The core of my dog work (research, seminars, classes) for the last few years has been canine nutrition and allergies. (Along the way, I have researched other canine health challenges.)

I was discovering, when I worked with other people's dogs, that many of the owners needed information about caring for their dogs' health almost as much as they needed help with being a strong handler, and, more important, that they had few resources.

An LEO asked me about his PSD's skin pruritis, and when we had successfully controlled that with a diet 180 (switching his PSD to what was basically the Leerburg sample diet, including fish oil and Vitamin E), others in his department saw the difference and started asking for help.

Our training club was similarly peopled with folks who didn't know how to start, but had a vague idea that crap in a bag (thank you, Cindy, for that great name ) wasn't their best option, no matter how expensive it was and no matter how lovely the bags looked stacked in their vets' waiting rooms.

Now, of course, books and web sites have proliferated. Still, many owners don't even know where to start; they have no idea that the dog's health and longevity is profoundly affected by his diet. Many who DO suspect the strong connection turn first to their vets, whose nutrition education is unlikely to be either extensive or uninfluenced by a huge commercial dog food company.

I like being able to help owners design and implement the best diet for their dogs.

I also like the fact that I get more on this board than I give. It's a rare week when I don't come away from this board with new information in the field I love so much.

OK guys,

the moderator bio thread is for moderators to tell a bit about themselves so I am going to lock this and delete the discussion.

while I agree that Connie is AWESOME, if other moderators post their info here, it will be hard to wade through all the posts to find it.

if you all want to start another thread in the conversation section, them please feel free.

thanks!