, and Obedience. A few years later, Shari’s husband introduced her to the Belgian Malinois which has quickly become her preferred furry love. With her first Malinois, Tisa du Banc des Hermelles, she had to learn agility all over again—as a Malinois is not an easy breed. Shari & Tisa worked together learning each others strengths and weaknesses and have risen to the agility challenge. Shari & Tisa will be competing internationally for the 3rd time in 2010 as a member of the American Working Malinois Association Agility Team at the Federation Mondiale Bergers Belges Agility World Championships, in Cottbus, Germany. Shari believes that the only way to succeed as a dog/handler team is to train based on the handler and dog’s ability and in-abilities rather than forcing the dog or handler to do something because it’s part of a system or the way everyone else is doing it. By learning different techniques, each team can build on their individual strengths and will succeed. Her training philosophy focuses on positive reinforcement through consistent, motivating exercises for both dog and handler. Shari currently owns five Belgian Malinois’ and resides in Poplar Grove, Illinois with her husband Phil Behun, where they own a public dog boarding and training business, Oak Spring Kennels, Inc.

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