I have been teaching agility since 1999, initially for the Idaho Capital City Kennel Club and Boise Agility Runners & Climbers, and then for my own business, Dogs
A’ Flying, since 2001.
Like many other agility competitors, I trained horses in my younger
years. I competed in barrel racing and other timed events, taught 4-H
horsemanship, trained horses for others, and taught and managed the horsemanship classes at a
summer camp. Many of these skills transfer to dog training and
teaching.
My dogs have taught me to be the dog
trainer that I am though. Rosie is a very soft dog so she taught me how
to teach a gentle spirit. Then along came Katie who is all about drive
and compassion. She taught me how to deal with a tougher dog. Dani is
teaching me all about reactivity in dogs. Along the way, my dogs have accumulated
some accomplishments which are listed below.
Titles earned:
MACH2 Beartooth Mountain Sapphire
(Katie, Katiebird)
- Companion Dog (AKC CD)
- Master Agility Champion, earned twice (AKC’s champion title for agility dogs)
- Top Belgian Sheepdog at AKC 2006 Agility Invitational and 20th place dog of the over 100 dogs in the 24-inch jump height
- Top Belgian Sheepdog in AKC Agility 2003,
#2 in 2004, #3 in 2005.
- #1 placement in 24-inch jump height at AKC Nationals in 2003 in the International-State Team Competition
- Numerous NADAC agility titles
- Canine Good Citizen certificate (CGC)
- Belgian Sheepdog Club of America Agility Hall of Fame
Flashfire’s Diamond Dancer (Dani)
- Started competing in agility at almost 2 years of age in March 2006 and completed novice, open, and excellent level AKC agility titles by March 2007, and is now working on her MACH title.
- Canine Good Citizen certificate
(CGC)
- Has earned some NADAC agility titles.
- Loves tracking, herding, and freestyle.
Third Hand Rose (Rosie) (rescue dog)
- Companion Dog (AKC CD)
- Companion Dog Excellent (AKC CDX)
- Canine Good Citizen certificate (CGC)
- Novice and Open AKC agility titles
- Competed in Pupperoni Regionals (regional AKC obedience competition for top obedience dogs in 1998) in 1999
Training/Seminars Attended by Year
- 1999 - Chris Zink
- 2001 - Power Paws Camp
- 2002 - Power Paws Camp, Christine
Carpentier, Connie Cleveland, Patty Hatfield & Stuart Mah
- 2003 - Power Paws Camp
- 2004 - Susan Garrett, Elicia Calhoun
- 2005 - Steve Frick, Susan Salo,
Chris Zink
- 2006 - Clicker Expo, Steve
Frick
- 2007 - World Canine Freestyle Conference and Competition,
Relaxed and Ready Seminar for Reactive Dogs and their Owners by Helix Fairweather,
Kate Moreaux (agility), Association of Pet Dog Trainers Conference,
Control Unleashed Seminar by Leslie McDevitt
Memberships
- Idaho Capital City Kennel Club
- Boise Agility Runners & Climbers
- Belgian Sheepdog Club of America
- Association of Pet Dog Trainers
- World Canine Freestyle Organization
Contact Mary Hunter at dogsaflying@msn.com.
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