Our Instructors
Rose Miller
Director of Obedience; Obedience Instructor
Has been training and showing dogs for over 40 years and has been teaching obedience for over 10 years. She also enjoys Agility, Lure Coursing and Rally.
Rose has put obedience titles on 10 dogs, 1 Irish Setter and 9 English Setters. She also shows and breeds English Setters and of her dogs are champions and many of them have hunting titles on many of them.
Breed: English Setter
“I love to help my students get their dogs to be well-behaved canines. I enjoy seeing the dogs and handlers progress in their training and work as a team. Students are often amazed how much they can teach their dog.”
Bonnie Swanson
Instructor of Obedience, Open and Utility
Has been training dogs in obedience for over 30 years
Has competed in Obedience, Rally, Agility, Tracking, Lure Coursing, Hunting and Nosework
Breed: Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, Golden Retriever
“I want my students to gain knowledge, expertise, and confidence in the show ring.”
Kelly Erskine
Puppy Kindergarten, Puppy Plus, Beginner and Intermediate Obedience Instructor
Kelly has been training dogs for 6 years
Competes in ASCA Conformation, Obedience and Rally
Breed: Australian Shepherd
“I want BOTC students to build a great relationship with their dog and have fun doing it!”
Joe Caviezel
Novice Obedience Instructor
Joe started training with his first dog in 1979
Competes in Obedience and Rally
Breed: Golden Retriever
“I would like the students to have fun training their dogs and that when they show their dogs they look like they are well prepared.”
Donna Bonnicksen
Novice Obedience Instructor
Donna has been involved in dog training for over 20 years
Competes in Obedience and Rally
Breed: Miniature Schnauzer
“I hope you to get the skill and desire to go on and compete with your dog from my classes.”
Anita Smits
Instructor of Rally Novice, Rally Advanced, and Rally Excellent
Anita has been training dogs for 20 years
Competes in Obedience and Rally
Breed: Airedale Terriers
“I hope my students develop a sense of teamwork with their dogs and gain a good foundation of knowledge of the three levels of Rally.”
Cathy Hoffman
Beginner Obedience Instructor
Cathy has been training dogs for over 40 years
Competes in Obedience, Rally and Agility
Breed: Wheaton Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer, German Shepherd Dog
“My goal is for my students to have a well behaved dog that will stay with them for life and to know the joy of the relationship with their dog.”
Todd Anderson
Puppy Kindergarten, Puppy Plus, Beginner and Intermediate Obedience Instructor
Todd has been training dogs for 26 years
Competes in Conformation, Obedience and Agility at multiple levels
Breed: German Shepherd Dog
“I like to see my students get a sense of togetherness and teamwork with their canine companion and an education that exceeds their original goals.”
Tina Justen
Puppy Kindergarten, Puppy Plus & Agility Instructor
AKC approved CGC and Trick Dog program evaluator.
Has been training dogs for 6 years
Competes in Obedience, Rally, Agility, Lure Coursing, Barn Hunt, Shed Dog
Breed: Golden Retriever, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
“I want my students to develop an understanding of how to communicate effectively with their puppies and the basic skills needed for a lifetime of learning.”
Sara Chouinard
Flyball, Puppy Kindergarten and Puppy Plus Instructor.
AKC approved CGC and Trick Dog program evaluator.
Sara has been training dogs in various venues for over 10 years.
Competes in; Obedience, Rally, Agility, Flyball, Lure Coursing and Barn Hunt.
Breed: Shetland Sheepdogs, Border Collie
Her first passion was Obedience, and she continues to share that passion with students in Puppy Obedience classes.
When she discovered Flyball in 2011, it didn’t take her long to get hooked on the sport and, a few years later, she apprenticed to become a Flyball instructor.
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Jenny Workman
Puppy Kindergarten and Puppy Plus instructor
Jenny has been teaching for 6 ½ years and training dogs for 10 years.
Breed: English Bulldog and French Bulldog
Competes in: Obedience and Rally
“I want my students to develop and learn with their puppies to grow and have a well behaved companion for their whole lives.”
Kathy Kelly
Director of Agility; Agility Instructor, all levels
Kathy has been training and competing in agility since 2000, but has been training dogs most of her life: she helped her father train hunting dogs, and has dabbled in obedience, rally, conformation, and tracking
Breed: Miniature and Standard Poodles.
“I am especially interested in seeing my students get a solid foundation in handling skills, and a positive, fun, working relationship with their dogs.”
Trudi Woodward
Agility Instructor, all levels
Trudi has been training dogs for 27 years
Has competed in Agility, Rally and Obedience
Breed: Golden Retriever, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
“I would like my students to enjoy their relationship with their dog and to learn new ways to handle sequences in agility.”
Jan Hopper
Agility Instructor, all levels
Started training her first dog in 1981. Titled her first dog (a German Shepherd) in 1982
Competes in Conformation (AKC), Obedience (AKC, CKC, UKC, CDSP), Agility (AKC, NADAC, CPE) and Rally (AKC)
Breed: Poodle, all varieties
“I strive to make the experience of taking agility classes at BOTC a fun, stress free, supportive atmosphere.”
Ute Outlaw
Agility Instructor, all levels
Ute has been training dogs for 19 years.
She competes in AKC, NADAC and CPE Agility.
Breed: Miniature Poodles
“I love to teach and for my students to form a strong working bond with their dogs.
Most of all is having fun in this great Sport.”
Debbie Griese
Intermediate and Advanced Agility Instructor
Deb has taught Agility at BOTC over 17 years.
Has competed in Conformation, Obedience, Rally and Agility (AKC and CPE) for over 30 years
Breed: Irish Setter, Irish Red & White Setter
“I enjoy teaching that level because I enjoy helping students become better handlers.”
Leona Hellesvig
Substitute Agility Instructor
Leona has been training her own dogs for 56 years.
Has competed in Conformation (AKC, UKC, CKC), Obedience (AKC, CKC), Rally (AKC, UKC) and Agility (USDAA, AKC, CPE, NADAC, ASCA, UKC). Judges USDAA Agility
Breed: Cocker Spaniel, English Toy Spaniel, Australian Shepherd
“I want students to develop an on-going relationship with dogs and enough of a skill-set that they can be successful in the show ring if they choose to show their dog.”
Lauren Soderberg
Agility Instructor, all levels
Has been teaching agility for nearly a year and has been training her dogs in Agility and Obedience for over 5 years.
Competes in Agility (AKC, CPE)
Breed: Pug, Pit Bull
“I hope all of the dogs leave class having had a lot of fun and having learned to work better with their handlers. I try my best to help each student learn better handing skills and to improve communication with their dog.”
Jackie Johnson
Beginner and Advanced Agility Instructor
Has been training at BOTC for 14 years, since she was 8 years old. Has been instructing agility for a year and in puppy classes for two years.
Competes in agility
Breed: Miniature Poodle
“I want my students to learn that having fun with your dog is the most important thing.”
Karl Getsinger
Agility Instructor, from puppy through masters level
Karl took his first obedience class in 1998
Competes in AKC and NADAC Agility
Breed: Doberman Pinscher
“I want my students to know what their role is as a member of a team and to understand how to fulfill that role.”
Dawn Torine
Agility Instructor, all levels
Dawn learned dog training as an adult through community education and trained service dogs for Helping Paws for about 15 years. She has also trained therapy dogs and taught therapy dog classes. She has been an agility instructor at BOTC for many years.
Has competed in AKC and Canadian Conformation, Agility, and Obedience.
Breed: Poodle, standard and miniature.
“I hope the students (people and dogs) come out of the class feeling happy and confident.”
Gail Moriarty
Agility Instructor, Foundation
Has been training and showing dogs for more than 40 years.
Competes in Conformation, Agility, Obedience and Rally.
Breed: Vizsla
“I want my students to think that time spent in class was fun and worthwhile and provided them and their dog with a positive experience that will encourage them to explore the sport of agility further.”
Kay Reilly
Agility Instructor, all levels
Kay has been training and showing dogs for 45 years and teaching agility for 19 years.
She has competed in Obedience, Conformation and Agility
Breed: Standard Poodle
“Agility should be fun for dog & handler. I want the atmosphere in my class to be positive, supportive and fun while we work on the skills to create a good agility team.”
Amy Pluth
Agility Instructor, Novice
Breed: Brittany
Over 25 years in Brittanys.
She has trained dogs in conformation, obedience, hunting, field trialling, and agility.
Competed in Conformation, AKC obedience, AKC hunt tests, AKC horseback/walking field trials, AKC and CPE agility
“I want the students in the agility classes to have confidence in their dogs and themselves when they take steps to compete in agility. “
Tina Justen
Puppy Kindergarten,Puppy Plus & Agility Instructor
Has been training dogs for 4 years
Competes in Obedience, Rally, Agility, Lure Coursing
Breed: Golden Retriever, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
“I want my students to develop an understanding of how to communicate effectively with their puppies and the basic skills needed for a lifetime of learning.”
Jill Hoffbeck
jill@shootingstardogs.com
612-508-5965
Director of Conformation; Conformation Instructor
Jill has been training dogs for 15 years
Competes in Conformation, Obedience, Rally, Hunt Tests, Lure Coursing, Field Trials, and Agility
Breed: Vizsla
“I like giving my students one or two things at a time to work. I believe everyone can and should excel as a team with their dog.”
Sara Chouinard
Director of Flyball
BOTCflyball@gmail.com
Flyball, Puppy Kindergarten and Puppy Plus Instructor.
AKC approved CGC and Trick Dog program evaluator.
Sara has been training dogs in various venues for over 10 years.
Competes in; Obedience, Rally, Agility, Flyball, Lure Coursing and Barn Hunt.
Breed: Shetland Sheepdogs, Border Collie
Her first passion was Obedience, and she continues to share that passion with students in Puppy Obedience classes.
When she discovered Flyball in 2011, it didn’t take her long to get hooked on the sport and, a few years later, she apprenticed to become a Flyball instructor.
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Rally Instructors
Anita Smits
952-881-5285
Instructor of Rally Novice, Rally Advanced, and Rally Excellent
Anita has been training dogs for 20 years
Competes in Obedience and Rally
Breed: Airedale Terriers
“I hope my students develop a sense of teamwork with their dogs and gain a good foundation of knowledge of the three levels of Rally.”
Junior Agility Instructors
Leona Hellesvig
Substitute Agility Instructor
Leona has been training her own dogs in Conformation (56 yrs), Obedience (49 yrs), Agility (23 yrs), Rally (13 yrs), Trick Dog (3 yrs), and Freestyle (2 yrs) and she has a Therapy Dog.
Has competed in Conformation (AKC, UKC, CKC), Obedience (AKC, CKC), Rally (AKC, UKC) and Agility (USDAA, AKC, CPE, NADAC, ASCA, UKC). Judges USDAA Agility
Breed: Cocker Spaniel, English Toy Spaniel, Australian Shepherd
“I want students to develop an on-going relationship with dogs and enough of a skill-set that they can be successful in the show ring if they choose to show their dog.”