Training Philosophy

Amanda uses training methods and tools such as the clicker and targeting to help create a thinking dog, the more the dog engages his or her brain the more connected a partner you will have. Throughout all of her training Amanda gives the dog opportunitys to make right and wrong choices. Making a wrong choice does not mean the end of the world, it simply means there is another choice available. She uses a very light "ah-ah" to mark the incorrect choice and she will use a clicker or  "Yes" to mark the correct behavior.  


Amanda's goal when working with her dogs and students is to help the dog and the handler work as a team both in and out of the agility ring.

Bio 

Amanda has been competing in agility for 19 years and has been teaching agility across the country for 8 years; Amanda practices Canine Massage and Reflexology as well as Canine Nutrition, Herbology and  Energy Therapy.

She is currently enrolled in the following programs: 

Companion Animal Sciences Institute's Diploma of Advanced Canine Nutritional Sciences (Completing Oct 2010) 



She will also be enrolling in North West School of Animal Massage Level 300 Canine Rehabilitation Program, Aromatherapy and Acupressure for animals as well as a Canine Behavioral sciences diploma within the next 5-6 years.

Amanda has completed the following programs:   (most recent at the top) 

American College of Healthcare Sciences  Homeobotanical Certificate (Completed 2008, Part of Diploma Program)  
American College of Healthcare Sciences Herb 303 Course (Completed Dec 2007, part of Diploma Program) 
American College of Healthcare Sciences (Completed Aug 2007, part of Diploma Program) 
Bach Center Level 1 Flower Essence program (Completed 2007)
Trigger Point Therapy Course (Completed 2007)
Clayton College's Holistic Care for Companion Animals Certificate (Completed 2006) 
Crystal Healing for Pets Program (Completed 2006)
Reflexology Program (Completed 2006)
Chakra Therapy Program (Completed 2006)
North West School of Animal Massage Small Animal Program Level 100  (SAMP) (Completed 2006)
Dowsing Certificate (Completed 2006)
Reiki Master Training  (Completed 2006)
Canine Reflexology program (Completed 2006)
Veterinary Assistant program (Completed 2005)
Crystal Healing Program (Completed 2005)
Beyond the Rainbow's Bach Flower Essence program (Completed 2005)
Petmassage Institute’s Level 1 Canine Massage program  (Completed 2004)
JKL”s Canine grooming program (Completed 2004)

Amanda's first dog a Pembroke Welsh Corgi Ar-Zoo's Dab of Sunshine "Sunny" competed in USDAA with Amanda and her mom Sharon. Sunny was the 2nd 12" dog to ever earn a MAD (Masters Agility Dog) also the first Pembroke to ever earn that title. She was the first dog to ever earn a MADC (Masters Agility Dog Canadian)
In NADAC Sunny was the fourth dog to earn a NATCH, she was the first dog to earn a Outstanding NATCH, a Superior NATCH, she was also the first to earn a fourth and fifth NATCH.
As well as the first dog to earn a NATCH in all three Divisions. She was also Top Dog in 1996,1997,1998 and 1999.

Amanda's second dog a Border Collie named Amacris Outside Chance "Chance"   ( 1992-2006) has earned the following in NADAC:

NATCH, O-NATCH, S-NATCH,

V-NATCH, O-V-NATCH, S-V-NATCH, V-NATCH 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9 & 10

JH-NATCH, O-JH-NATCH, S-JH-NATCH,JH-NATCH 4 and 5 ,

Versatility NATCH, O-Versatility NATCH and S-Versatility NATCH

Top Overall Dog of the year in 1998, 2000, 2001 & 2002
Top Gamblers Dog of the year in 2000, 2001 & 2002
Top Jumpers Dog of the year in 2000, 2001 & 2002
Top Regular Dog of the year in 1998, 2000, 2001 * 2002

Top Lifetime dog Overall in 2002, 2003 & 2004
Top Lifetime dog Regular in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 & 2004
Top Lifetime dog in Jumpers in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 & 2004
Top Lifetime dog in Gamblers in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 & 2004

Second dog to earn 1000 points in NADAC.
First dog to earn 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000,6000,7000 and 8000 points in NADAC.

Triple Superior Elite Level, Triple Superior Elite Level-Veterans, Triple Superior Elite Junior Handler, earning her the Triple Triple award 

Triple Superior Versatility Award 

Chance has qualified and competed at every NADAC Championship from 1995-2004

Winner of the 1999 and 2000 Junior Handler division at the NADAC Championships

Second place in the Junior Handler division in 2001 at the NADAC Championships

Top ten in Veterans Regular division at the 2003 NADAC Championships

Winner of the 2004 NADAC Championships 20” Double Digit Veterans Division

Chance has a total of 9540 points in NADAC

Amanda's third dog another Border Collie named Amacris Party All Night "Mardi"

Mardi was born with only one eye and just started her agility career in the summer of 2001 and has retired in 2006 due to some health issues,  She has done very well earning the following accomplishments:

NATCH
Versatility NATCH

Triple Superior at the Novice and Open level 

Top Ten in Skilled Jumpers 2006 

Top Ten in Skilled Tunnelers 2006

Recipient of the 1000 and 2000 point award in NADAC

4th in the 2001 NADAC Championships 20" Junior Handler Division

Top ten at the 2003 NADAC Championships in the Regular, Jumpers and Touch N' Go classes.

Amanda's fourth dog (Border Collie)Bullis Creek's Triumph "Try" started her agility career in June of 2005 and has earned the following: 

Amanda and Try are currently working on qualifying for Superstakes for the 2010 NADAC Championships! 

Placed 4th at the 2009 NADAC Championships in Shelbyville, TN in the Skilled 16" division 

Won the 2008 NADAC Championships in the Skilled 16" division, Try also won the Highest Scoring Skilled Dog in Hoopers award.

 Placed 5th in the 16" Skilled division at the 2007 NADAC Championships at Gillette, WY and earned the Highest Scoring Skilled dog from Idaho award at the Championships. This was Try's first NADAC Championship!

Earned her Novice All Around Award 

All of her Superiors at the Novice and Open level
 

Up and coming pup Nargles is currently in training and hopes to be competing in late 2011! 

Amanda is the first Junior Handler to earn a NATCH, V-NATCH and JH-NATCH as well as the first Junior to earn Top Dog of the year and 1000, 2000,3000 and 4000 points. She is the first (and only) handler to earn three NATCHes in all three Divisions. (Standard, Veterans and Junior Handlers)

She is also the first handler to earn the 1000, 2000,3000,4000,5000,6000, 7000, 8000 & 9000 point award.

She has taught seminars all over the country as well as traveling to Australia and Japan to teach. She traveled to Australia in November of 2004 to judge the NADAC Australia nationals and to teach handling seminars.

Amanda has filmed two training videos for Dog Sports Video, that were released in the spring of 2006 (availble from the Store page)  she also has a series of training articles that were run in Clean Run starting in Jan of 2006 and handling articles in the summer of 2007.  

Amanda's Dog Puzzles article appeared in the Sept/Oct 2007 issue of Dog Sport magazine, you can subscribe to Dog Sport magazine at www.dogsportmagazine.com

Amanda's Facebook profile is: www.facebook.com/agilechance