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.
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My first agility dog, Francois (papillon) and I have thus far achieved multiple agility championship titles in 4 different organizations (MACH5, PACH2, C-ATCH, C-ATE, PDCH, IAC7, and CSS2) in AKC, CPE, USDAA and UKI. We have qualified for AKC agility nationals every year since earning our master level title, competing at the event from 2017-2025. We placed 4th overall at the 2024 AKC agility national championship. We also competed at the UKI US Open from 2019-2024 and the UKI invitational in 2024 with podium finishes at all events. Francois earned high in trial at the 2023 and 2024 CPE Nationals. My border collie, Magnus has agility titles in AKC, CPE, USDAA and UKI and has his agility champion titles in UKI and CPE. He made games finals at the UKI US Open in 2022 and earned multiple placements at the 2024 CPE National Agility Event.
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.
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Dogs:
MACH5 PACH2 C-ATCH C-ATE IAC7 IWAC4 CSS2 PDCH Mck Francois Henri BN RA MXB2 MJB2 MXP6 MXPS MJP6 MJPS PAX2 OF T2B SCN SIN TKI (Francois)
IAC2 CT-ATCH RACH Double J Magnus CDX BN RM2 RAE2 OA OAJ AXP AJP XF DDU DS DDGE CGC TKE (Magnus)
Mck Marcel Louis MXP, MJP2, NFP (Marcel)
Mck Zelie Marie (puppy)
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Meet Lindsey
coach
I am originally from Syracuse, NY and moved to Rochester, MN in 2017. I have a doctorate in physician assistant studies with a concentration in teaching and learning which I apply when coaching dog sports. I know that everyone learns differently (both humans and dogs) so I adapt my teaching style to best suit a learner's needs. I love learning and am an avid reader about canine cognition, neuroscience, and behavior. I believe that having a greater understanding of how dogs think helps me train my own dogs.
I started formal agility and disc training in 2018 with my Australian Shepherd, Rye. He was a shy guy so it took some time to build his confidence, but once he did, he became a fast dog in the ring! Rye competes in agility and disc, but also volunteers as a therapy dog. He has earned high in trial awards in agility, the highest disc dog title (Unobtanium Elite) in disc, and he was the Pet Partners: Pet of the Year in 2023 by raising over $14,000 for the nonprofit.
I also have Rye's mom, Jive, who joined our family in 2021. She's a spunky girl who easily adapted to sports and has been a fierce agility competitor. She has earned multiple awards in agility including podium placements at the US Open as well as regional and local events.
We have competed in national events for various agility organizations such as UKI, AKC, and ASCA. At the 2023 US Open Rye, Jive, and I earned the award for Rookie of the Year.
My favorite things to train: drive building, foundations (agility and disc), mental management, tricks
My favorite types of agility courses include: international handling, technical skills, multiple challenges, and running!
Dogs:
IAC Navrock's Dapper Man, RE, MXP, MJP, XFP, T2BP, THD, DDUE, CGC, TKE (Rye)
IAC3, IWAC2, CSS Casa Blanca's Slick Chick, RN, AX, AXJ, MJP, OF, XFP, DS, DDP, DDSE, CGC, TKA (Jive)
Meet Alice and Teri
coaches
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 - we believe that a great team starts with great foundations. Foundation skills are the key to success in this awesome sport.
Meet Sue
coach
I have been fortunate to be training and competing in multiple dog sports since 1983. I began my journey with agility 10 years later in 1993. I have loved, owned and trained dogs of multiple breeds: Border Collie, Pyrenean Shepherd, Sheltie, English Springer Spaniel, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and, most recently, an adorable Miniature Poodle.
I have achieved multiple titles and championships with my dogs in the sports of agility, obedience, rally, and conformation. Additionally, I have volunteered at Mayo Clinic with two therapy dogs.
With my persistent love of the sport of agility, It brings me great joy to work with students - supporting them to accomplish their goals from weekly class enjoyment to national wins.
Meet Renee
I have been training and competing with my shelties for 45 years. Some of the dog sports we have participated in over the years are obedience, rally, agility, tracking and scentwork/nosework and speedway. I've been lucky enough to have dogs that have loved and excelled at these sports earning multiple obedience and agility championships along with many other titles in the other sports and in multiple organizations. Both Ripley and Razzle are part of a select few dogs to add both OTCH & MACH to their names. The most important thing I have learned from all the years of training and competing is to enjoy the journey.
My dogs:
McGoverns Abby Dabby Do UDX MX AXJ NAP NJP, CKC, UKC and ASCAObedience Championships (Abby)
OTCH MACH2 NATCH Drumlins Believe It Or Not VCD2 TD,UDX3 OM5 REMXG MJG XF (Ripley)
OTCH MACH2 CATE Drumlins Razzle Dazzle UDX2 PUTD OM5 BN MXG MJGMXP MJP2 MJPB XF T2B3 T2BP SWA SCE SEE TKI (Razzle)
Drumlin Mystery Solved NAJ NA SWN SIA, CPE CL-2 (Sherlock, baby dog in training :) )