Dorothy Blair - Founder

My name is Dorothy Blair. Why do I do what I do? I love dogs. My infatuation began when I was a very young child. I use to watch the “Let’s Make a Deal” program and salivate over the door with the year’s worth of dog food and the Saint Bernard. I think the worst thing that could happen to me is to never have a dog.

When I attended college, students were not allowed to have anything in the dorms bigger than a fish. So I got a goldfish naming it Lassie. For one year I took that crazy fish back and forth to school. One time it even went to Disney World. I put it in a bucket under the car while we were inside Disney World. So you see I’ve always been a frustrated dog trainer.

I hold a BA degree in Church Administration with a minor in History, an LPN nursing degree, a veterinary technology degree and a degree in Emergency Animal Management from FEMA. Presently I am working for St. Lucie County Library. I have spent 18 years with the Library.

I started teaching dog obedience and competing in AKC dog shows in 1992 with the Treasure Coast Kennel Club. I spent several years as a dog trainer instructor for the St. Lucie County 4-H group. I have been a part-time instructor for Petsmart for 6yrs. I have 26 yrs teaching experience with human and animal students. In 2003, I applied for and received endorsement from the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors. I am also an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. I have just recently started our pet therapy group Star Bright Therapy and Obedience Dogs. I am an evaluator for the Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dog, Inc. located in New Jersey. I have appeared on the television show Tail Time and the Kindred Spirit radio show.

But the reason I really train dogs is because of a cocker spaniel named Magic. My husband and I rescued him in 1991. I was his fourth owner in a year. My husband at first despised that dog and begged me to get rid of him. I told him if I could not fix Magic and I call myself a dog trainer; what in the world would the average person do with him. It was four years before Magic would put his paw on my knee and at the age of 13 he would not comfortably lay down in my lap. The dog loved me and was my constant shadow but he was constantly on the alert for his world to come crashing in. When I brought home my second rescue my husband told me I could not rescue every dog in the world. It reminded me of the story about the young man throwing starfish into the ocean and someone told him there were to many starfish to save why bother. He replied I know but I made a difference in this one’s life. That is why I help people train their dogs. I know I can’t rescue them all. One trip to the shelter will illustrate that point, so I will settle for making a difference in one life at time. Some day I hope there will not be any Magic stories to tell.

I have many goals still to achieve in my life. I currently own three dogs: an Australian Shepherd, Shih Tzu and a Collie. I have been a nurse, schoolteacher, librarian and dog trainer. I still don’t know what I am going to be when I grow up. The biggest dog-training tip I can give anyone is to have fun with it.

Feel free to browse around and we invite you to come back often. We will be adding content and photos regularly. Check out some early photos of Music, another young dog during her early Therapy dog training.

For more information about the Star Bright Therapy Dogs or the Waggin' Tales Reading contact Dorothy Blair our Training Director/Founder by email: dot@starbrightdogs.org

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