Julie & Shelby Lyle
About Tandem
Hi, I'm Julie Lyle, the owner of Tandem. I have had a passion for all animals, and specifically dogs, since I was very young. Rather than an imaginary friend, when I was three years old I had an imaginary dog!
My immediate family includes husband, Nathan, owner of the The U.P. Web Maestro; step-children: Josh (16), Joey (15), and Kari (13); son Raymond (3), German Shepherd Dog/Doberman mix Shelby (10), Labrador Retriever Ramsey (4) & Doberman Pinscher Duncan (1).
My journey into dog training began when I became a volunteer at the Marquette County Humane Society (MCHS) during my first year of college. I loved the ability to interact with a variety of dogs every week, and to help the dogs get some social contact and exercise during their shelter stay. I began working at the shelter the following year as a part-time animal care giver. The MCHS administration at the time believed in constantly working to improve the quality of life for animals in the shelter and also to improve their chances for adoption. One of the programs implemented to accomplish these goals was some simple training incorporated into every interaction with the shelter dogs. A major force in this program was Dr. Susan Kapla, who greatly influenced my training style and continues to help me grow as a trainer and dog owner to this day.
At about this time I also adopted my first dog, Kinsey. Kinsey was a German Shepherd Dog/ Rottweiler mix. She can be credited for my emergence in dog training. Kinsey was a great dog who, unfortunately, helped me learn through the mistakes I made in her raising and training. She was euthanized at the young age of two and a half due to severe pain from hip and elbow displaysia. In her short life I learned a great amount about many dog training tools, styles, issues (resource guarding, dog-dog aggression, reactivity, and pain related aggression), and I also learned how much a dog can impact the course of your life.
I continued working at the MCHS for the next seven years, working my way into the Assistant Manager position and then the Shelter Manager position. After assisting Dr. Kapla with some training classes, then team teaching some classes with her, I taught puppy and basic training classes through the shelter for five years. After this long tenure with the MCHS, I left to finish my degree in zoology, which I had put off to work full time at the shelter, and to have my first child. I have been slowly chipping away at my remaining classes at Northern Michigan University, and graduated in May of 2009 with a B.S. in zoology with a psychology minor.
I became a Certified Pet Dog Trainer in October of 2008, after completing the Certification Examination For Pet Dog Trainers. This title of Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT) is something only one other Upper Peninsula trainer currently holds, and only a small number of other people in Michigan hold.
Over the years I have read innumerable books on all aspects of dogs and their humans, have learned a great deal from the human and canine students I have taught, and have attended many dog related seminars including the following:
- Chris Bach—The Third Way Instructor's Camp—5 days 2002
- Sue Sternberg—Assess-A-Pet and Train to Adopt—2 days 2003
- Ian Dunbar—Play, Social Behavior, Biting & Fighting—2 days 2003
- Pia Sylvani and Trish King—3 days 2004
- Emily Weiss & ASPCA—SAFER—2 days 2005
- Chris Bach—Using the Power of The Third Way—2 days 2007
- Brenda Aloff—Get Connected—1 day May 2008
- Chris Bach—Problem Solving—2 days September 2008
- Chris Bach—Problem Solving—3 days October 2009
