My Bank Manager was not impressed with my idea of making a living from Dog Agility Training. I started with a small trailer, 5 jumps and 5 pupils. Twenty years and many Bank Managers later I have now over 300 pupils who come training every week with their dogs.

Having made a job out of a hobby and being able to do something I really love doing has helped me to create a club environment, where people and dogs from all walks of life can come, learn, relax and have fun. To develop the potential which each pupil and dog bring with them when they join us, help them with their successes and their problems and see them grow, is one of the most rewarding experiences in my job.

Agility is my life!

(For more details on Kathrin’s career click on
“The Boss”)

I have been with Kathrin for the past 8 years and have enjoyed every minute. Starting a beginner class and watching the handler and dog “grow” and have fun together means a lot to me. Even more so when my students tell me their dog “knows” it is training night and they can’t wait to come training. Also in some instances how they feel Agility has helped their dogs change for the better both at home and out and about.

Agility has changed my life too, not only do I have fun with my dogs – I have also made lots of friends from all walks of life. I too wish I had started sooner!

I was born on a mixed farm in Somerset and was lucky enough to have had many various pets. On my eighth birthday my parents gave me my first pony, this led me to joining the Pony Club and another three ponies, each larger than the last, to accommodate my growth, luckily for all I stopped growing at 5ft 2”! On the farm we always had several working sheepdogs and German Shepherds, a particular favourite breed of my parents, which still continues to the present day.
I met and married my husband Jon (who thankfully also shares my love of animals) and within two months of being married we were given a Doberman X Collie, an interesting dog! After several years we left Somerset because of Jon’s job, taking with us our newly born daughter Kelly along with our dog, but unfortunately had to leave my horse behind. Through work my husband met Paul Dodds, a Metropolitan Police dog handler who had worked both Weimaraners and German Shepherds. We had both had experience of German Shepherds, but were very intrigued to learn more about these grey dogs. So a few months later Freya, a Weimaraner came to live with us and still continues to do so, even though she is now approaching her sixteenth birthday. Two years after Freya’s arrival our son David was born. Loki and Dana another two Weimaraners have since joined us. I enjoy teaching agility as I find it very rewarding to watch the partnership/bond growing stronger between handler and dog, hopefully to the point where the dog and handler are truly working together as one team.

Four years ago I moved from Holland to England and found that I could finally own dogs again. This is because in Holland there are so many people and very little real space to do anything, but here I am surrounded by so much common land that is the perfect place to have dogs. I found my dog Pudding at Old Windsor part of Battersea Dogs Home, as a puppy. I was told that a Giant Schnauzer and a Doberman had had a party in the back of a Volvo and Pudding was the result, one of ten. I didn’t really know what to expect when he grew up except something big and black. I took Pudding to a Puppy training class that opened my eyes to 'clicker training', which is based on positive reinforcement training - The kind approach, but it works really well.

After puppy class I started competitive obedience training and soon after that agility training, to which both Pudding and I are very much addicted.

The training methods I have come into contact with since moving to England have completely changed my approach to dealing with dogs. I enjoy studying and using clicker training and found that it not only changed my view on dog training but also has changed the way I deal with people both professionally and personally. I am fascinated by the interaction between humans and animals and enjoy teaching very much. I like to help people to understand their dogs better, allowing them to spend quality time together, therefore making having a dog a pleasure and not a chore. I enjoy each and every training session with this club both as an instructor and as a student.

I have had animals all my life but it wasn’t until I was in my teens that I got my first dog, a rescue golden Labrador, Henry. He always lived with my Mother as when I left home I lived and worked in London and couldn’t have a dog.

Finally in the late 1990’s I was able to get a dog of my own again, and re-homed a black Labrador, Max. When Max and I started to train for agility he wasn’t at all sure about it ,and to begin with I had to jump the jumps with him and meet him half way in the tunnel, but he got braver, I was persuaded to try competing and he got a clear round at his very first show. Since then I have become completely addicted to agility and through the summer rarely have a weekend without a competition.

I now compete with Dylan and Bramble who both came to live with me when Max died . Bramble is a black Labrador who loves agility with a passion, and Dylan is a collie cross who is a challenge to train to say the least, however to the surprise of everyone it was Dylan who won us out of elementary. That’s agility, no matter how long or hard you train you can never be sure what will happen in the ring. When it goes right there is nothing in the world to beat that great feeling of having achieved something special with an animal as partner.

I hope that through teaching agility I will be able to share my love of the sport and be able to pass on this unique experience of being able to work in partnership with a dog.

Nikki
Turner

There has always been dogs around in Kathleen's home life. Her first personally owned dog was a Dalmation, which she was able to train a few tricks to without taking classes. Training classes at this time were not positive nor helpful and so when Kathleen bought her Blue Merle Border Collie, Jake, she was determined to train him properly. Kathleen is a clicker trainer, mostly self-taught through books and videos, but later studied with Katie Rourke of the Canine Film Academy and with Kay Lawrence's team at Wagmore Barn, Gloucestershire.

In 2006 Kathleen decided to start competing in HTM competitions with Jake after encouragement and persuasion from Gina Pink. After only two competitions they rose to Intermediate level. Ambitions are to win into Advanced level in 2007, and qualify for Crufts in 2008. Jake & Kathleen have also this year gained distinction at level One in Dressage, Heelwork to Music, Freestyle & Dancing with dogs in the Paws n Music Progress Awards.

Putting her teaching experience and musical performance to use together with her three dogs, Kathleen has now started her own school, "Blue Merle Clicker Academy". She is delighted to be able to teach Heelwork to Music & Freestyle for Kathrin Tasker in 2007, as well as putting on courses & workshops with her own Academy.

What I love about agility is that know matter how old you are or what breed of dog you have you can take part and make some really good friends along the way.

Michelle Hewitt

One more thing – please can I say a big thank you to my mum as without her none of this would have started. I would also like to say a big thank you to Martin Gill who has been my training mentor!!!

I first became aware of agility through a Sunday afternoon TV series
called (if memory serves) super dogs. Regional teams competed each week on the way to a final. I was spellbound and vowed to "have ago" when ever I got a collie. Only months later Flikka entered my life as a 6 week old puppy. As soon as she was old enough I phoned around and joined the Vyne. Flikka was a phenomenally accurate agility dog, but not the fastest, but she won herself and me
out of Elementary and Starter classes, and was a moderately successful Novice dog for a number of years. A year after Flikka won Starters I got Leo (collie/flat coat cross) he was very fast, but not focussed and preferred to say hello to a judge rather than dash by him. He was quickly followed by Tansey a pretty fast short coat collie, but who seems unable to take the atmosphere of a competition show, though she is great fun to train. Most recently Fagin (collie/something cross) has joined my string. He is a real fun dog, eager to please, and always gives his all. Having been trained at the Vyne for a couple of years, I took my first steps as a trainer and at the same time joined another Agility Club (Aldershot and District). Shortly
after that I started training with Kathrin in 1996/7 and have had a dog or dogs there ever since. My approach to Agility is to enjoy it. I like to think that my dogs have tried their hardest and done their best and most important, that they have enjoyed it. Winning is then a bonus. .

John & Sheila
Artis

When Kathrin started Agility over 20 years ago, it was John who made the first 5 jumps. He was very quickly promoted to Equipment Manager, Chief Cook at the Club Barbeque and his wife Sheila is brilliant at helping with all the administrative work at the club shows.
Both of them are great friends, the nicest, most genuine people you can imagine and I cannot think what the MAD Club would do without them. John has just celebrated his 80th birthday and is still taking part every week in agility training with his dog Pippin and repairs jumps and spoils the club by making new equipment all the time.

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