Welcome to.....
The Hollowell Academy
of Dog Training
Hollowell Kennels*
and
May 2, 2008
*....in long association with Plumcreek Kennels
NEW Dog Obedience CLASSES begin week of MAY 19,  2008
Hollowell's 2008 Canine Eye Clinic is June 21, 2008.
(Click for more info & application)
Dr. Ann Gemensky-Metzler, DVM, MS, Diplomat ACVO, Assistant
Professor Comparative Ophthalmology, OSU, will be conducting
CERF
exams
 and diagnostic exams.
Also available:  Microchip and/or Tattoo your pet(s).
Four Season's Photography will be set up for
"Family" photos!
Meet the Instructors......
Diane Laratta, Owner
The spacious facility of Hollowell Dog Training at 201 E. Kiracofe (Rt. 309) Elida, Ohio,  
houses the premier indoor dog training facility of west central Ohio.  Training is a well
established business under the professional tutelage of Hollowell owner/ trainer/
handler/published writer,  Diane Laratta.   

Diane  has been involved in the sport of purebred dogs for over 35 years beginning in
the  conformation & obedience rings showing her Standard Poodles under her
Hollowell banner.  She has achieved Obedience Titles of CD, CDX, and UD on her dogs
in the AKC show ring.  While breeding,  grooming, and handling her own line of
Champion Standard Poodles in the ring, she developed a studied knowledge of  dog
behaviors in particular.  Over the years, she turned her passion to the Whippet breed
and  developed proven teaching skills in training dogs and their people.  

Diane is a founding member and past president of the Genodermatosis Research
Foundation.  She served on the board of the Humane Society of Allen County and was
instrumental in development plans for the newer  Allen County Humane Society
building which was completed in  2000.  She maintains a contributory membership in
the Dog Writers' Association of America.   

Diane is a member of 'The American Whippet Club' as well as the 'Poodle Club of
America.  She is presently contributing articles for the Lima News promoting  
responsibilities of dog care and ownership.   Along with  Hollowell instructor
Dorothy Miner, Diane teaches Allen Correctional Institute prisoners how to train dogs
who have been rescued and need new homes.  To meet that goal, the prisoners as
well as the dogs benefit

Diane knows and understands the need to keep a dog in its home for its entire life just
as she knows you may have problems with your dog.   Welcome to the Hollowell
Academy of Dog Training!  
In 2002, Diane and the associates at Hollowell Dog Training had an unexpected
surprise when into our midst walked Dorothy Miner.  California's loss was  Hollowell's
 gain!  Dorothy owned and operated
Sidekicks' Common Sense Dog Training in
California and also retired as an city employee of  Palo Alto, California.  She has been
training dogs for over 35 years and has enjoyed it tremendously.    The Airedale
breed is her passion and she has  her favorites such as  Mila, shown in picture.

Dorothy is an accomplished author/illustrator of books for the  'Barren's  Educational
Series'. Her previously published book is:
'Airedale Terriers: A Complete Owners
Manual'.
  A second most recently completed book at the publisher now is, 'Practical
and Positive Training for Home and Obedience Competition'
.  She has contributed
articles to
Dog News magazine among others.  She is a retired AKC tracking judge as
well as a very talented artist!

Presently you will find Dorothy teaching the week-day morning Puppy Kindergarten,
Beginners Obedience, and Top-Dog Classes as well as Canine Good Citizen,
Tracking and Retrieving Classes.  Saturdays you will find her teaching our  Senior
Citizena class before she has to practice with the 'Bell Choir' at St. Charles church.  
She has worked hard to develop the dog training program at ACI and is responsible
for much of the 'behind the scenes' work done to promote the training program as
well as to promote the abilities & accomplishments of the prisoners who train dogs.
Dorothy Miner
Dorothy, in association with Bonnie Gilbert, a fellow Airedale Terrier breeder, manages "Sidekicks' Canine Fine Art",  an
Internet/Mail Order  store specializing in unique and fine creations from  illustrated note cards  and oil paintings by
Dorothy to needlepoint handwork.  
Lima native, Bonnie Everett  has been involved in training dogs for obedience
for the past 33 years.  She began as assistant trainer for Companion Dog Clinic
in the 70's and continued training her own dogs and giving private obedience
lessons in the 80's and 90's.  In addition to obedience classes, she also
trained Labrador retrievers for field trials.  She joined Hollowell in 2004 with
her Australian Terrier, Jake.  They both love the classes at Hollowell and
participate in the Hot Diggity Dogs Drill Team.

Bonnie has trained several breeds:  Doberman, German Shepherd, Giant
Schnauzer, Cocker Spaniel, Rhodesian Ridgeback,  Labrador Retriever, and
Gordon Setter.  Her Gordon Setter, MacMarLen's Abecedarian, C.D.X., was
nationally recognized for her achievements in competition.  Bonnie tells her
classes that successful obedience requires both patience and persistance

When she is not training at Hollowell, Bonnie practices law in Lima at Everett
Law Company, L.P.A., and serves as Allen County Law Librarian.  She rides and
trains horses at her Grove Stables north of Lima.   A country music fan, she
treasures a picture of Tim McGraw and her taken in Toledo on her birthday.  
She is now a grandma and takes great pride in Grace Ellyana.  
  
Bonnie Everett
JoEllen Gellert has been an instructor with Hollowell since the doors of the
Hollowell Academy of Dog Training  opened in Elida, OH.  She was asked to instruct
after years of training her Toy Poodle 'Dot'  when Hollowell was at its previous
location.  She has an excellent hand with animals and we are fortunate she
accepted the challange!

JoEllen graduated from Findlay University with a BS and a double major in
Equestrian Studies and Accounting.  She has been a 4-H Horse advisor for 18
years and a 4-H Dog advisor for 3 years. Additionally, she teaches competitive
agility as well as agility for fun.   See the 'Awards' page to see all she has
accomplished with her dogs, Dot (a Toy Poodle) and Ranger (an Australian
Shepherd).   

This gal stays super busy with her spouse, her new house, and her new job with an
agricultural linked company.   She is quite versatile and has applied her many
talents in all aspects of Hollowell!  Jo was responsible for building most of the
agility equipment we use at Hollowell.  She leads the way in keeping up with the
competitive events in Obedience and Agility!

The dog in the picture is 'Ranger', her Australian Shepherd.  All of us at Hollowell
have known him since he was a wee pup.  Both Ranger and Dot have achieved
multiple obedience and performance titles so JoEllen practices what she preaches!

This little gal wears lots of hats at Hollowell and is one of the strengths of the
Hollowell family!
JoEllen Gellart
Caterina O'Sullivan
The first time Caterina O'Sullivan showed a Springer Spaniel mix
when she was 5 years old, she was hooked.  Mrs. Terry DePetrio,
her school English teacher was an AKC Breeder and Judge who
introduced her to the world of AKC shows where 'Cat' did volunteer
work at the annual Monmouth County Kennel Club Show in New
Jersey.   
Fresh out of high school, her first Australian
Shepherd came to her by chance.   That is when she met  
accomplished  dog trainer/behaviorist,  Dan Gentile who she
apprenticed under for obedience and behavior training.  This gave
her invaluable insight into dogs for  training them in obedience and
conformation.  She has been teaching handling classes for local
dog clubs for over 10 years.   
(
http://www.njdog.com/njdog/index.html)
.....and now, meet our newest instructor, Julie Roller!
Julie Roller started with Hollowell training her Weimaraner Klaus in
multiple classes. We noticed her ability & patience during this time and
suggested she become an assistant instructor with Hollowell.  To our
great benefit, she accepted!
Julie started training as a member of 4-H, attending dog obedience
classes and showing in local dog shows.  She volunteered at her local
Humane Society for 3 years and shadowed at multiple veterinary clinics
in her hometown, Bemus Point, NY.  A graduate of the University of
Findlay's Biology and Equestrian Studies programs, Julie has been
training and showing horses for the past 15 years.
At Hollowell, Julie has spent lots of time shadowing, learning from the
experiences of all the instructors.  She currently assists with Puppy
Kindergarten and Beginner's Obedience as well as helping with other
classes whenever needed.  She has recently started showing at AKC
shows, and is working toward rally, obedience, and agility titles with
Klaus.  Along with her husband, Brett, and with his understanding, she
has been working with their latest addition, a rescue Weimaraner
named Meike.  Meike is just beginning her career in the show ring and
we are sure she will do quite well.  
In addition to helping at Hollowell and training horses, Julie works as a
Supervisor at Charles River Laboratories.   She is cheerful and willing
with each of her jobs, has a wonderful hand with animals.  Julie is truly
an asset to her many friends as well as to Hollowell and we are
fortunate to have both Brett and Julie with us!    (Picture coming soon!)
Be sure to check our special package deals for classes.  See the Beginner's
Obedience page as well as the Rally-O page for more information!
Staunch supporters of Hollowell, the
Jacob & Cindy Cech family and a few
of the many friends of Hollowell!
Dorothy, Lori, Ginger, & Marty, our
California transplants....can't do
without them!
Dog Training and events at
Hollowell.........
.....can be a family experience!
One Block EAST of Dutch Hollow Rd.
Click for Lima, Ohio Forecast
Please and thank-you for not using any part of
this website without permission.
Website by House of Wylee 'n Lil'Bear
Updated May 9
, 2008

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Click here for
past  Puppy
Kindergarten
Pictures
Home to generations of Champion Whippets...
   ........plus a few French Bulldogs
Cat is the author of 2 books in the Breeders Best series:  
'The Australian Shepherd' and 'The Border Collie' .  She is a Breeder/Handler of Australian Shepherds with
numerous finished Champions including Specialty wins.  Other breeds that she has handled are Golden
Retrievers, Border Collies, Parson (Jack) Russell Terriers, Chinese Cresteds & Chihuahuas.  

Cat is a founding member and Vice President of The Northern New Jersey Australian Club as well as a
member of the Greater Ohio Australian Shepherd Club and the Australian Shepherd Club of America.  
Pictured with her is her all-around performance dog,  Quiz!