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INSTRUCTORS
Melinda Schneider
Melinda
has been training and playing with dogs since childhood. Early on, she
discovered a talent for the precision of competitive obedience. Her first dogs
were eager to please and easy to train using the traditional methods of the
day. Years later, she realized just how damaging compulsion training can be to
the sensitive species we call our "best friend."
Working with hundreds of shelter dogs, Melinda learned to appreciate individual and breed differences. Tuning in to her own dogs, all shelter adoptees, gave her the insights needed to make the transition to positive training.
Tansy was Melinda's first rescue dog. Deaf, neglected and abused, she taught Melinda the finer points of communication and forgiveness. Vada, an out-of-control border collie, responded to gentle guidance after traditional training worsened her aggressive streak. Peabody, a sheltie-beagle mix, showed Melinda the importance of addressing stress in competition dogs. At one time leaving the agility ring without attempting a single obstacle, Peabody now plays agility at the top levels of the game
Jeff Boyer
Jeff
has had dogs all his life. His first real experience with
dog training came as a teenager when he worked for a breeder of
Weimaraners and Afghan hounds. At the time, he did not realize that dogs
would play such a major part of his life in the future. A relative
newcomer to dog sports, Jeff began training a rescued Rottweiler in agility in
2003; she has since retired and moved to Florida for some well-deserved R&R.
Jeff is now working with smaller dogs – a Chihuahua and a Papillon. He has
been teaching agility to people and their dogs since 2005. He believes that
learning and training should be fun for both members of the team, and strives
for a teaching environment that is relaxed, supportive, and positive for all.
His training philosophy is to keep an open mind, try different methods, learn
new skills, reward handsomely, and have fun.
Jeff has
been competing in agility since 2004 and in Rally Obedience since 2007.
His Chihuahua , Chalupa, holds titles in several agility venues, including
American Kennel Club (AKC), Canine Performance Events (CPE), Dogs on Course in
North America (DOCNA), and Teacup Dogs Agility Association (TDAA). She has also
earned her AKC Rally Novice title. Look for his Papillon, Winforme’s Too
Hot to Handle (a.k.a. Sizzle) to live up to her name beginning in 2008.
Jeff is active in all aspects of
dog agility. He serves as a member of the TDAA board of directors
and is a TDAA judge. Jeff is also active in two agility clubs and founded
an agility league, the Capital District Agility Fun Group. He has also
held nearly every role imaginable at agility trials. A firm believer that
learning is a lifelong endeavor, he has attended seminars led by Jim Gregg, Bud
Houston,
Leslie McDevitt, Stacy Peardot-Gaudy, and Abbie Tamber. He also
attended the Clean Run Instructors Conference in 2007.
One of Jeff’s favorite dog-related books is Go, Dog, Go! by P.D. Eastman. It really shows that dogs are fun-loving creatures that can do all sorts of wonderful things. All we have to do is show them the way.