Contact Agility Club

contact agility club - putnam county, new york

Meet the Instructor-

I started in agility with my first dog, Max the lurcher, in 1992. My obedience instructor, Betty Hahn got us started and then we joined Contact Agility. In the five or so years that Max and I did agility together I learned a lot about how NOT to train a dog! But Max, like most dogs was very forgiving and was stilll willing to come home with me at the end of the day. Training methods in obedience and agility have changed for the better since that time. Max was very impressive in the agility ring. He could run faster than any dog, avoiding all obstacles and never running into the judge! The highlight of our career together was successfully completing a gamble! After Max retired, he spent many hours lying on the hillside as I trained my next dog. He was our biggest fan.

In 1997, my Aussie, Pollyanna entered the picture. She was rehomed with me at 10 months of age. Her knowledge of house manners and obedience was next to nothing. Clicker training and agility gave her a job she desperately needed. Polllyanna and I have been a team ever since. We have been equally successful in AKC, NADAC and USDAA agility. Now at 10 1/2 we compete a few times a year, because it's fun for both of us! Pollyanna also competes in

Rally-O and has earned her ADPT Level One Title.

In 2004, my Greyhound, Suzie Q (6 yrs old) became a part of my family. She came from a lovely family that had worked very hard with her and had earned her CD in AKC obedience! The Arsenaults were hoping to find a working home for her and the rest is history. Once Suzie moved in we started her agility training. To date she has one Q in USDAA PI snooker (2nd place) and one Q in USDAA PI jumpers (1st place). She also has her APDT Level One Rally title.

Baylor is a 3 year old Lab, released from Guiding Eyes For The Blind, that loves agility and obedience and tracking and swimming and people and life! Time will tell if he will ever enter an agility ring, but until then we have fun!

Melissa Luthi,-

Certified Animal Behavior College Dog Trainer

I have been teaching beginner thru intermediate agility for Contact since 2000. I enjoy the variety of breeds and the challenge each individual dog brings to the class. My greatest joy is watching as the dog and handler click and become a team! I have happily watched as past students have experienced success in the competition ring and am pleased to have been a part of it!