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Mary Ellen has a B.S in Accounting from the University of Scranton and was a CPA for 3 years in one of the big firms and then spent another 9 years in private companies as accounting manager and controller. In 2003, she was laid off and spent the summer teaching dog agility to help make ends meet while she looked for another job. She enjoyed it so much that she didn’t think she could go back to the corporate world and she's been teaching agility full time ever since.

Mary Ellen's popularity as a seminar presenter has grown due to her ability to break things down for students and explain and clarify concepts.  She has an excellent eye and is able to pinpoint simple training exercises for handlers to work on at home to improve coursework.

Mary Ellen is a OneMind Dogs coach, being selected as part of the first pilot group in 2015.  The USA boasts only 6 OMD Coaches and she is thrilled to be a part of teaching this method.

Mary Ellen has been involved in agility for 22 years and has had much success on both the national and international level. Mary Ellen has competed at the IFCS and WAO World Championships a total of 6 times with 2 different dogs and has won multiple medals at those events including 6 gold medals. She has placed on the podium at the USDAA Cynosport World games several times including placing 1st and 2nd with Maizy and E-Z at the 2012 Dog Agility Masters Team Tournament and placing 2nd with Maizy in the 2012 Grand Prix.  Mary Ellen also coached the 2015 WAO team which competed in the Netherlands.

Mary Ellen has been a contributor for over 13 years to Clean Run Magazine and is the author of The Long Jump and Foundation Fundamentals which are both training DVD's and are available through www.cleanrun.com

Mary Ellen has been an instructor full time for over 13 years and has taught seminars and camps throughout the U.S and Canada.

Jen Pinder

Jen has been actively competitive in agility for 19 years. Jen and her Sheltie Britain are members of the 2015 WAO Team. Jen was also on the WAO Team in 2014 with her mixed breed Taser. In addition, Jen and Britain were the 2012 16" Cynosport Grand Prix National Champions, with Taser as the runner up taking second. Taser was the 16” 2011 and 2012 National Steeplechase Champion. She has put 8 ADCHs and several MACHs on her Border Collies, Jack Russells, mixed breeds, and a Sheltie as well as being a 3 time AKC World Team Member with BC Static. Jen is currently competing with her Sheltie Britain and Border Collie Bling.

In addition to her skills as a competitor, Jen's excellent teaching ability and ability to adapt to different styles of dogs is what makes Jen a highly sought after presenter and instructor across the country. Jen and her husband Bill reside in Lapeer, Michigan where she teaches classes and private lessons for FiredUp K9s. She also conducts seminars and workshops around the country. Contact her at firedupk9@yahoo.com

 

Rachel Sanders

Rachel's background in dog sports started with competition obedience in the UK. Since moving to the US, Rachel was drawn away from obedience competition to the fun and exacting demands of training and competing in agility. She finds agility training and handling exciting and stimulating and enjoys working and sharing her knowledge with all levels of handlers and types of dogs. She believes that we should always challenge ourselves to be better handlers and trainers but have fun and humor as we struggle to improve.

Rachel is one of only six OneMind Dogs coaches in the US and is thrilled to be able to share the OneMind Dogs methodology with her students. 

In her 20 plus years of involvement in agility Rachel has been successful nationally and internationally with her Border Collies and Jack Russell Terrier. Rachel and at least one of her dogs has been in a USDAA Cynosports Final (Steeplechase, PSJ GP, PGP or Team) from 1999-2014 including many podium placements and 4 National Championship wins. She has been an AKC finalist with Whist, Trump, Fable and Gifted. In 2008 Rachel and Fable represented the US as part of the IFCS World Team where she won a silver medal.

Rachel has been a regular contributor to Clean Run Magazine and is the author of 7 training DVDs which are available at CleanRun.com. In addition to her teaching, seminar and competition schedule she has been the IFCS World Team coach since 2012.

Rachel shares her home with Michael and their 6 pack plus one, in Atascadero CA.  Rachel can be contacted through her website http://www.fastforwarddogsports.com