ARFF K-9 Academy - Instructors

INSTRUCTORS

Photo CL Photography
Wendy Buckle Wendy Buckle has been actively involved with dogs all her life. While living in England, she taught and competed in Obedience. After emigrating to Canada she worked for ten years as a Veterinary Assistant. Since 2002 Wendy has dedicated herself along with a very special Border Collie Hope and her amazing Collie Pal to the Dog Therapy program. Sadly Wendy lost Pal in 2011, but the joy he brought to many of the residence will always live on.

In 2007 Wendy had the honor of being chosen out of many applicants to work for Clean Run, the number one online agility store and largest agility magazine in North America, critiquing all the new books and dvd's.

In 2001 Wendy began teaching and competitively competing in agility with all three of her dogs, Nicholas a Sheltie, Pal a Rough Collie and Hope a rescued Border Collie, each earn their own successes. Wendy continues to stay educated in the ever evolving world of agility by training with some of North America's top competitors. Currently Wendy trains with AAC agility judge Brenda Juskow and Canadian World Team Member Theresa Rector, and participates regularly in training camps lead by both American World Team Member Jen Pinder and Canadian World Team Member Theresa Rector. In 2007-2009 Wendy trained with Canadian World Team Member Jessica Martin, as well as participated in seminars with Justin Davenpot, Carolyn Dockerill and John McKinley. In 2008 Wendy participated in Susan Garret's Say Yes- National pace yourself warm up workshop, before competing in the AAC National Championships.

Wendy is competing at Master levels with her Border Collie Hope and young Border Collie Talisker. In 2010 as well as 2011 Hope made the AAC Top Dog list, also earning many titles. 2010 was Talisker's first year of competing, and she also made the AAC Top Dog list and again in 2011 on top of several Top Dog titles at various trials. Not to be forgotten is Wendy's youngest Border Collie MacDuff, who made his debut in the fall of 2011 in which he brought home his first "Q" in Snooker. There will be many more in 2012, this boy has an amazing future!

Marcie & Wendy in Fredericton summer 2003

Casey & Nick - Team Q!! they have both retired- but the Shoutin Shelties were so awesome!

Marcie Crawford first found her love of agility in 2001 with her late Shetland Sheepdog Casey. She was one of the founding members of Saint John’s first dog agility club, and since then has moved forward to co-founding ARFF K-9 Academy Saint John’s premier dog agility business where she can be found devoting her time teaching Puppy classes through to Advanced handling. Marcie is also very busy within the agility community in New Brunswick, volunteering her time to do demo’s in agility for children and seniors, volunteering for the 2008 AAC Nationals in Sussex New Brunswick and serving on the Agility Association of Canada’s Discipline committee for a term of 3 years.

Marcie competes and trains regularly in New Brunswick with her Shetland Sheepdog Libby, who not only qualified for AAC National Championships in 2008 & 2009 they actually had the opportunity to compete at the AAC national championships in 2008 which was a dream come true for the team. They can be found training regularly with World Team member Theresa Rector (2007, 2010) , Jessica Martin (2007-2009) and have also trained with Canadian agility professionals Susan Garret (2008),), Justine Davenport (2008), Carolyn Dockrill (2008), and several seminars with NB’s Julie Lizotte and Nova Scotia’s John MacKinley. Marcie is also a certified Therapy dog handler, with 2 of her shelties certified as volunteer therapy dogs. She also has completed her Saint John Ambulance Pet First Aid course and is certified in Advanced Coronary Life Support (ACLS) and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). The Crawford's newest edition Winston is starting his agility training the summer of 2010, and he hopes to join his sister Libby on the agility circuit very soon.

When not enjoying her passion for agility, Marcie can be found working as a Registered Nurse for the Horizon Health Network in the Coronary Care Unit as the units Clinical Coordinator; she lives in Saint John with her husband Mike and their three Shetland Sheepdogs Libby, Cole and Winston.

Stacie Crothers started agility in 2007 when she began taking classes at ARFF with her rescued Boxer Tessa. They both were immediately hooked, and early on it was clear that Stacie & Tessa were the specialist of the class when it came to weaves. After working very closely with Wendy Buckle to perfect the ARFF K9 Academy preferred weave pole method, Stacie agreed to become our Weave Pole instructor. She began to teach "the method" and is well known by her students and peers to be the "Weave Pole Queen".

Stacie stays educated in new handling methods by training with some of Canada's top coaches. Currently she trains with AAC agility Judge Brenda Juskow and Canadian World Team Member Theresa Rector, as well as participates regularly in training camps lead by both American World Team Member Jen Pinder and Canadian World Team Member Theresa Rector. In 2007-2009 Stacie trained with Canadian World Team Member Jessica Martin, and has participated in a handling workshop with AAC Judge Carolyn Dockerill.

Stacie competitively competes in agility with her talented Australian Shepherd Chase. 2010 saw this team hit the trial circuit, with great success. Chase earned his SGDC as well as a spot on the AAC Top Dog list. In 2011 Chase now competes at the Advanced and Master levels.

Stacie is hard at work training her new boy Quincy, a very focused Border Collie, who one day soon will be joining his older brother Chase at the trials, competing for his own "Q's".

Beth Shaw and her Shelties have participated in all the levels of obedience with the V.I.P. Training School earning a CDX on Coral with 2 High in Class as well as a CD on Raja. Beth also assisted with teaching obedience classes. Raja was handler shown by Beth in the Conformation ring earning his Championship title with several "Best of Opposites" as well as a "Puppy in Breed".

Since 2006 Beth has been with Global Pet Foods, gaining extensive knowledge in dog nutrition. Prior to working for Global, Beth was a member of Dr. Blaney's Veterinary staff, working with various breeds in the Doggie Daycare.

Beth started training with A.R.F.F. in 2007 with her 9 year old Sheltie Raja. With hard work Raja, at the age of 11 earned his VADC in Fredericton. At the NB/PEI Regional Championship in 2008 Raja placed 4th in the 10 inch veterans division. Although Raja has crossed the Rainbow Bridge, the lessons he taught Beth will be with her for a life time!

In 2009 Raja's daughter Madison began her agility training. Madison qualified at Regionals in 2011 and soon this dynamic team found themselves on their way to Nationals in Oro Ontario. Placing 12th overall in the 10 inch veterans division, Madison and Beth also earned a 5th place in Jumpers, 9th in n Standard and 9th in Gamblers. As well as the many AAC titles Madison has earned she has also consistently been on the AAC TOP DOG list!

Beth is currently training with AAC Judge Brenda Juskow and Canadian World Team Member Theresa Rector, and also participates regularly in training camps lead by both American World Team Member Jen Pinder and Canadian World Team Member Theresa Rector. In 2007-2009 Beth trained with Canadian World Team Member Jessica Martin, as well as participated in seminars with Carolyn Dockerill and Justine Davenport.

Beth started working as an Instructor for ARFF K9 Academy in 2008, after working as a Instructors spotter and attending various Instructor Seminars.

Beth has breed Shelties for many years, but 2009 would be the final litter. Eclipse blessed Beth with a wonderful litter of puppies, one of which is her new agility prospect Keeva. Keeva has already shown what she is made of by qualifying in Starters Standard in her first 2 runs out in 2011! This is certainly a great team in the making!!