DeCoverly Staff

Everyone at DeCoverly specializes in a few keys areas of the business, but at one time or another can be found doing almost anything. Despite a diverse array of talents and interest, we’re all bound together by our love for the breed and our desire to produce the finest companions available today.

Bridget Bodine, General Manager & Head Trainer - Bridget has had a lifelong career with animals. She started working with Hunter / Jumper horses working for notables such as Tiffany Teeter (Traurig) and Harry Duce, in Bucks County, PA. Her 25 year career in dogs started when she started worked with top professional show dog handlers Greg and Kim Strong. Bridget started as a show assistant and quickly moved to obedience training and then to kennel manager. After numerous years with Greg and Kim, Bridget chose to apprentice with Mary Williams at High Tide Kennels to learn more about retriever and gundog training. From 2001 to 2008 Bridget worked with DeCoverly as Kennel Manager and Trainer. During this time she also apprenticed in the DeCoverly breeding program. She left DeCoverly for 2 years to pursue working with retrievers on the Eastern Shore at Delmar Waterfowl. We are now thrilled to have her back at DeCoverly as General Manager and Head Trainer.

In Bridget’s spare time, she breeds Labradors and participates in AKC conformation dog shows and AKC Retriever Hunt Tests. She has titled 8 dogs through the Senior level and will have several dogs, of her own and of clients, running in Master in 2011.

Bob Barth, Trainer - Bob has been a life-long outdoor enthusiast. From the time he was old enough to balance a fishing rod, and shoulder a rifle, he has been involved in outdoor activities of all sorts. Bob has more than 32 years of experience obedience training dogs of many breeds. He has organized and conducted formal obedience classes in his community for the past 25 years. He has personally owned and trained beagles, German-shorthair, golden retrievers, brittanies, Australian shepherds, and most currently English setters. He has been recognized by the Friends of the SPCA in his area, for his time and expertise in helping to make their canines more adoptable. Bob has been doing field training for Decoverly since 2006.

In addition to training dogs for obedience and the field, Bob owns and trains horses. He and his daughter own Missouri foxtrotters, a trakehner, and a thoroughbred cross.

Bob is in his 25th year as an elementary school teacher, currently teaching first grade.

Martje Bicker, Kennel & Animal Caretaker - Martje is responsible for the general well-being of the dogs at DeCoverly. She helps lead our Socialization Program as well as grooming and medical attention of the dogs. She is a US Air Force veteran with more than 20 years of nursing experience ranging from Labor and Deliver to Nursery to Emergency medicine. She was a field medic overseas, and drove an 18-wheeler throughout North America. With a terminal case of wanderlust, she is an inveterate traveler—usually with her animals (black and tan/rescue mutt, English Setter - of course! - and macaw). When not working, sleeping or traveling, she indulges her creative cravings with wood burning, hunting, fishing and virtually anything out of doors.

Danielle Zdaniewicz - Danielle is 18 years old and a graduate from Tunkhannock Area High School. She has had a love for dogs since she was a little girl and dreamed of working with them. That dream has come true since she began working for DeCoverly since October of 2010. Danielle enjoys painting, the outdoors, and spending time on walks in the woods with her two dogs, a Blue-tick Beagle named Harli May, and Miss Molli, a Siberian husky mix who have inspired her to become a professional dog trainer.

William B. Sordoni - Bill bought his first DeCoverly English Setter in 1982, and 10 years later became the Kennels's business partner. Bill now owns DeCoverly and brings 40 years of business experience to the kennel.

 

 

William E. Sordoni – Bill grew up with DeCoverly setters from the age of seven. Bill became actively involved in the Kennel in 2005 and helps manage many of the business’ operations. Read about Bill’s DeCoverly setter, Clipper, in the “Clipper’s Corner” section of the DeCoverly On-Point Newsletter.

 

Matthew Sordoni - Matt has periodically worked with the kennel since 1993 in different capacities and continues to be involved today. Matt and his DeCoverly setter, Rye Toast, finished their first upland season together in 2010.