Owner

Erika is the owner of Blue Dingo Consulting, alongside her partner Alex. Growing up around dogs and horses in the grooming, training, and show worlds, it was an early group class with her family dog that officially solidified her lifelong passion for canine training and behavior.

With over 15 years of experience in the professional dog world, Erika successfully opened, scaled, and eventually sold a thriving multi-service facility encompassing grooming, daycare, training, and comprehensive pet care. Her leadership is defined by a strict focus on transparency and an uncompromising dedication to safety. By prioritizing the well-being of the dogs, her clients, her employees, and the general public, she built a highly respected business rooted in deep client trust and lifelong staff connections.

Erika’s practical, hands-on experience is backed by an elite roster of industry credentials. She is a CPDT-KA Certified Dog Trainer, a L.E.G.S.® Applied Ethology Family Dog Mediator®, a Fear Free Certified Trainer and Groomer, an IAABC Accredited Trainer, an AKC CGC Evaluator, and a Do More With Your Dog Certified Trainer.

The Little Boss Lady & Demo Dog

Norah is the heart and soul of the Blue Dingo office. You will likely see her making appearances on consulting conference calls, joining in on pack walks, bringing the fun to structured playgroups, or working diligently as a reliable demo dog for training clients. When she is off the clock, Norah loves traveling, hiking, learning new skills, and enthusiastically sampling almost any type of food.

As a true reflection of Blue Dingo's commitment to canine enrichment and behavioral wellness, Norah is a highly active working dog. She currently competes in Nosework, FastCAT, Happy Ratters, and Rally, while also dabbling in agility. She reminds us every day that training should always be fun, engaging, and built on a strong bond.

AI Strategist and Lead Business Consultant

Bio Coming Soon!

Manager of Operations

Cheryl brings a lifetime of hands-on experience to the Blue Dingo team, having mastered every operational role from kennel manager and grooming manager to general manager. Her extensive background includes managing a dedicated service dog kennel, and most recently, she spent 16 years as a groomer for Creature Comforts and Blue Dingo Dogs. She is highly skilled in the kind, effective, and low-stress handling of dogs, cats, and livestock.

Her formal education in animal care began at Essex Agricultural Tech (Essex Aggie) where she earned a degree in Kennel Management in 1984. Her early career also included foundational experience managing the fast-paced care, conditioning, and husbandry of canine athletes in New England's racing sector. A dedicated advocate for progressive handling, Cheryl has proudly held her Fear Free Certification since 2018, seamlessly blending her decades of hands-on experience with modern behavioral science.

In the competitive dog world, Cheryl has been involved in nearly every facet of the sport. She has worked as a dog obedience instructor, an official show steward, and a breeder of German Shepherds, giving her an intricate understanding of working breeds and conformation standards. While she has since retired from active equestrian competition, her deep expertise extends equally to the equine world. Her lifelong passion is backed by a long-standing membership in the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and an extensive history of showing her own horses competitively in both Western and English disciplines.

A lifelong advocate for animal welfare, Cheryl has volunteered and fostered a wide variety of animals for several humane societies. Today, she shares her home with her own mixed-breed rescue dog, Bentley, and two guinea pigs, a perfect reflection of her dedication to caring for animals of all shapes and sizes.

Pet Services Manager

Sarah brings a wealth of hands-on, high-volume operational experience to the team. She previously supervised a thriving dog daycare facility, where she not only managed daily operations but also personally mentored staff and facilitated their training on essential Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Her leadership style is defined by exceptional client relations; she ensures every client and dog are greeted with warmth, making them feel instantly welcomed and reassured that their pet is in capable hands.

Sarah’s extensive practical experience is backed by specialized certifications in behavior and care. She holds a unique background in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), having previously worked in an ABA role with children. This expert-level understanding of behavior is paired with her Fear Free Certification in Daycare, allowing her to create a remarkably low-stress, nurturing environment that prioritizes the emotional and physical needs of every pet in her care.

In her role as Petcare Manager, Sarah oversees and provides dog walking, drop-in care, and petsitting services. While she currently doesn't have any pets of her own at home, it's for a truly special reason: Sarah dedicates her personal time and space exclusively to fostering and caring for dogs with complex behavioral and health challenges, ensuring they receive the intensive, specialized love and attention they need. This profound commitment to the well-being of all animals drives her work every day.

Senior Snack Tester & Professional Sunbather

At 14 years young, Bentley is a mixed breed rescue, from Sterling Animal Shelter, who has truly perfected the art of senior office life. He comes to work every day alongside his owner, Cheryl, where his ideal schedule revolves around finding the warmest sunbeams for long naps and enthusiastically anticipating his next meal. At home, he also enjoys keeping a watchful, gentle eye on his two guinea pig siblings.

In his younger, more active years, Bentley was a true adventurer. He was an avid hiker, a beach enthusiast, and had a special, undeniable talent for finding the absolute grossest puddles of water to splash in. Always a friend to everyone, he loved playing with new puppies and even spent time having fun playing agility.

Today, Bentley brings his calm, senior presence to the Blue Dingo team. He serves as a beautiful reminder of the deep, quiet bond we share with our aging dogs and the joy of giving a rescue dog a lifetime of love.