Animal control officer wins national dog trainer title

During business hours, DePriest responds to nuisance dogs, barking dogs and complaints of loose livestock on a daily basis. Sometimes she has to enforce the law on cases of abuse and neglect, which takes bold interpersonal skills and a certain degree of severity.

But in her free time, she turns to the refined pursuit of dog training. Surprisingly, there is some overlap between her profession and hobby. Dog training also relies on focus and discipline. Thanks to those attributes, DePriest has competed in contests around the nation, and often seized success.

Last February, Casey DePriest and her 20-month-old Border Terrier, Turbo, nabbed a national award for Best of Breed Border Terrier at Westminster Kennel Club’s finals in Madison Square, New York City.

“The city brings out the red carpet for the dogs. It’s a huge dog show. It’s the most famous … dog show in the country.”

Turbo’s victory was a major upset, considering he was competing against meticulously groomed and trained dogs, including the top ranked Border Terrier in the world. “I knew I had a good dog but I didn’t expect to win,” said DePriest.

Turbo’s Westminster victory qualified him for Crufts in Birmingham, England — the world’s largest dog show — but DePriest politely declined. She said that was too far to travel, and work keeps her busy.

DePriest’s affinity for animals traces back to her elementary school days. At 9, she was already showing a miniature Dachshund at local competitions. She then went on to enter kennel club shows with a Golden Retriever in her teen years.

DePriest has a soft spot for terriers because they maintain a “big dog attitude” despite their diminutive stature. They proved to be an exciting change of pace for her after raising bigger breeds for most of her adulthood, namely Retrievers and Newfoundlands.

DePriest also teaches dog obedience clinics privately and through the Columbia Gorge Community College. She has been actively involved in training 4-H youth about dog care for over a decade.

DePriest’s next big dog showing with Turbo will be in May in Sacramento, at the Border Terrier National Specialty, where she’ll show off Turbo to top-ranked dog trainers from around the nation.

— Intern Payton Rigert contributed to this article.