Bio
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 Dog Training LLC, since 2001. Other dog sports have also captured my interest so I learned about and then began teaching canine freestyle, nose work, Canine Good Citizen, and rally obedience. And I have been teaching the reactive dog/focus class since 2008.
You might want to check out Katie's page to learn more about my path to being a dog trainer. She was my "heart dog" and we learned so much from each other.
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 was a very soft dog so she taught me how to teach a gentle spirit. Then along came Katie who was all about drive and passion. She taught me how to deal with a tougher dog. Dani taught me about reactivity in dogs. And Nick is teaching me about a different kind of connection between spirits. Along the way, my dogs have accumulated many accomplishments which are listed below.
I have also taken every opportunity to learn from others about dog training. See below for a listing of memberships, education received, and titles earned with my four competition dogs.
You might want to check out Katie's page to learn more about my path to being a dog trainer. She was my "heart dog" and we learned so much from each other.
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 was a very soft dog so she taught me how to teach a gentle spirit. Then along came Katie who was all about drive and passion. She taught me how to deal with a tougher dog. Dani taught me about reactivity in dogs. And Nick is teaching me about a different kind of connection between spirits. Along the way, my dogs have accumulated many accomplishments which are listed below.
I have also taken every opportunity to learn from others about dog training. See below for a listing of memberships, education received, and titles earned with my four competition dogs.
Memberships
- Idaho Capital City Kennel Club (ICCKC)
- Boise Agility Runners & Climbers (BARC)
- Belgian Sheepdog Club of America (BSCA)
- Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT)
- International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IIABC)
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
- 2008 - Susan Garrett, Fred Brattain, Control Unleashed Seminar by Leslie McDevitt
- 2009 - Barb Davis (Agility), Sue Sternberg (Dog-Dog Interaction)
- 2010 - Stacy Peardot-Goudy (Agility)
- 2011 - Michele Pouliot and Clicker for Obedience Competition, Judie Howard and Obedience Competition Training
- 2011-2012 - Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Program. Graduated 4-15-12.
- 2013 - Clicker Expo, Association of Professional Dog Trainer (APDT) Conference, online classes from Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, Claudia Fugazza's Do As I Do Seminar.
- 2014 - Fenzi Dog Sports Academy classes in precision heeling, heeling games, rally obedience, ring confidence, BAT (Behavior Adjustment Training), and nose work.
- 2015 - Clicker Expo and Fenzi Dog Sports Academy classes in; Rally-free, empowered puppy raising, rally obedience, nose work, engagement, and canine freestyle. I also attended Temperament Assessment in Identifying Mental Health Issues in Dogs provided by etrainingfordogs.com. Speaker: Melissa McMath Hatfield, MS, CBDD-KA. I also attended a one-day seminar called Muzzle Up: Dispelling the stigma of dogs wearing muzzles, presented by: Maureen Backman, MS, CTC, PCT-A.
- 2016 - Clicker Expo and 3 Fenzi Dog Sports Academy classes in Rally FrEe taught by Julie Flanery.
- 2017 - Fenzi Dog Sports Camp, Lori Michaels agility seminar, started Handling 360 by Susan Garrett (agility), and 5 Fenzi Dog Sports Academy classes on nose work, behavior, jumping, and freestyle.
- 2018 - 5 Denise Fenzi Dog Sports Academy classes on structure and movement, nose work, heeling, and canine freestyle.
- 2019 - 3 Denise Fenzi Dog Sports Academy classes on cooperative canine care, arousal layering, tricks with a purpose. I also took an online distance handling for agility class and attended a distance handling seminar.
- 2020 - Continued Denise Fenzi Dogs Sport Academy classes including The Lemonade Conference.
- 2021 - Continued Denise Fenzi Dogs Sport Academy classes including The Lemonade Conference.
- 2022 - Continued Denise Fenzi Dogs Sport Academy classes including The Lemonade Conference.
- 2023 - Continued Denise Fenzi Dogs Sport Academy classes.
Titles earned
BB Scotty RN CGC TKN HIC - And we are just getting started.
Contact Point's Jenny RM RAE SWM THDN CGC TKP HIC EAC EJC OCC TN-N WV-N BR-N HP-O NGC R-FE/GrCH MF/N NW1 L1I L1C
- Please go to Jenny's page for her accomplishments. We have sure had a great time!
MACH2 PACH2 NATCH V-NATCH Flying Quick Nick Du Volant RA TKP CGC PAX MXS MJS MXF T2B2 EAC OJC OCC WV-N TN-O TG-O
- Started competing in agility at 1 1/2 years of age in Sept 2012 and completed novice, open, and excellent level AKC agility titles by June 2013. By March 2014, Nick completed his MX, XF, and T2B titles. He has largely done the same in the NADAC venue. I haven't pushed him beyond his skills and I have hardly campaigned him out of town. He is simply a wonderful agility partner. Nick earned his MACH in Oct 2014 and qualified to compete in AKC's National Agility Championships. He finished close to the top third of his jump height.
- In 2015, Nick completed his T2B2, MXF, MJB, MXS titles so far. Nick also met the eligibility requirements for the AKC Agility Nationals in Tulsa OK in March.
- In 2016, Nick completed his MACH2 in February before his 5th birthday and I moved him to the Preferred AKC classes so he could jump lower and have a longer career. We are loving the lower jump height and in July, he completed the requirements to compete in AKC Nationals already. In October, Nick earned his PACH and PAX. He ended the year as the Top Preferred Belgian Sheepdog in AKC.
- In 2017, Nick completed a number of AKC agility titles and qualified to compete in AKC Agility Nationals. He also earned his Canine Good Citizen Certificate and AKC Trick Dog titles; novice, intermediate, advanced, and performer. He also earned a Rally FrEe Novice Skills Test title.
- Nick loves doing anything with me including; agility, tracking, nose work, canine freestyle, rally obedience, and also being a demo dog for my classes. He has lovely doggy social skills and great people skills with those he knows. We are still working on some social confidence projects.
MACH2 FlashFire's Diamond Dancer (Dani) CD RE MXF EAC O-EJC O-WV-E O-TN-E TG-E OCC HP-O CGC
MACH2 Beartooth Mountain Sapphire (Katie) CD MX MXJ AJP EAC EJC OCC TN-E WV-O BSCA Ag-HOF CGC
Third Hand Rose (Rosie) CDX OA OAJ CGC (rescue dog)
- 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, completed MX and MXJ in 2008, and completed her MACH (Master Agility Championship) on July 25, 2010.
- #12 Belgian Tervuren in AKC agility in 2008 by point accumulation
- #25 in the 20 inch jump height of 237 dogs at AKC Agility Nationals in Mar-Apr 2012 in Reno NV.
- Canine Good Citizen certificate (CGC)
- AKC Rally Novice title completed 2009
- AKC Novice Obedience and Rally Advanced titles completed 2010. Rally Excellent title earned in 2013.
- Many NADAC agility titles
- MACH and MACH2 (Master Agility Champion, AKC's highest agility title)
- Loves tracking, k9 nose work, herding, obedience, freestyle, and being a demo dog for my classes
MACH2 Beartooth Mountain Sapphire (Katie) CD MX MXJ AJP EAC EJC OCC TN-E WV-O BSCA Ag-HOF CGC
- Companion Dog (AKC CD)
- MACH and MACH2
- 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 including Elite Tunnelers at age 10 1/2 in 2009
- Canine Good Citizen certificate (CGC)
- Belgian Sheepdog Club of America Agility Hall of Fame
Third Hand Rose (Rosie) CDX OA OAJ CGC (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).