Meet Tara
Owner, coach
I have a passion for all animals. My love for training started as a child when I trained my guinea pig to do tricks for raisins. I have also trained horses and competed in equestrian events from the age of 9. When I discovered the sport of dog agility in 2014, I knew I had found the perfect way to blend my interests of training, competition, and physical activity. I am obsessed with learning and have taken and continue to take courses from numerous local as well and national and international trainers in multiple different dog sports.
My first agility dog, Francois (papillon) and I have thus far achieved 14 agility championship titles in 4 different organizations (MACH5, C-ATCH, PDCH, IAC6, and CSS) with agility titles in USDAA, UKI, CPE and AKC. We have qualified for AKC agility nationals every year since earning our master level title, competing at the event in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022. We also competed at the UKI US Open in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 with podium finishes at all four events. My border collie, Magnus has agility titles in AKC, CPE, USDAA and UKI and has his agility champion title in UKI. He made games finals at the UKI US Open in 2022.
My dogs and I have also earned titles in other dog sports including scent work, tricks, obedience, rally, canine good citizen, herding, dock diving and disc dog. Magnus knows over 70 tricks and has earned the AKC elite performer trick dog title. Magnus is also an amazing disc dog and has earned many top 3 placements in local UpDog competitions and qualified for the UpDog International Finals our first year competing. To see me and my dogs in action, check out the videos page. I love seeing the teamwork develop between dog and handler. I am passionate about positive training and cultivating a growth mindset.
Dogs:
MACH5 C-ATCH IAC6 CSS PDCH Mck Francois Henri BN RA MXC MJC OF T2B SCN SIN TKI (Francois)
IAC Double J Magnus CDX BN RAE RM OA OAJ OAP OJP XF DDU DS DDGE CGC TKE (Magnus)
Mck Marcel Louis NJP (Marcel)
Meet Amanda
coach, agility
Dogs and dog sports have been a main component in my life since the very beginning. I have always loved getting to know each of our dogs and teaching them little tricks, or participating in sports with them. When I was 10 years old I got my first agility dog, an English Cocker Spaniel Bramble. Bramble taught me a lot about the sport and dog training and truly helped me to fall in love with the game. Bramble’s career was short-lived due to complications with Lyme’s disease.
I began running my current agility dog Jive when she was seven years old. Jive has taught me so much. She and I have earned MACH in AKC, IAC in UKI and PDCH in USDAA. Jive also competed in the virtual UKI Canada and USA Open events, winning her classes and overall top dog award at the 2020 US Open. Jive and I also competed in the 2021 AKC National Agility Championships and won the 12P division and also won the 2021 UKI National Championship Finals.
I began teaching agility in 2019 and I love working with students and their amazing dogs. I have taught all levels of agility and really enjoy watching teams become more in sync. I love working with juniors in the sport as I was a junior when I started. I don’t think it gets much better than playing this game with our best friends.
Dogs:
PNAC MACH PDCH IAC Brighteye Fancy Feet CD MXS MJB (Jive)
Perfect 10's Let's Get Loud (Hype, puppy)
Meet Amy
coach, agility
Prior to dogs, I trained and showed horses. My understanding of horse movement and jumping principles easily flowed to the world of dog agility. I first started doing agility with my English Pointer but never competed with her. I later started competing in agility with my first English Cocker Spaniel, Fern in 2008. Fern and I have earned multiple champion titles including MACH, ADCH and PDCH. Fern and I were also in the 2018 USDAA performance top 10 for standard, jumpers, and snooker. Thorn, my next agility dog has achieved a PDCH. Thorn and I competed in both the 2020 UKI US Open by video and the 2020 UKI Canada Open by video, with top three finishes in both events. My youngest dog Tansy is just getting ready to compete. I currently compete in AKC, USDAA and UKI agility venues. My dogs split their time between agility and field events with my husband, Brett. This sharing often creates the need for creative training that will work in both types of competition...it can be a fun challenge.
I began teaching agility in 2011 and I love to see progress in my students and really enjoy the "light bulb" moments when things really click for teams. I believe in customizing training to the dog's needs and skills. Agility is not a "one size fits all" program. Having struggled with injuries and surgeries, which have impacted my running, I also understand handler limitations and enjoy finding ways to increase success.
Dogs:
MACH ADCH PDCH MH Razr’s Kung Foo (Fern)- Retired
PDCH AFC SH Featherwood Blackthorn (Thorn)
Thunderstruck’s Featherwood Invasion (Tansy)
Perfect 10's Sky's the Limit (Limit, puppy)
Meet Denise
coach, scent work
I am a retired anesthesiologist who has always been interested in performance dogs. I've put high level titles on multiple dogs in obedience, rally, agility and scent work. I have worked with many breeds but most notably labradors and AmStaffs. I am presently training and competing with three different dogs in scent work. I have taken numerous seminars from national experts and have taught in multiple dog sports.
I love scent work because it emphasizes the natural abilities of dogs and requires intense team work. It is the ideal sport for dogs and handlers of all ages.
Dogs:
B'Dazzled Jewel Of Dauntless BN RN OA OAJ NW3 (JuJu)
MACH2 Dauntless Sudden Departure UDX2 OM3 BN GN GO RE MXS MJS MJP OF T2B2 SIA SEN RATN NW2 CATCH S-CATCH (Rocki)
MACH PACH Dauntless Winter Stormwatch UD RE MXS MJS MXP3 MXPB MJP3 MJPB PAX NF RATN SWN NW1 (Blizzie)
Dauntless Wookie Me Now BN RN MX MXJ MXF T2B CGC CATCH2 (Chewie)
Michl R Teodora Of Dauntless TKP ORT RATN (Dori)
Meet Lindsey
coach, agility and disc
I am originally from Syracuse, NY and moved to Rochester, MN in 2017. I have doctorate in physician assistant studies with a concentration in teaching and learning and apply my understanding of learning to teaching dog sports. I know that everyone learns differently (both humans and dogs) and I adapt my teaching style to best suit a learner's needs. I love learning myself and am an avid reader about canine cognition, neuroscience, and behavior. I have found having a greater understanding of how dogs think has helped with training my own dogs.
I began training my pet dogs from a young age and was hooked. I started formal agility and disc training in 2018 with my Australian Shepherd, Rye. Rye required a lot of time to build confidence in disc and agility; however, once he gained confidence, he became a fast dog in the ring! Rye competes in agility and disc, but also volunteers as a therapy dog. My second Australian Shepherd Jive joined our family in 2021. She easily adapted to sports and competes in agility, disc, and dock diving. We have earned titles in disc, agility, trick dog, rally, and therapy work.
My training skills include: drive building, foundations (agility and disc), disc throwing, trick training, and general introduction to dog sports.
Dogs:
Navrock's Dapper Man, RE, OAP, OJP, OFP, THDN, DDU, DDGE, CGC, TKE (Rye)
Casa Blanca's Slick Chick, RN, DS, DDS, CGC, TKA (Jive)
coaches, agility
Meet Alice and Teri
We have been teaching dog training and actively competing in dog sports for over 20 years. Regardless of whether our students want to compete or just learn something new with their dogs, our approach is always the same.... focus on strengthening the bond and relationship with our dogs.
Alice was the first person in Minnesota to achieve the OTCH-MACH title (obedience and agility champion). She has also received high in trial awards with 2 golden retrievers, a border collie, and a lab retriever. Of all the things we have done, agility is our favorite sport. It is fast paced and we love calling it “obedience in the fast lane”. We have achieved multiple agility championship titles, but mostly we just love teaching the basics of each exercise to both the human and the dog so they enjoy and understand the sport.
We have worked with all breeds of dogs and have owned and trained numerous breeds. Alice started out with St Bernards and added over the years these amazing breeds: English Springer Spaniels, Golden Retrievers, English Cockers, Papillion, Border Collies, Miniature Poodles and Biewer Terriers.
We are excited to be instructing agility foundations - we believe that a great team starts with great foundations. Foundation skills are the key to success in this awesome sport.
Meet Alice and Teri
Meet Sue
coach, agility
