NADA Instructors
All of our classes are taught by NADA members who volunteer their time to the club, as both instructors and instructor assistants. Without the efforts of these members we would have no classes to offer!
Lindsay Adey has been training in agility since 2009. She became interested in dog sports while looking for a way to build focus in her dog Tucker after adopting him from Heavenly Creatures when he was a puppy. After joining NADA, Lindsay got another dog, Caprica, who has now complted beginner and intermediate 1 and 2 agility. Lindsay has also done beginner flyball with both her dogs. In 2010, Lindsay and Caprica took part in their first AAC-sanctioned agility trail. Lindsay currently teaches pre-agility and beginners agility where she encourages both handlers and dogs to be like cheerleaders!
Christina Bourne discovered dog sports in 2008 when she was looking for a fun way to socilize and build confidence in her timid rescue dog, Molly. Since joining NADA, Christina has completed numerous classes and workshops in both flyball and agilty, competed in AAC sanctioned agilty trials, volunteered as the flyball training director and developed an overall interest in not only dog sports, but training as well. As a beginner flyball and agility instructor, Christina strives to help new students build strong foundation skills that will enable them to move on in either sport, through the use of positive methods such as clicker training and play. In the process of training her own dogs, Christina has also learned about helping dogs to maintain focus, overcome fear and develop impulse control while training. Christina is available for private lessons.
Stephanie Conway has been training in flyball since 2005 with her Border Collie/Terrier mix , Sasha. She first got interested in flyball when she was doing research on Border Collies and finding things to keep them happy and active. She first started in both flyball and agility. By doing both sports at the same time, Steph quickly saw which one she and Sasha liked the most. While they still participate in both sports, Steph and Sasha like to focus primarily on flyball, which is Sasha's forte. Steph's teaching philosophy centers around teamwork, safety, fun and patience. She does not allow dogs under a year old jump or do heavy box work for their safety, and likes to remind students to be patient and not get discouraged. After all, it takes time to train in flyball but the end result is a very happy and mentally stimulated dog. Stephanie is available for private lessons.
Dianne Ford (treasurer@nfldathleticdog.com) has been training, instructing and competing in agility since 1994. Dianne has taught all levels of agility, and is skilled in teaching strategy and the finer points of handling. She also is able to assess performance issues and provide training plans to address specific weaknesses - the weakness may be in the dog's understanding, physical condition, or handler training techniques / criteria setting / clarity of feedback issues. Dianne's teaching philosophy focuses on maintaining a fun and safe environment for the dogs and handlers, while striving for quality and strengthening the communication and relationship between dog and handler. Dianne would be happy to help with any level of agility training, and is available for private lessons.
Dale Foster has been participating in agility with her miniature schnauzer, Spencer, since the NADA club began. They both love the action, the jumping, and the friends they make. While they are not really competitive, and have not competed beyond the fun trials, they enjoy seeing the improvements that come with work and practice. Dale has also dabbled in Rally-O, Obedience, and in the conformation ring. Dale currently helps out teaching the pre-beginners and beginners agility classes.
Anna Hicks has been participating in agility with her dog Roxy since 2003. Roxy completed beginners in Finland and then continued in NADA in 2010 by completing preagility, beginners and intermediate courses. Anna has competed with Roxy in Finland, and in NADA organized events. She has been assisting preagility courses in NADA since 2010 and currently is instructing beginners and Search and Rescue. Before coming to NADA Anna instructed obedience and Search and Rescue (air scenting, tracking, disaster rescue) in Finland. Roxy holds titles in obedience, show rings and Search and Rescue in Finland. Anna also participated in several workshops in Finland in obedience, agility and Search and Rescue.
Jennie Murphy has been involved in the world of dogs since 1990. It was at this time she found herself acquiring a 5 week old GSD/terrier cross (if only she knew then what she knows now). Realizing she had her hands full she quickly enrolled in an obedience class at Companion Dog Trainers. Her mentor , Helene Proudfoot, saw 'something' in Jennie and asked her to be an instructor. Jennie attended several obedience instructor training camps in the U.S. and you can say the rest is history. Jennie continues to teach obedience classes and she herself has entered numerous obedience trials, accumulating over the years several High in Trial ribbons. Jennie also partakes in the sport of Rally and has her dogs involved in pet therapy. Prior to the conception of NADA, Jennie dabbled playfully in agility but she was quick to jump on board when a formalized group was established. Since joining NADA , Jennie has entered all the trials, has attended most of the workshops and is currently working on her advanced standard title with both her dogs. Jennie brings with her to classes, her many years of experience but most importantly she brings a love for dogs and a love to help owners excel with their agility training
Brianna Newton has been training in both agility and flyball since 2007. She has competed in the first AAC trial held on the island and is looking forward to competing this year with her two dogs Jersey and Bruiser. Brianna has also taken part in many of the workshops offered by the club as both an auditor and participant. Training two dogs is keeping her on her toes and always looking for different ways to motivate them. She is currently teaching pre-agility, where she encourages having fun with your dog while building the foundations for agility and your relationship.
Heather Skanes and her partner, Queen, have been participating in agility, since June 2007. Being an agile working dog, Queen is a natural for the sport. More importantly, though, she quite enjoys socializing with other dogs, while exercising and bonding with Heather. The two have completed pre-agility, beginner, and intermediate agility, and have attended several agility-related workshops. Having participated in NADA's 2008 and 2009 AAC-sanctioned trials, Heather and Queen look forward to NADA's 2010 AAC-sanctioned trials, hoping to add another "Q" to the one achieved in starters gamblers. Over the past year, Heather has assisted with instructing both pre-agility and intermediate I classes.
Aimée Surprenant has been doing agility since 2004. She initially started it as a way of doing "stealth obedience" with her very energetic lab, Taz, in Lafayette Indiana, USA at the Greater Lafayette Kennel Club. After moving to Newfoundland she joined NADA and completed all of the agility classes given by the club. Due to her need to work on control with her dog Taz, she has developed quite a skill in working with distracted and reactive dogs. She would be happy to work on agility skills or on focus and off-leash control, and is available for private lessons.
Norbert Turpin has been training in agility and obedience since 2009. He got interested in dog training and sports as a way to harness the high energy and lifestyle of his Boxer. Since joining NADA he and his dog Parker have completed Pre, Beginner and Intermediate I agility and are currently working on Intermediate II and Search and Rescue. They have yet to prove their ground in the AAC ring but will hopefully do so in the summer of 2011. Currently Norbert teaches Beginner agility where he hopes to show new handlers the basics of agility dog handling and how important it is to have fun and still be in control.
Elizabeth Zedel has been involved with dogs for 12 years and has competed in obedience with a Dalmatian in the top 5 Dals in obedience in Canada for about 6 years. She has competed in Road Trials (Horse and Dalmatian Endurance and Obedience tests) and won obedience classes at the Dalmatian Club of America US National. Elizabeth is a CKC Rally Obedience judge and has studied at Trails-U-Win near Boston and with Carolyn Dockrill in Halifax. Elizabeth has an interest in motivating students to work as a team with their dogs who wish to compete in dog sport. She has also done work with sports psychologist Basil Kavanagh who helped the Gushue curling team win Olympic gold. Elizabeth has done some work with BAT (Behaviour Training for Fear and Aggression) by Grisha Stewart of Seattle Washington. Elizabeth is available for private lessons.