Rick Caran discovered his interest in animals as a young child. He trained his first dog, a stray he named Skippy. Rick's theory is that if you teach a dog tricks, good behavior follows, and an incredible communication develops between human and canine. His hobby became a business when his star pupil, Jilli, a 5-pound Yorkie with incredible talent and charm, gained attention through her performances at veterans' hospitals, nursing homes, and schoolsÑshe even had a role in a History Channel movie! Rick believes any dog is trainable, with patience and persistence, and that even old dogs can learn new tricks. Rick and Jilli live in New York.