Phil Rustad has been involved in the Sport of Dogs for 30 years. His first dog was an Irish Setter which he trained for hunting. His first formal Obedience training starting back in 1986 with a Brittany. One thing led to another and he wound up showing in formal AKC Trials. Over the years he has taught Obedience for the St. Paul Dog Training Club and for the Animal Inn Training School, and Agility for St. Paul Dog Training Club. He currently has two Shetland Sheepdogs, one retired and one showing. His older Dog, Nike, (OTCH Hobi’s Walking On Heir UDX8 MX MXJ Can CD U-CD), is on the couch at 15. Nike retired a 4 time invitee to the National Obedience Invitational and competitor in the 2006 National Agility Championship. His new dog Trip, (U-Ch Hobi’s Xtrem Trip Bluebanner UD, AXJ, AX, RN, CGC, U-CD), is working on his AKC UDX and MACH. Phil has been an AKC and ASCA Obedience Judge for over 15 years. He has judged Obedience outside the U.S. in the Bahamas and Canada. He is a member of many local dog training clubs and AKC Clubs. He is a past and current board the St. Paul Dog Training Club, the Minnesota Agility Club, the Anoka County Minnesota Kennel Club and has served as a trial chair, trial committee member and steward for numerous local Obedience, Agility and Conformation events.

In his non-dog time, Phil enjoys his career as a Residential Realtor with Edina Realty, in Plymouth, MN. He is also a published author. His murder mysteries can be found at most book stores and at his web site philrustadmysteries,com