Meet Dan
Rehabilitation Assistant · Fitness Instructor · Show Dog Handler
With more than three decades of experience in purebred dogs, canine sports, handling, teaching and mentorship, Dan brings a distinctive blend of practical knowledge and people-focused coaching to Animal Therapy Center.
Clients may meet Dan through ATC’s rehabilitation team, Canine Fitness Club, or Show Dog Handling services, where he supports dogs and their people with calm handling, clear instruction and an eye for partnership.
More Than Three Decades With Dogs
Dan’s involvement with purebred dogs began in the late 1980s with Field Spaniels. His first Field Spaniel Champion was a liver male bred by Lynn Finney of Bitterblue Field Spaniels, followed by multiple champions throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.
By the late 1990s, Dan began handling Great Danes, a breed that became his primary focus for more than 20 years. During that time, he has finished numerous Champions and campaigned multiple top-winning dogs.
That long history matters at ATC because it gives Dan a practiced understanding of canine behavior, movement, confidence and the relationship between the person and the dog at the other end of the lead.
Featured Accomplishment
In 2004, Dan became the youngest handler to win Best in Show at the Great Dane Club of America National Specialty while handling MBIS/MBISS/Ch. Keystone’s To Protect & Serve, known as “Kevlar.”
Kevlar was ranked #1 across all systems during the early 2000s, and Dan later campaigned Kevlar’s son, also a multiple Best in Specialty Show-winning Great Dane.
Dan’s breed experience includes Japanese Chin, shown here as part of his broader work in canine sports.
Experience Across Breeds
Dan’s handling experience extends well beyond Great Danes. He has finished Champions in the Working, Hound, Sporting, Non-Sporting and Toy Groups.
He has also co-bred and campaigned top-winning Japanese Chin alongside experienced and ethical breeders, giving him a broad perspective on structure, presentation, temperament and teamwork.
Fitness, Teaching & Mentorship
Teaching and mentorship have always been important parts of Dan’s work. He has taught handling classes and served as a mentor to others involved in canine sports and events.
Much of Dan’s professional life has also been spent in healthcare and health and human services. At ATC, that people-centered background supports the way he communicates, encourages and builds trust with clients.
As a Rehabilitation Assistant, Dan supports the rehabilitation team. As a Fitness Instructor and Show Dog Handler, he helps dogs and handlers build confidence, body awareness and stronger working partnerships.
Dan’s work with dogs and people connects handling, grooming education, coaching and the human-animal bond.
Training & Certifications
Dan at Animal Therapy Center
At Animal Therapy Center in Bethlehem, PA, Dan brings decades of hands-on canine experience to his work as a Rehabilitation Assistant, Fitness Instructor and Show Dog Handler.
Clients may see him supporting the rehabilitation team, working with dogs through ATC’s Canine Fitness Club, teaching handlers through Show Dog Handling, or helping dogs and their people build stronger partnerships.
For Dan, working with dogs is about more than performance or competition. It is about the lasting connection we build with them and the role they play in making our lives healthier, happier and more meaningful.
Explore Programs Dan Supports
Learn more about the ATC programs where Dan’s experience with dogs, handlers and teaching naturally comes into focus.
