Our Students
Some pictures of our amazing students working their dogs! You can see more videos and pictures on our Facebook Page. Please note that these pictures do belong to this site and may not be copied, but you can always share this website URL.
Weekly Spotlight
In her before-Alaska life, Judy lived on a large ranch in Southern Oregon for 25 years and was a regular Annie Oakley. She had three horses and would go out on roundups, help work cattle and sheep, and delivered more baby lambs than she can count. The inspirational breast cancer survivor and seasoned 11-year agility veteran moved to Alaska when she married her husband 15 years ago and hasn’t looked back. Now Judy balances her work in the human resources department at Providence Hospital with family life and shepherding her Pembroke Welsh Corgis through agility courses, which she claims helps her stay young.When Judy was taking a puppy class with her now 14-year old “Pemmies”, Max the Big Boy and Mandy’s Spring of Life, she met an OR nurse in class who wanted to try agility, so they signed up together for a beginner agility class. Judy had so much fun she kept going. She never imagined the class would lead to competing with her dogs, but she is doing just that!
Mandy was shy in the ring and never made time. Oftentimes she would stop in the tunnel and not come out during a trial, so her days competing in the sport were not long-lived. Max on the other hand loved the sport and the team earned four MACHS together and went to nationals three times. He is also a certified pet partner therapy dog and has worked with a lot of kids battling cancer at local hospitals and wounded soldiers at JBER. Max has an instinct for knowing when someone in a room is upset and will immediately go to that person.
Judy has an affinity for fluffy-coated Pembrokes, which is considered an undesirable breed coat by AKC standards. As Max and Mandy grew older, she knew it was time to find a new fluffy-coated puppy. Theresa Blacksted, a breeder in Sandpoint, ID had what she wanted and Lonestar Gus the Great came home to Alaska nearly three years ago. Gus is a smart dog who competes well at the Master’s Standard and Jumpers levels. Judy’s goal is to get a MACH with Gus and go to nationals with him.
Colburn’s Pistol Pete, a tri-colored fluffy coated Pembroke Corgi came home to Alaska shortly after and will be two years old on July 1. He is still a puppy and not as focused as Gus which can be challenging for his handler at times, but he improves every day and is competing in the Open class of both Standard and Jumpers. Judy also started taking Rally classes with Pete because it was something she always wanted to try, and the team is having fun competing at the intermediate level. Both Pete and Gus have their Canine Good Citizen titles and are getting ready to test for the pet therapy program this fall.
These days, Judy has been focusing on distance training which allows her to send Gus and Pete through a course using more verbal commands and less movement. She can’t run as fast as she used to anymore and her husband likes to remind her that, “they are timing the dog, not you.” She has a course at home and practices 2-3 times per week plus takes handling classes with Patti at Bell Creek Agility and Obedience.
Judy will tell you that it is all about treats and the ball for her boys. But the older they get, the more Gus and Pet love to play the sport and they wait at the door for her to come home and train. She believes that giving your dog a “job” to do makes them happier and that when they know what that job is and how to do it, they enjoy the activity even more. And despite having competed in the sport for 11+ years and questioning what she is doing every time she steps on the start line, she has a blast doing it and feels that training is essential because it provides you the guidance and tips you need to be successful.
Mandy was shy in the ring and never made time. Oftentimes she would stop in the tunnel and not come out during a trial, so her days competing in the sport were not long-lived. Max on the other hand loved the sport and the team earned four MACHS together and went to nationals three times. He is also a certified pet partner therapy dog and has worked with a lot of kids battling cancer at local hospitals and wounded soldiers at JBER. Max has an instinct for knowing when someone in a room is upset and will immediately go to that person.
Judy has an affinity for fluffy-coated Pembrokes, which is considered an undesirable breed coat by AKC standards. As Max and Mandy grew older, she knew it was time to find a new fluffy-coated puppy. Theresa Blacksted, a breeder in Sandpoint, ID had what she wanted and Lonestar Gus the Great came home to Alaska nearly three years ago. Gus is a smart dog who competes well at the Master’s Standard and Jumpers levels. Judy’s goal is to get a MACH with Gus and go to nationals with him.
Colburn’s Pistol Pete, a tri-colored fluffy coated Pembroke Corgi came home to Alaska shortly after and will be two years old on July 1. He is still a puppy and not as focused as Gus which can be challenging for his handler at times, but he improves every day and is competing in the Open class of both Standard and Jumpers. Judy also started taking Rally classes with Pete because it was something she always wanted to try, and the team is having fun competing at the intermediate level. Both Pete and Gus have their Canine Good Citizen titles and are getting ready to test for the pet therapy program this fall.
These days, Judy has been focusing on distance training which allows her to send Gus and Pete through a course using more verbal commands and less movement. She can’t run as fast as she used to anymore and her husband likes to remind her that, “they are timing the dog, not you.” She has a course at home and practices 2-3 times per week plus takes handling classes with Patti at Bell Creek Agility and Obedience.
Judy will tell you that it is all about treats and the ball for her boys. But the older they get, the more Gus and Pet love to play the sport and they wait at the door for her to come home and train. She believes that giving your dog a “job” to do makes them happier and that when they know what that job is and how to do it, they enjoy the activity even more. And despite having competed in the sport for 11+ years and questioning what she is doing every time she steps on the start line, she has a blast doing it and feels that training is essential because it provides you the guidance and tips you need to be successful.
Student Pictures
sTUDENT VIDEOS
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