About Us

One of the greatest strengths Kim brings to Mtn Hollow is her ability to teach people just as well as she teaches dogs. She has a gift for helping handlers become clear, consistent, and confident—allowing both ends of the leash to succeed.

At Mtn Hollow, we often talk about the Flower Concept. While the dog is the flower, the handler is the stem. Without a strong stem, the flower cannot fully bloom. She has an incredible ability to strengthen that stem by helping owners understand timing, communication, consistency, and how to build a true partnership with their dogs.

Her success in dog sports reflects not only her skill as a trainer but also her dedication to developing thoughtful, willing teammates. Over the years, she has earned an impressive 42 AKC Rally titles across four different dogs, demonstrating the consistency and versatility of her training.

• 42 AKC Rally Titles earned across four dogs, including:
  • Rally Championship 2 (RACH2)
  • Rally Master 14 (RM12)
  • Rally Choice 5 (RC5)
  • Rally Advanced Excellent 7 (RAE7)
  • Rally Excellent 4 (RE4)
  • Rally Advanced 4 (RA4)
  • Rally Intermediate 4 (RI4)
  • Rally Novice 4 (RN4)
• 6 Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Titles
• 7 Trick Dog Titles
• 4 Fast CAT Titles
• 5 Dock Diving Titles

Her dogs have consistently competed at the highest levels:

• Invited to the AKC Rally National Championship every year for the past seven years, with all four of her dogs receiving multiple invitations.
• Qualified for Dock Diving Regionals for the past three consecutive years.
• Invited to Dock Diving Nationals in 2024, with another invitation anticipated for 2026.

While her accomplishments are impressive, what truly sets her apart is her passion for helping people. Whether you’re just starting your journey or working toward advanced performance goals, she has a remarkable ability to simplify training, build confidence, and help you develop the relationship you’ve always wanted with your dog.

Crystal’s greatest strength isn’t just training dogs—it’s advocating for them and the people who love them.

She believes every dog deserves to be understood before it is judged. A reactive dog isn’t a bad dog. A fearful dog isn’t stubborn. Every behavior has an emotional or physical reason behind it, and Crystal is passionate about helping owners discover the “why” so they can build a better relationship with their dog.

She empowers handlers to become confident advocates for their dogs. Whether that means politely telling someone, “No, my dog doesn’t need to meet you,” or helping someone understand that a large or intimidating-looking dog isn’t automatically dangerous, Crystal teaches people to read body language, recognize what dogs are communicating, and make thoughtful decisions instead of emotional ones.

Just as importantly, she helps owners understand what they are communicating to their own dogs. Clear leadership, structure, and consistency create confident dogs that are mentally prepared for whatever life brings.

One of Crystal’s greatest gifts is her organization. She naturally creates practical schedules, realistic goals, and training plans that owners can actually follow. She meets people where they are and celebrates every success along the way. Her students quickly discover that she isn’t just their instructor—she becomes their biggest cheerleader and support system. She genuinely cares about every dog and every person she works with. I often tell her not to become too emotionally invested… and I’m grateful she doesn’t listen.

I’ve had the privilege of watching Crystal grow as a trainer from the very beginning. She first came to Mtn Hollow as a student, and it didn’t take long for me to recognize that she belonged on our training team. Since then, I’ve watched her confidence bloom alongside her knowledge and experience.

Crystal has a passion for giving dogs meaningful jobs. She believes a dog’s mental exercise should complement its physical exercise because true balance creates healthier, happier dogs. Whether it’s scent work, fitness, trick training, herding, or another dog sport, she has countless creative ways to challenge both the mind and body. Her philosophy is simple: a healthy dog is a happy dog.

Crystal brings an exceptional combination of competitive success, professional education, and a passion for helping both dogs and their handlers succeed. Her experience spans numerous dog sports, evaluations, judging, and real-world canine handling, allowing her to guide students with patience, clarity, and proven methods.

Competition Titles

All titles listed below were earned with her very first sport dog, Calypso, a German Shepherd Dog.

American Kennel Club (AKC)

Obedience

• BN (Beginner Novice)

Rally

• RN, RA, RE, RM
• 30 Master points toward RACH

Canine Good Citizen

• CGC
• CGCA
• CGCU

Fast CAT

• BCAT
• DCAT
• FCAT
• FCAT2
• FCAT3

Coursing Ability

• CA
• CAA
• CAX

Trick Dog

• TKN
• TKI
• TKA

Fetch

• FTN
• FTI

Scent Work

• SCN
• SCNE
• SIN
• SINE
• SBN

Herding

• Herding Instinct Certificate

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United Kennel Club (UKC)

• Conformation Champion (CH)
• Dock Diving: UJJ, UJJCH
• Three-Time Total Dog Award Recipient

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North America Diving Dogs (NADD)

HydroDash

• HDS

Distance

• DS
• DM
• DMA
• DMX
• DMX2
• DE

Regional Invitational Qualifier

• Distance: 2024, 2025, 2026
• HydroDash: 2025, 2026

National Invitational Qualifier

• Distance: 2024, 2025

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Barn Hunt

• RATI
• RATN
• RATO

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IGP

• BH

Professional Qualifications

• AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator
• AKC Fetch Judge
• AKC ATT Judge
• CPR & First Aid Certified
• Current Flight Nanny
• Bachelor of Science in Avian Biology, University of Georgia (2007)
• Mantrailing Beginner Workshop Certificate (with Calypso)

Calypso’s National Recognition

Crystal’s German Shepherd Dog, Calypso, has earned numerous titles across multiple venues while receiving national recognition for outstanding performance.

National & State Rankings

2025

• #19 Open German Shepherd Dog in the Nation
• #3 Open Dog in South Carolina

2021

• #8 Novice German Shepherd Dog in the Nation
• #2 Novice Dog in South Carolina

Crystal’s accomplishments reflect years of dedication, thoughtful training, and a commitment to building dogs that are confident, capable, and joyful in their work. More importantly, she brings that same passion to every student she teaches, helping handlers build clear communication, confidence, and lasting partnerships with their dogs.

At Mtn Hollow, we believe great instructors never stop learning, and Crystal is the perfect example of that philosophy. Her dedication to dogs, commitment to education, and unwavering support of her students make her an invaluable part of our team. Whether you’re looking for guidance with a family companion or pursuing performance sports, Crystal will help you and your dog become the best team you can be.