Laura Holzscheiter

Owner and Head Trainer

Laura Holzscheiter founded CloverField K9 in 2013, bringing expertise in working dog training to Northern Vermont. Her experience started almost 30 years ago, acquiring accreditations in dog training and behavioral science from Washington & Jefferson College, Cornell University, Connecticut K9, and NEDTA. Since then, Laura has channeled her focus to working dogs; first spending nearly two decades as a dedicated student of world-famous Gottfried Dildei and qualified for the AWDF FH2 World Tracking Competition in Austria after winning the DVG FH2 Nationals.

Now, Laura has transitioned to operational dogs and is the owner and head trainer of CloverField K9 where she coaches and trains service dogs including but not limited to: Police K9s, Narcotics Detection Dogs, Search and Rescue Dogs, Human Remains Detection Dogs, Firearms Dogs, and Conservation Dogs.

Laura also enjoys helping clients with their active pet dogs, or helping to work through behavioral problems.

Our Staff:

Our dedicated team of trainers, instructors, and animal care staff keeps our program running smoothly and methodically. Each teammate brings a unique set of skills to CloverField K9.

Trainer, General Manager, and Event Coordinator

Lessons available in: Environmentals, Dock-Diving, and

Just-For-Fun Agility.

Mellie Holzscheiter

As Laura's daughter, Mellie has been around working dogs her entire life; she even viewed Gottfried Dildei as her "extra grandpa". Mellie has been here since we opened in 2013. Her main roles are: running the office, teaching environmentals and dock-diving, and organizing events.

Kennel Manager

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Anna Willis

Anna plays an essential role in the daily care of all of the CloverField critters. Anna grew up around horses. Animals have always been a major part of her life. While Anna is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her personal dogs, including her wolf hybrid.

Animal Care

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Amy Akerlind

Amy grew up in Vermont and has been around animals from a young age. She has an Associates Degree in Veterinary Technology and worked in humane societies before pursuing an EMS career as a paramedic. Eventually, she returned to her passion for dogs by running off-leash camps and training programs. Her favorite thing is spending time with her two dobermans.

Trainer, Office Manager, Animal Care

Lessons available in: Obedience

Carmen Garofalo

Carmen is so excited to be part of the CloverField team. Carmen comes from a background in pet-dog training, behavior, and socialization. She has a degree in Animal Science from the University of Vermont and has spent over 10 years working at rescues and dog daycare/training facilities. In her free time, Carmen is always doing something with her four dogs (one of which is her owner-trained service dog) Together they enjoy hiking, training, and participating in AKC sports like rally, agility, and FastCAT.

Trainer and Animal Care

Lessons available in: Behavior Modification, Obedience, and Scent Work

Sheri Rath

Sheri has been training dogs since 2003. She was an assistant trainer at Mar-Ken International K9 and has worked with professional detection/patrol units. She has passed certs in: tracking/trailing/article detection/scent detection/building and area searches! She also enjoys teaching pet lessons.

Trainer

Lessons Available in: Competition Agility

Nicki Houghton

Nicki structures her sessions focused on teaching with clear, straight forward instruction that enable each student to learn at his/her own pace. She teaches with positive reinforcement techniques. Nicki’s background in college athletics allows her to adjust training with individual student needs and physical abilities.

Nicki’s handling focuses on finding fluidity and connection within every course, allowing the dog to confidently maximize their skill set. Nicki views dog agility as a fun game that allows us to create a lifelong bond of love and understanding with dogs – through running and chasing – and a perfect way to keep our dogs fit and engaged in life.