Linda Alberda

Linda Alberda is the founder of the Lake Erie Assistance Dogs, a service dog club. Linda experienced a debilitating injury while horseback riding that left her with a broken back and spinal cord injury in her junior year of college. Despite her injury she graduated in 1978 with a BS in equestrian studies and business administration.

In 1985, she received an MBA from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA.

Prior to becoming disabled, Linda trained and competed successfully in AKC Obedience with her Standard Poodles, Corey and Pruf and a neighbor’s Sheltie, Katie.

Linda has used clicker training with her owner-trained service dog Laurel (ARCH Shawnee’s Mountain Laurel, SD, CGC, RN, RL1, AOE-RL1, RL1X2, RL2, CW-Ob1, CW-Ob2, CW- SR, CW-ZR1, CPE CL1, CL2-H), a four year old yellow Lab. Besides doing mobility tasks, Laurel performs three different alerts.

Hardy (Ridge View’s Hard Day’s Night), an 8 week old chocolate Lab boy, came to live with Linda, her husband, Brent and Laurel on June 5th, 2010. Hardy is Linda’s next service dog prospect (and hopefully, dog sport competitor, too).

Linda will be forever grateful for all that she has learned about joy, patience, acceptance and humility from her partner, teacher and goofy yellow friend, Laurel.