Meet The Courteous Canines
Mabel Grace
2/12/2024
GCH CH Laurelwood - L'Ile De Feu's Ooo La La Mabel Grace FDC THD CGCA CGCU STR TKE ATT VHMA VHMP VSWE FITS
Mabel Grace is much more than an accomplished dog—she is a beloved partner, therapy dog, training assistant, and enthusiastic ambassador for the power of positive reinforcement training. Equal parts athlete, teacher, and trusted sidekick, Mabel represents what can happen when training is built on teamwork, trust, and a strong relationship, even with a traditionally difficult breed.
Mabel has earned both her Grand Champion and Champion titles in conformation, including Best of Opposite Sex at the Westminister Kennel Club in 2025, while proving that beauty and brains make an exceptional combination. While she certainly knows how to shine in the show ring, Mabel is happiest when she has a job to do—whether that means learning something new, helping in class, or charming the people she meets along the way.
As a certified therapy dog holding her Therapy Dog title (THD), Mabel enjoys sharing her calm, engaging personality with others and demonstrates the reliability, kindness, and adaptability that make therapy dogs so special. She has a way of connecting with people that feels effortless, bringing both smiles and comfort wherever she goes.
Her long list of accomplishments includes advanced Canine Good Citizen titles, Trick Dog Elite Performer, Farm Dog Certification, temperament testing, Virtual Home Manners, scent work experience, and fitness achievements—showcasing both her versatility and love of learning. Whether she is practicing new skills, exploring new environments, working toward new titles, or participating in dog sports, Mabel approaches every challenge with enthusiasm (especially if snacks are involved).
At Courteous Canine, Mabel is often found serving as a demo dog, training partner, and professional role model for dogs and their families. From helping teach life skills and confidence building to demonstrating cooperative care and advanced training concepts, Mabel plays an important role in showing clients what thoughtful, relationship-based training can look like. She is especially skilled at reminding both dogs and humans that training should be clear, rewarding, and fun.
When she is not working, Mabel enjoys spending time with her family, exploring new places, and making herself an essential part of whatever is happening. Whether she is training, visiting, competing, or simply supervising daily life, Mabel brings enthusiasm, heart, and just the right amount of personality to everything she does.
Porter
8/20/2011
GCHB CH Blacksheep Masterpiece Mystery CD BN RAE PT FDC THDD CGCA CGCU TKP ATT
Some dogs are born to work. Porter prefers to make sure everyone appreciated how handsome he looked while doing it.
Porter joined the Courteous Canine family with a personality as big as his ears and a talent for charming just about everyone he met. While he certainly contributed to the business, he was often accused of skating by on his good looks—and honestly, there may have been some truth to that. A master of being in the right place at the right time (especially if snacks were involved), Porter perfected the art of looking adorable while others handled the heavy lifting.
That said, behind the charm was a dog with an impressive resume. Porter earned his Grand Champion Bronze title in conformation and proved himself to be much more than a pretty face with accomplishments in obedience, rally, trick dog, temperament testing, therapy work, and advanced Canine Good Citizen skills. He earned titles in obedience (CD, BN), rally (RAE), therapy work (THDD), and demonstrated versatility through Farm Dog Certification, Trick Dog Performer, and temperament testing.
Porter participated in therapy dog visits, demonstrated skills in classes, and occasionally reminded students that learning should include a healthy sense of humor. While he may not have clocked as many hours as some of Courteous Canine’s more serious working dogs, Porter excelled in his specialty: winning hearts and climbing like a goat.
At home, Porter was full of a loud personality, opinions, and charm. He brought laughter, companionship, and just enough mischief to keep life interesting. Equal parts athlete, comedian, and professional heart-stealer, Porter proved that sometimes being ridiculously good-looking can, in fact, be a skill set.
Around Courteous Canine, Porter remains best known for two things: looking exceptionally handsome and making it seem like that alone counted as a full day’s work.
Grace 9/12/2009-3/18/2024
Llandians Storm In A Teacup CD BN RAE PT FDC THDD CGCA CGCU TKP ATT
Llandians Storm In A Teacup, RL1, RL2, RL3, ARCH, ARCHX, ARCHEX, BN, CD, RN, RA, RE, RAE, CGC, CGCA, CGCU, TKP, ATT, CD-C, CDX-C, THDN, THD, THDA, THDD, PT, FDC, HIC, Pet Partner, Alliance of Therapy Dogs
“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” – Roger Caras
Grace’s entrance into my life was unexpected, after meeting her adorable brother Winston in our training classes. She joined our family a little over a year old, after moving on from the confirmation ring. Grace pushed me as a trainer to grow and be better, she was a serious girl with an intense drive to work and EAT, and we tried everything and had a blast along the way. So many incredible memories and friendships foraged along the way.
Grace was a piece of my heart that walked along side me as our family grew and changed. She welcomed Megan, as long as she didn’t slow us down. She was there through a long painful divorce, and when our family found a forever friend and partner with Fred. Grace was a bridge between generations of dogs in our family. Living with both my Golden Retrievers Halle & Brody and later welcoming our Cardigan Corgi Porter. She was Porters Queen B, and he is deeply felt her loss.
Grace was the longest running employee as we grew Courteous Canine and opened our Unleashed! Day Camp. She could be found ignoring dogs in the play yards while she waited for lunch and demonstrating skills in classes and working as a neutral dog for hundreds of therapy dog teams and reactive dogs, and teaching trainers to be faster with their cookie delivery.
Halle 9/6/2004-12/13/15
A Shadow of Halle’s Comet, CGC, RL1, RL1X, RL2, RL2X, RL3 ARCH, ARCHX, Delta Pet Partner
Halle was the kind of dog who quietly changed the course of everything.
Halle entered Karen’s life and quickly became not only a beloved companion, but an incredible teammate, teacher, and foundation dog.
Halle had an enthusiasm for learning and a willingness to try just about anything, making her an ideal partner for exploring the growing world of dog sports and training. While rally obedience quickly became one of her specialties, she approached every challenge with heart and determination. Together, they earned an impressive collection of titles, including multiple Rally Championships, advanced rally levels, Canine Good Citizen, therapy dog work, retrieving, and water sports accomplishments.
In the world of APDT Rally Obedience, Halle truly stood out. She earned her ARCH and ARCHX titles and was recognized as the 2006 #11 National Ranking Award recipient in the ARCH & Individual Championship Category—an accomplishment that reflected both her consistency and joyful work ethic.
But titles only tell part of Halle’s story.
Halle was also a certified Delta Pet Partner therapy dog, sharing her gentle nature with others and demonstrating the calm, steady temperament that made her special. Whether practicing rally signs, swimming, retrieving, or simply being by Karen’s side, Halle approached life with quiet dedication and an eagerness to be part of the team.
More than anything, Halle was a partner in learning. She helped build skills, confidence, and dreams that would later become part of Courteous Canine. The lessons learned together—about patience, teamwork, humor, and celebrating progress—continue to influence how dogs and their families are taught today.
Halle may have looked like just another happy Golden Retriever to many, but to those who knew her best, she was the kind of once-in-a-lifetime dog who leaves pawprints not just on your heart, but on the future you go on to build.
Brody 9/6/2024 - 1/2/2013
Borden’s Golden Dream CGC, RL1, RL1X
Brody was equal parts heart, challenge, and teacher—and in many ways, he helped shape the trainer Karen would become.
Brody was a handsome Golden Retriever with a sweet nature, a love for his people, and some very real struggles navigating the world around him. While many people picture Golden Retrievers as effortlessly social and easygoing, Brody reminded everyone that every dog is an individual. He experienced leash reactivity, making walks and encounters with other dogs challenging at times, and teaching invaluable lessons about patience, observation, empathy, and meeting the dog in front of you.
Long before leash reactivity became a widely discussed topic, Brody quietly became one of Karen’s greatest teachers. Through working with him, she learned firsthand the importance of management, relationship-building, reading body language, and creating training plans that supported the emotional needs of the dog—not just the behavior people wanted to change. The experience of helping Brody navigate the world would later become part of the foundation of Courteous Canine’s compassionate approach to working with reactive and sensitive dogs.
Brody was never defined by his challenges. He was smart, eager to learn, and deeply connected to his family. Together, they explored training and dog sports, earning titles in Canine Good Citizen and APDT Rally Obedience, including Rally Level 1 and Rally Level 1 Championship, proving that success comes in many forms and that progress is worth celebrating.
Brody also enjoyed adventures beyond the obedience ring, earning recognition in water work through the Water Dog Registry Novice Team Swim and participating in retrieving activities through The Gun Dog Club. He may not always have found the world easy, but he embraced learning with the people he trusted.
Most importantly, Brody left behind something bigger than ribbons and titles. He helped create understanding. He reminded everyone that good dogs can struggle, that behavior is communication, and that patience and compassion matter. His journey helped inspire an approach to training rooted in empathy, teamwork, and helping dogs feel safe enough to succeed.
Brody was deeply loved, endlessly worth the effort, and proof that sometimes the dogs who challenge us the most are also the ones who teach us the greatest lessons.