Meet Our Instructors!

This page is a work in progress, as our Instructors are always having fun with their dogs in one venue or another, please check back often!

Barbara Bray, who initiated the ADTC Agility Program in the early 1990′s, and her Shetland Sheepdogs and more recently Papillons compete (and competed) regularly in Agility, Obedience and Rally Obedience. Barbara got involved in dog training in 1990, with her Sheltie, UACHX Sandy Bray the Mariner, CDX OA NAC NJC-V. Sandy was the first dog in NC to receive his UKC Agility Championship, he competed in the UKC Premier Agility Competition in Kalamazoo, MI, where he won 1st Place in Agility III, which resulted in his being featured on the Outdoor Life Network Channel. Sandy was an enthusiastic obedience competitor and qualified for the AKC Eastern Regional’s in Obedience, which was no small feat. 

(Photo by Diane Lewis) UGRATCH Misty Mount My Heart Will Go On, CDX RE MX MXJ EAC EGC CGC TD Inc,  ”Bobby” (Sheltie) often represents ADTC in school and/or nursing home demos/visits. Before Bobby retired from Agility, he earned 56 Q’s, scores of 100, in AKC Excellent B Standard and 18 Q’s, scores of 100, in Excellent B JWW and a total of 332 MACH points. In addition, Bobby and Barbara were one of eight teams to represent NC in the AKC National Agility Championship Competition in 2002. In UKC, Bobby earned multiple High Scoring Triple Qualifying Dog in Trial Awards as well as a High Combined Dog in Trial Award. Barb, a very proud Mom, says “Bobby is now 13 1/2 years old and is totally retired, but still follows commands better than any of our dogs.”

Barbara spent many happy years competing with her Papillon, CH UACH Tuinluv’s Focus Movin On, RA MX MXJ OF (AKC FAST Agility – newest venue) OAC NJC TN-N CGC TD Inc. “Focus” was featured on the cover of the 2006 Papillon Calendar and there was a full-page color picture of him in the Papillon Magazine.  He competed in Agility where he earned 34 Double Q’s toward his AKC MACH Title. He had 428 points. Focus had 70 qualifying scores of 100 in Excellent B Standard and 56 Q’s with scores of 100 in Excellent B JWW. He had one leg toward his CD. Focus, like Bobby, enjoyed his therapy work. 

U-AGI Dixieland Harbor Light, “Beacon” (Bobby’s son) RE MX (Master Agility) MXJ OF TN-NCGC TD Inc. is working toward both his AKC Master Agility Jumpers Title and his AKC MACH (AKC Master Agility Champion Title.  He has 35 qualifying scores (scores of 100) in Excellent B Standard and he has 8 Double Q’s and 834 MACH Points.  This exceeds the AKC requirement of 750 points for the MACH; however, he still needs 12 Double Q’s.He also has 23 qualifying scores in Excellent B JWW.  Beacon has two legs toward his CD and is just beginning to compete in USDAA Agility.  This very special boy is as beautiful as he is smart and, like his Dad, represents the Shetland Sheepdog breed extremely well!

And last but not least, in Barbara’s words:  “Denzel Now or Never, “Niki” (Papillon) OA NAJ CGC TD Inc, came into our home one year ago shortly after the death of our beloved Focus (Papillon) who died with Lymphoma at age 11.   Niki and I have recently begun competing in AKC Agility. Niki, who has brought home his AKC Novice Standard and Open Standard Titles as well as his Novice Jumpers Title from the last two trials, is showing great promise.  He also brought home six Blue Ribbons from those two trials.  At the present time he has two legs toward his Open Jumpers Title and has just moved up into Excellent A Standard. We believe that Niki has a bright future.”  Methinks Barb is the master of the understatement!  

 

Kay Rodgers, (with Quest during a recent Therapy Dog Session – photo by Marny) with her sweet Havana Silk Dogs (formerly called Havanese), enjoys showing in Conformation, Traditional Obedience and Rally (and Agility, in the past!). The late Kacee, a great ambassador in schools and nursing homes in ADTC’s Therapy Dog Program, was the first Havanese in the US to attain her CDX (Companion Dog Excellent) in Obedience and was one of the first Havanese to earn her Breed Championship and many Agility titles. Kay’s girls; AKC, HSDA CH Bonneterre J’Taime at Jimka CD RE NA NAJ TD Inc. CGC (J’Taime), AKC HSDA CH Jimka’s Melodie D’Amour RE TD Inc, CGC (Lyric), AKC, HSDA CH Jimka’s C’est-tou Gift by Tem RN, CGC (Capra) and her sweet boy, AKC, HSDA CH Jimka’s Music By Request RN, CGC (Quest), do Therapy weekly, at various Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Residents through out Hanover and Pender Counties!

Kay was a renown breeder for over 20 years and her puppies were sought after from folks all around the country! Kay has taught and/or assisted in ADTC classes for too many years to count, currently assisting wherever needed! She is a moving force with the Havana Silk Dog Club of America, as well as being an Evaluator for AKC’s newest program the STAR Puppy Certification, Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog Inc Programs on a Local Level.

 

 

Nancy Parrott, a superb “reader” of dogs has been with ADTC for 27 years, as of 2011, starting many a puppy on his way toward being a happier Family member, a high scoring Obedience Dog, or a loving Therapy Dog. Over the years Nancy has trained, shown, and/or titled various breeds in Traditional Obedience, Rally Obedience, and Conformation including Dachshunds, German Shepherds, a Doberman Pinscher, Boxers (including Ch. Highflight’s Worth The Wait “Spencer” who attended Westminster twice), Australian Shepherds, a Yorkshire Terrier, Collies, and a Chihuahua, including a High In Trial with her beloved “Sky”, now at the Rainbow Bridge.

 Nancy is known for being ADTC’s top motivator for dogs, students and members alike. She re-established the club’s Therapy visits to area Rest Homes and Rehab Centers in the late ’80′s and taught the Therapy Dog classes for many, many years. Nancy established the club’s dog Safety Program in the mid 1980′s, holding the copywrite on the coloring sheet given to the children, and is passionate with the club’s presentations. Nancy has also been the official club’s spokesperson for years!! And let me add, NOBODY does it BETTER!!!!

Nancy works both ‘in front of the scenes AND behind the scenes’ constantly!! As our “Older Puppy” Class Instructor, Nancy is working with the second generation of family’s learning to train their pups!! She also is an Evaluator for AKC’s newest program: the STAR Puppy Certification, she helps out with Boxer and Collie Rescue (or any other four legged creature she comes across). Nancy has held every office on the Board at ADTC, but Treasurer. Over the years she also has been Training Director several times (approx. 8 years and counting…. she is our current Training Director).

 

Susan Jackson (photo with her boy, Louie, by Marny), though young in years, is one of our oldest ADTC Members! (she must have started when she was 6 yrs old!) Susan and her husband, Doug, started their love story with Golden Retrievers and many of her ADTC Family remember Toddy and Amber fondly! The loss of Doug in 2008 has been a tough time in Susan and her furry kids’ lives, as well as for all of us who love Susan and loved Doug.

With her ready smile, Susan and her furry kids; Chimera Kahlua Louie, CGC TD, Inc, CDX RE AX AXJ AXP2 MJP5 “Louie” (Corgi), Sigbrit Song of the South CGC JH (with two legs toward SH and learning a new venue: Rally!), with both Gus and Dixie pointing rather than flushing, “Dixie” (Brittany) and CH. Sigbrit Almost August, JH “Gus” (Brittany), have fun in Field work, Obedience, Conformation, Rally and Agility.

Having titled many of her dogs in the various venues, Susan is well-rounded in her abilities and knowledge and she shares all with her students, who quickly become more than students, becoming old friends instead! Dixie and CH Gus (Brittanys) are flushing those birds when not in the Obedience or Conformation rings. Corgis Versatility Champion Molly, CD (recent resident of Rainbow Bridge) and now Louie (both Agility & Rally titled) had and have a blast in all rings!

Susan, a long time “Canine Good Citizen” Evaluator, has seen many dogs to their very first title (CGC), as well as being a super Instructor in Agility! Recently she became an Evaluator for AKC’s newest program: the STAR Puppy Certification. Another hat that Susan wears is the Secretary of New Hanover County Humane Society.

 

 

Pat Gagne, with her wrinkled pupsters, Shar-Peis extraordinaire, has titled in three venues (Conformation, Agility and Obedience). Pat’s never-ending supply of patience in any class in which she teaches or assists is definitely appreciated. Her special boy, Irish, waiting at Rainbow Bridge, was an inspiration to all and Champion Suede sets a high standard in the breed ring.

Pat is instrumental in local Shar-Pei Rescue and she is currently fostering Sadie, a little female found abandoned and starving. Pat’s gentle care is helping Sadie “unpack her baggage” and Pat is bringing Sadie to Obedience class so she will be more adoptable!! (still need a photo of our Pat!)

 

Sallie Cooper (shown here with one of her students – image by Marny) has a history with German Shepherds and fur babies; Baron Archie von Richthofen CD, CGC (Baron) and Heartwood’s Kinetic Kelbie CF, CGC (Kelbie), had many wonderful adventures together! Before Sallie moved to Wilmington, she was a valued member of the Durham Kennel Club, where she not only took classes for many years, but also was a Puppy and/or Beginner Class Assistant for 7 years, taught Puppy Class for 2 years, was the AKC Canine Ambassador,AND was Training Director and CGC Evaluator for 2 years! She volunteered with the APS of Durham doing School Education Programs and Obedience Demos at the Shelter for their school program.

Here at ADTC, Sallie has taught our youngest puppies in our Puppy Kindergarten/Small Breed Puppy classes and currently in our “Young Puppy” Class.  Sallie also assists with other Obedience classes whenever needed!!

She recently renewed her CGC Evaluator Status and now can once again conduct CGC Testing, as well as an Evaluator for AKC’s newest program: the STAR Puppy Certification. Sallie keeps current with the latest training methods by watching training/behavior tapes of Seminars and reading books written by Trainers and Behaviorists. Sallie believes in and teaches only “dog friendly”training methods and is especially interested in preventing aggression in dogs, humane methods of treating aggression and in helping shy dogs learn to enjoy life without fear.  Sallie has an open heart when it comes to shelter dogs. She faithfully worked at New Hanover County Humane Society for over 3 1/2 years, working with the residents there to make them more adoptable.

 

 Marny Temple (photo ‘posed’ and taken by Patrick Temple, 6 yrs old!) and her girl, Hillkrest To ‘O’ The Mornin’ To Ye, CD, RAE, CCA, TD Inc, CGC, 3 legs toward her RAE II Title and 2 legs toward her URO1, ”Glory”, and younger brother; URO1 Wicklow-Hillside Just Can’t Help Believin’, RE, 9 Legs toward his RAE, STAR Puppy, CGC, CCA, TD, Inc, “Mick” love making memories together, whatever the venue! Marny is the Director of the Rally Obedience Program at ADTC, where Logan and younger brother, Boo (both now residents of Rainbow Bridge and missed desperately) earned their Rally Excellent titles in 2006, making the BEST memories together!! And that is what Marny wishes for all Teams who attend ADTC’s Rally Classes and go on to Trialing – wonderful memories!

Both Glory and Mick are doing great jobs following in their Big Brothers’ very big pawprints! Glory, having secured her CGC, TD Inc Certifications and RN title at an early age, her RA and RE Titles in early 2009 and her CD title, as well as her CCA Certification, in April ’09. This sweet girl earned her RAE Title on February 19th, 2010!  Glory is currently learning UKC Rally and Traditional Obedience and earned her first two legs toward her UKC Level 1 Title over the summer, as well as continuing on earning 3 legs toward her RAE II.

Baby Bro Mick is a happy boy! He loves doing therapy work, as he thinks everyone there came just to see HIM!! He earned his RE Title in 2009 and is currently working on his RAE Legs (adding legs 8 & 9 the end of July 2011) and learning UKC Rally.  He earned his URO1 Title and the Golden Retriever Club of America’s coveted CCA in October 2010, and in January 2011, Mick officially became a certified Therapy Dog! 

Obedience training has held the Temple pupsters in good stead through the years; Logan in his role in an independent movie, Amber who was deaf the final year of her life and responded to hand signals, Boo whose life was saved thanks to obedience training when a rabbit almost lured him into the street and Mick who recently “starred” in a TV commerical!

Marny KNOWS Rally and her humorous personality and light-hearted encouragement has been a blessing to her students. In addition to her teaching duties, Marny is our Webmaster, Vice President, is on the Publicity Committee creating our Show ‘n’ Go flyers and is a member of our Training Committee.  Marny is involved with Golden Retriever Rescue on the Local and National levels and loves Photography and being “Nana” to her grandsons: Nathan and Patrick.

 Bonnie Eckhoff and her beautiful Gordon Setters strut   their stuff in Conformation, Traditional Obedience Rings and Rally Obedience Rings!!

Shown here with her girl, Sioux (Photo by Marny) Bonnie is not only a great teacher to Teams who have just “graduated” to the PreNovice level Class for the first time, but also is an expert at “fine tuning” Teams for entering the ring!

A long time Instructor in both Traditional Obedience and Breed Handling, Bonnie eagerly shares her wealth of knowledge and all her students benefit from her generosity! In “real life” Bonnie is a Physical Therapist and her compassion and caring for both people AND their dogs more than shines thru in all her words and deeds during Class!Bonnie and her partners are always a pleasure to see working in the ring!

 Bonnie’s girl, Sioux (Gordon Setter) got her Championship in Conformation last year and that same weekend, Bonnie brought home a new baby, Dru (G. Setter) whom we’re all enjoying watching grow up!!!  Siuox can currently be seen in the Rally ring, as she is beautifully presenting Advanced runs, earning her Rally Advanced Title the end of July 2011.  Baby brother Dru is also getting his paws wet in Rally and coming right along.

 

 Kim Hagan and her boys, Monor’s Salem of Heathwood RE CGC “Salem” and Heathwood Llyr of Llandoff, “Llyr”, and her little girl; CH Canuck’s Most Be’Comyn, “Zoe”, are a pleasure to see working together!

Salem earned his RE (Rally Excellent) title in 2007 and both he and his Mom are all smiles when asked about it!! Llyr is on the fast track in both Tradition Obedience and Rally, while big brother Salem is giving Agility a try, earning his 1st Leg in NAJ, with a first place, under less than desirable weather conditions! Zoe is loving participating in Agility and we expect to see her and her Momma in the Agility ring soon! And then there’s a NEW baby, Lizzy…. who we’ll be hearing alot about soon!

Kim’s laid back manner teaching Rally is most impressive and her students learn, and learn well, surrounded by the sea of calm that Kim projects!

 

 

 

 

 Bob Jones and his Rough Collie, formally known as Deep River’s Sundance Kid, CD RAE I & II CGC TD Inc, but lovingly known to most of he and Bob’s friends, as Sunny, show students how much fun training can be!! This team holds the dual honor of being ADTC’s FIRST RAE Title holders AND are the ONLY Team in the ADTC Family to have earned their RAE II – YES, we’re proud!!  did ya notice??!   ADTC’s stated maximum, as folks are so anxious to learn the right way under his easy going and fun style of teaching!

Bob’s patience and gentle manner is an asset to all his students, whether beginning or more advanced teams, and whether Bob’s role is as the Lead Instructor or acting as an Assistant.  Bob’s classes are always filled to our maximum limit!

In addition to Traditional Obedience and Rally Obedience training, Bob lives his love of both animals and people as seen in his devotion to Therapy Dog work and Collie Rescue, both a national and local level.  Bob is an Evaluator for AKC’s newest program: the STAR Puppy Certification and Canine Good Citizen!

 

 

 

 

 Janet Doxey (with Hazel in this picture taken by a friend) and her beloved Corgis (both Welsh and Pembroke) are poetry in motion as they move in tandem around the ring! Her pupsters are: Homegrown Stanley D. CD CGC (Stan), CH Finecreek Saltwater Taffy CDX AXP MJP VCX CGC (Taffy) and Botany Bay’s Special Gift CD AX AXJ RA CGC (Hazel).

Hazel and Janet are currently working toward their RAE title, earning Leg 7 a few weeks ago!  She and Hazel Marie are also enjoying trialing in Aglity and Traditional Obedience!

Janet is the perfect Beginner Agility Instructor, with her kind and gentle manner, seeing that the Teams in her classes get a very excellent start in Agility!  Her students all love her and enjoy (and learn) while in her company. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADTC has four new Instructors!  Please check back soon to see their pictures and read their biographies!

 

Lila McDowell (shown here with her boy, Tucker) has always been a dog lover and her big heart is known far and wide.  She is never too busy to help a needy dog and as it is for so many folks who do rescue work, some of these needy souls go from ‘fosters’ to family before Lila knows it!  And boy, are these some lucky dogs!

Lila has been training for 20 plus years and one of her heart dogs, Bear (now a resident of Rainbow Bridge) was the first dog whom she worked with in Obedience.  They both fell in love with this venue and enjoyed learning and practicing!  As Bear was an All American, Lila could not show him in competition obedience way back then, as mixed breeds weren’t allowed to participate by theAKC (and how wonderful it is that just in the past year, that AKC now allows these worthy dogs!).  Despite not being able to trial, Lila and Bear made good use of their skills and found their nitch in Therapy Dog work, where this loving and lovely Team made many people smile, while they made wonderful memories together!

 Lila was an ADTC member for a great many years way back when, took time off and returned to us about three years back and boy are we glad she did!  Not only is Lila an excellent and valued Instructor, who’s people and dog skills are legendary; she is also our Orientation Director and is always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone in need!

 Lila can currently be seen in the Rally ring with both her young fur kids; Tucker (Black Lab) and little Lilly (Lab mix).  In a short time, she and the two year old Tucker, who was already turning into a wonderful obedience boy earned Tucker’s Therapy Dog Certification, followed up very quickly, by their earning Tuck’s RN (Rally Novice) Title last spring in the cluster of shows in Concord, NC.  Not to be outdone, baby sister Lilly, only 1 year old, earned her 1st RN leg, and both Lilly and her Mom are anxious to get back in the ring to complete her RN Title and move forward to earn her RA and then RE Titles.

 

Andrea Arbogast is a one-woman dynamo!  Her main love in Dog Training is the Agility venue and that love shows!  Her classes are interesting, informative and plain ole fun!  She teaches our Competition Class and her patience with and pride in her Student Teams are beautiful to see…….

Andrea is an advocate for Shelter and/or Rescue Dogs….. and she practices what she preaches.  Please ‘get to know’ Andrea thru her own words:

“My dogs are all shelter or rescue dogs, and not necessarily purebred dogs. (Sylvie is the only supposedly purebred one). That is important to me– my dogs will most likely always be Rescues because I am not into Conformation or Breed Handling, and I have the time to work with the problem dogs since I don’t have kids.

My 3 dogs are registered through AKC Canine Partners as Lola Lou Arbogast, Sylvie Bullet Arbogast, and Wallace Russell Arbogast. This allows them to compete in all AKC events except for Conformation.

Lola is an Australian Shepherd mix, who we adopted from a shelter in California when she was 12 weeks old. Her mom gave birth to her in the shelter. We have been training in Agility for about 3.5 years, and she has Novice titles in both AKC and NADAC. Her AKC title is NAJ (Novice Jumpers), and she is one leg away from her Open Jumpers title. She is also one leg away from her AKC Novice Standard title. Her NADAC titles include NAC (Novice Regular) and TN-N (Novice Tunnelers). She also has her CGC Certification.

Sylvie is an Australian Shepherd who we rescued at 10 months of age from a local couple who couldn’t handle her. She has been through Beginner and Pre-Novice Obedience, as well as 2 sessions of Beginner Agility atADTC. She is about to start Introduction to Rally Obedience. 

Wallace is a Newfoundland/Retriever mix that we rescued at 1 year of age from a family who had fallen on hard times. He had been kept for several months by himself in an empty house, only seeing anyone else when they came by to drop off food for him. He has been through Beginner Obedience at ADTC, and will be repeating that class sometime soon.

I attended the “Clicker Expo” Clicker Training Conference in March of this year, and am always reading and watching videos to improve my training of my “special needs” dogs.”

In short, when you and your dog are ready to give Agility a try, you are in good hands!  Beginner Class would be with Janet Doxey and then it’s on to working with Andrea Arbogast!  You’re gonna love it!

 

 Dave Moore, as is evidenced by this picture, is a well liked gentleman!  He and his sweet little girl, KD’s Red River, (known to her friends as ”Pepper” and who by the way is not the lady in this picture, taken by marny), have earned herAKC STAR Puppy (Certification), AKC CGC (Canine Good Citizen Certification), RE (Rally Excellent Title), TD Inc (Certified Therapy Dog) and most recently her RAE (Rally Advanced Excellent Title), “Pepper” are relatively new to the wonderful world of Dog Training!  Starting out as anADTC Student a few years back, Dave quickly caught the ‘bug’ of working with his Pepper and together they have begun a wonderful journey!

Pepper, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, also known as a “Toller”, is a lovely package!  She is sweet, very pretty, smart and willing to please.  And Dave (perhaps less sweet, pretty and smart!) is working toward becoming an excellent handler, as he learns from Pepper, the first dog he has trained for performance events!

 After assisting in Rally (and Traditional Obedience and Agility) for several sessions, Dave is now an Instructor and his fine eye for detail is welcome as our Teams ready themselves for competition.  The help he’s given the Rally Director has been invaluable and much appreciated, so she and her pupsters are able to practice as well.

 Dave and Pepper have been enjoying Agility for the past year and will be seen in the ring at a Trial real soon!  Dave enjoys most sports, fishing and all things dogs!  “nuff said!

 

 Sharon Yankay shown here with her Girl Annie, is a beautiful handler and passes all her ‘secrets’ along to her Students!  (more to come!!!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADTC’s Assistants, the Eyes, Ears and Hands of the Instructors!

Kudos to our long time, as well as new, assistants who do such a great job being our Instructors’ eyes, ears and hands in class! This ‘star’ lineup includes: Karen Heinecke, Kim Hagan, Sallie Cooper, Pat Gagne, Kay Rodgers, Sharon Yankay, Lila McDowell, Tom Hudgin, Dave Moore, and Missy Gordon! All are valued members of our training team!