Shari Schukraft is the Executive Director of Aqua Healing Canine Hydrotherapy and Fitness, LLC. She earned her Master’s Degree in Secondary Education and English from Indiana University. After 13 years of traveling the country delivering instruction to teachers in researched-based multisensory education strategies, Shari decided to return to school for Canine Hydrotherapy. Shari holds Advanced Certifications in Canine Hydrotherapy (pool and water treadmill) from the world renowned Greyfriars® Veterinary Rehabilitation and Hydrotherapy Centre located in Guildford, England. She is also a Registered Canine Hydrotherapist with the National Association of Registered Canine Hydrotherapists (NARCH). Greyfriars is an approved training provider for NARCH, as well as being an approved provider for the Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) as set forth by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). Greyfriars sets the gold standard in canine hydrotherapy training, their experience and level of advanced instruction is unparalleled worldwide.
Shari’s love of animals, and more specifically dogs, began as a child. Her parents owned Sittiak Kennels where they bred Alaskan Malamutes tracing back to the Kotzabue lines. Shari attended conformation shows and sled dog races with her parents and their home was often the host to obedience training sessions. Her father was an American Kennel Club (AKC) Judge for Working Groups for almost 40 years and her mother was a handler. Dogs were an integral part of Shari’s entire life and have always been her first love.
Shari has shared her life with Chesapeake Bay Retrievers for 25 years. During the last 10 years she has trained and competed her two Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Meadow and Sage (aka The Curly Girls), in the sport of Dock Diving. Meadow has a long list of accolades including being the Ultimate Air Dogs Top Ranked Female in Ultimate Dog and Second Ranked Ultimate Dog in 2010. At 4 1/2 years old Meadow became the 2011 Dock Dogs 5th Ranked Female IronDog in the world. In 2010 she placed 4th at the Super Retriever Series Crown Championship in Super V and was the only remaining female in the competition. Meadow took 2nd place in Vertical at the 2010 Purina Incredible Dog Challenge Eastern Regionals. That event landed her a brush with fame when she traveled to New York City to compete on the David Letterman Diving Dog hosted by Purina Incredible Dog Challenge and Carson’s International. Even at the experienced age of 11 Meadow still loves the dock. Last October at the 2016 Ultimate Air Games at Purina Farms she placed 2nd in Super Veteran. A few weeks later in November at the 2106 DockDogs World Championships she placed 4th in the Legend Division Finals. Sage retired her distinguished dock diving career this year due advanced orthopedic issues. She is now beginning nosework and barn hunt. Meadow and Sage both receive hydrotherapy, land based exercises, acupuncture, chiropractic, laser therapy, chinese herbs, and a raw diet as part of their daily canine athlete health regimen.
Shari was first introduced to hydrotherapy back in 2013 when Meadow experienced an iliopsoas injury (a strain deep in the groin). She was given 8 weeks of rest and then hydrotherapy was implemented for four months as rehabilitation. Meadow was able to return to competition as well as all other pre-injury activities. It was then that interest in canine therapy and rehabilitation was born. Shari’s hydrotherapy education, combined with her passion for dogs and her expertise as an educator, allows her to creatively work with the needs of each individual client. She believes in the resiliency of our canine companions and what we can achieve with them. “They are truly a part of our family”, said Shari during a recent interview.
Her favorite quote is from A.D. Williams, “When I look into the eyes of an animal, I do not see an animal. I see a living being. I see a friend. I feel a soul.”
