Patty Andolina
716-822-9315
Patty Andolina has been involved in dog sports for over 20 years with her Shelties, starting with obedience competition and later teaching advanced obedience classes. About 15 years ago, she joined a group of agility enthusiasts who showcased the new sport of dog agility at various sites. When the AKC began hosting agility trials, the sport took off and Patty taught agility classes at HABOC while training and titling her own dogs. Later, she taught agility classes at Positive Pet Training. She was also one of the first in this area of the country to help introduce the concept of the clicker as a motivational tool and training device. Patty has trained 11 of her own dogs to advanced obedience and agility titles (including the AKC's prestigious MACH), and has competed successfully in a number of agility organizations, including USDAA, AKC, NADAC and CPE. Her dogs have completed 20 Agility Championships in CPE agility (C-ATCH) over the years. Along the way, Patty has participated actively in numerous seminars and workshops with many of agility's top-name instructors and competitors, and has worked with a wide range of different training problems using positive, motivational training methods. She believes agility should always be fun for both dog & handler and never feel like work!
Undine Bistany
716-885-0003
Undine Bistany has been teaching competitive agility classes for at least 6 years. Her Border Collie ADCH MACH 3 Minka PAX is nearing retirement and her young Lab Missy is competing in Excellent classes. She is the owner of PAWSITIVE SOLUTIONS and has given seminars and workshops in the past. She has competed at National events and taken lessons from several competent and well known agility competitors including Linda Mecklenburg.
Lynn Broderick
716-837-3647
Lynn Broderick began her career in animal behavior in 1999 at the Erie County SPCA, directing the innovative Animal Behavior & Training Department. After five years, Lynn left the SPCA and started Pet Works Professional Pet Care & Training. Lynn has been a Member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers since 1999. Lynn discovered agility in 2000. She has put countless titles on her dogs and friend's dogs. She started teaching agility in 2005, and loves sharing new techniques and handling strategies with her students. Besides teaching the equipment to new agility teams, she teaches her students to handle fast dogs and learn distance handling, as well as finding ways to motivate dogs who worry and shut down in training and in the ring. Her philosophy on training dogs is to understand why they do what they do, and to use scientifically proven positive reinforcement techniques and good management to teach new skills or elicit any behavior modifications that are necessary.
Barb Klucik
716-440-0936
Barb has been involved with dog agility since 1996, and has been teaching the sport for nearly as long. She has competed successfully in AKC, USDAA, NADAC and CPE with her two rescue border collies, Eve and Dunk. Eve finished her AKC career with a MACH and a PACH2, and she also had a CPE C-Atch. Dunk earned MACH3; the highlight of his career was competing in the Challengers round at the AKC Nationals. Additionally, both dogs earned the USDAA Bronze Lifetime Achievement award, the equivalent of 3 ADCH's plus 75 additional Masters' legs. Barb currently competes with Dunk, and with Nancy Gee's BC MACH Genie. As an agility trainer, Barb focuses on teaching handling skills. She has worked with many top trainers, most extensively with Pati Hatfield Mah and Linda Mecklenburg, and has come to the conclusion that there is no one handling approach that is best for every dog. In her classes Barb asks that all students learn some basic handling techniques, but steers each team to find the strategy that works best for them. Her guiding principle is that a handler's most important job is to make the course obvious to the dog. Students in Barb's classes will at times also benefit from the contributions of Nancy Gee. Nancy has put 17 MACHs and a PACH on her miniature poodles Nikki and Louie, as well as two CPE C-Atchs, a USDAA ADCH, and placements at two AKC National agility competitions. Nancy is currently training Fletcher, her youngest miniature poodle.
Mary Ellen Pratt
716-947-5135
Mary Ellen believes The Polite Puppy (any age dog) is welcome anywhere and at anytime. Her strong conviction that relationship with your dog is based on love and respect. Making training fun from the beginning sets the pace for how the dog will perceive training for the rest of their life. For the past 25 years she has been Region Coordinator for Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Erie Puppy Program, developing dog and handler in a fun and rewarding way. A student of Suzanne Clothier and Relationship Centered Training, she continues to attend seminars and training sessions on a regular basis. She enjoys training and competing in Obedience with her Labrador Retriever, Imogene who obtained her AKC & UKC CD in less than a year. She is a member of Hamburg All Breed Obedience and South Towns Dog Training Clubs.
Cindy Rathbun
716-491-0585
Cindy Rathbun has been involved in training dogs for over 14 years. Her Irish Water Spaniel, Sullivan, recently completed his OTCH and also has titles in agility, tracking, and rally. Cindy's German Shepherd, Shogun, had titles in obedience, agility, herding, and rally. Cindy has mentored under Evie Van Uden and has taken lessons from Evie, Jerry Burke, Ena Hilmayer, and Terri Clingerman. Additionally, Cindy has actively participated in seminars with Evie Van Uden, Terri Clingerman, Jane Jackson, Bridget Carlson, and Sylvia Bishop. Cindy is a member of the Irish Water Spaniel Club of America, Hamburg All-Breed Obedience Club, and Southtowns Dog Training Club.
