Anna Diaz 
San Francisco Bay Area | All-Breed Conformation Show Dog Trainer, Groomer, Handler

I'm from the San Francisco Bay Area, and I've been involved with dogs and the American Kennel Club for over 18 years. In 2002, my family bought our first dog, "Shamu". He was a Collie puppy with an American Kennel Club championship heritage.  A month after being Shamu's new owner, my family and I attended the Del Valle Kennel Club dog show. There I saw other children handle their own dogs in Junior Showmanship, and that's when I turned to my Dad, and said, "I want to do that." The rest is history....

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Over the years, I began to compete in Conformation and Junior Showmanship with my own Collies and 25+ others breeds ranging from Rhodesian Ridgebacks, to Dalmatians, to Rottweilers. Experienced and renown breeders, exhibitors, handlers, and judges provided me with expert mentoring. I learned the ins and outs of AKC breed standards, showing, grooming, training, conditioning, and general care and health of dogs. My "dog show career" enabled me to travel and compete all over the US as a teenager.

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Today, dogs and the AKC sport of purebred dogs is a lively hobby of mine (you can view me outside of dogs here). I currently train show dogs of all different breeds towards their AKC championships. My specialty is starting them off in training so that the dogs have the fundamentals to go on and win further with full-time AKC professional handlers. You can also find me instructing and training handling classes at San Mateo Dog Training Club. This past June I received my permit to judge AKC All-breeds Junior Showmanship. I am also a member of the Collie Club of Northern California, Bay Area Rhodesian Ridgeback Club, and Collie Club of America.