In September 2009, Mahogany Ridge, Home of Team Training, was sold to Jennifer Weis. Jen continues with the Mahogany Ridge legacy under Mahogany Ridge N.Y. LLC, offering daycare, private lessons, workshops, and group classes in obedience and agility. Jen will also be host-ing the Spring/Fall AdultCamps! and the three, week-long KidsCamps! ,
Since 1982 — when she first opened Mahogany Ridge in upstate N.Y., Theresa has made people and their dogs her business. Students and trainers alike seek Theresa's help and guidance. With her knowledge and skill she leads the way, facing each challenge with confidence. Theresa tailors her training to the individual team, so that a strong bond is formed and the dog and handler work as one. In this way success is achieved and goals are met, whether that goal is of a happy family pet or a competitive team. |
 Theresa and Shine |
Past and Present . . . Theresa Richmond was born and raised in Lake George, a resort town in up-state New York. One of five children, Theresa grew up in the family business, Mario's Restaurant, which remains fam-ily owned and operated today. A graduate of Lake George High School, her search for further education took her to the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale in Florida. Upon Returning to New York State, Theresa's work experience began. Working as a sales representative for Ray Supply in Glens Falls, she was educated in the area of Computers and Audio Visual equipment and spent a number of years on the road calling on schools and companies. Theresa then spent 4 years in education working as a computer consul-tant for a local school district. It was in 1991 that the opportunity to “go to the dogs” full time was presented and the rest, they say, is history. When it started . . . Theresa's love and understanding of dogs began when she was a young child, surrounded by a vari-ety of purebred and mixed breed dogs. She attended her first obedience class at the age of fourteen with a mixed breed named Mac and shortly thereafter began traveling with her Aunt, Jean Pagnotta, to many local and Canadian dog shows and trials . In 1982, Theresa opened Mahogany Ridge for business. In an 8x6 shed she began selling Fromm dog food and various pet supplies. This shed is currently located at Mahogany Ridge in Malta and remains in use! In 1985, after returning from her first Volhard Instructor Training School, Theresa, along with longtime friends Ellen Ban-nin and Marty Griffin, established the roots of what would become Mahogany Ridge: ‘Team Training Obedience School,' then located in Lake George. Theresa has titled her own dogs as well as client dogs in Canada and the U.S. including a number of breed championships, group placements, obedience, and agility titles. She has also collected a number of Canine Good Citizen Awards & Temperament Test Certificates. Along with her son James' Shetland Sheepdog, who works as a Therapy dog, they visit schools and libraries promoting canine awareness to all she meets! Theresa's canine education consists of a multitude of seminars, training camps and self study. Theresa received her certification as an agility instructor by Julie Daniels in 1997 and is a follower of the Hatfield/Mah approach to agility. She has attended behavioral seminars by Katherine Houpt at Cornell University as well as training seminars with the late Job Michael Evans. Theresa is forever a student who seeks any information to be gathered. In 1991, the growing business became a full-time operation and relocated to its current site in Malta, N.Y. Mahogany Ridge N.Y. is situated on five acres of fields and woods and operates a training center, dog daycare and pet supplies retail store. Mahogany Ridge N.Y. has grown in time to become a progres-sive, multi-faceted dog care facility. It was in 1985 that Theresa first attended Jack and Wendy Volhard's Instructor Training School held in New Hampshire. She adopted the Volhard's motiva-tional method as her mission at Mahogany Ridge. With this method she teaches others how to develop and enhance the relationship they have with their dogs. In 1994, Theresa was honored to be selected to join the Volhard teaching staff. She has continued to teach at the annual Volhard training camps, which are currently held at Graves Mtn. Lodge in Syria, Virginia. Currently, Mahogany Ridge N.Y. and its group of instructors offer classes in obedience, agility, fly ball, rally, freestyle and more, as well as private lessons for house manners or for the competitive obedience or agility student. Since its creation, Mahogany Ridge has hosted a variety of training and health-related clinics, seminars and camps, which are now recurring events . The Doggy Day Care, added in 1994, operates five days a week in N.Y. as a structured and supervised day program for pre-qualified dogs. In 1999 Theresa launched KidsCamp!, a week-long day camp for kids and their dog companions. In 2006 it was apparent that kids were returning to camp so TeenCamp! was launched offering dog training and skill building for the teenage audience. In July of 2009 our TeenCamp! was renamed to Blue Ribbon Camp!, which caters to KidsCamp! Alumni of 3 or more camps. In June 2007 Theresa introduced a three-day AdultCamp! This camp was very successful and will continue as an annual fall event at Mahogany Ridge! Mahogany Ridge N.Y. and VA also offer a “Board 'n Train.” option for clients. Dogs go to live at Mahogany Ridge for one or more weeks and learn how to behave in a family environment (humans and dogs) while receiving basic obedience train-ing. For those that have specific concerns about their dog's behavior, consultations can be set up. Most recently, Theresa has developed a series of two-hour workshops. Each week offers a different focus in the areas of obedience, agility, breed ring handling and health and awareness, giving dog owners the opportunity to select the workshop that best meets their needs. Many individuals, organizations, and schools have recognized Theresa for sharing her knowl-edge and experience. She has helped many to become successful in their goals, whether it be fixing behavior problems, obedience, agility, or teaching their dogs special skills like running beside a bike! Never hesitant to face a challenge, Theresa reaches into her “bag of tricks” and comes up with the solution. . . . and the Future, Mahogany Ridge VA, LLC In January 2010, Theresa finalized her plans to relocate to Culpeper, Virginia and establish Mahogany Ridge VA, LLC, located at 15240 Turkey Track, Culpeper, VA. 22701 She will be offering many of the same services and training opportunities as she did in New York. Please email Theresa for more information at Theresa@mahoganyridge.net |
|
