INSTRUCTORS
PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTORS
Our InstructorsBest Friends Obedience, Inc.
LYNNE BERRY, INSTRUCTOR
I have taken obedience classes with Best Friends Obedience since 1992 and started agility classes in 1999. In 2004 I became an agility instructor. I have been competing in agility since 2000 with my Cairn and Scottish Terriers. I also compete in obedience, rally obedience and earth dog, and hope to try barn hunt competition this year. Dundee, my Cairn Terrier, completed his MACH (Master Agility Champion) in 2013 and his PACH (Preferred Agility Champion) in 2014. I was thrilled to be eligible to compete at the AKC National Agility Championship with Dundee in March 2014 in Harrisburg, PA, and at the AKC National Invitational Agility Championship with Kelso, my Scottish Terrier, in December 2014 in Orlando, FL. Kelso was awarded the Scottish Terrier Club of America breed medallion as the top agility Scottie at that competition.
SHEILA COOK, INSTRUCTOR
I have been training and competing in agility since 2003 with my Weimaraners. My first agility Weim was a rescue dog, who had been abused and needed a lot of motivation. Agility brought her out of her shell. My most recent dogs have all been very much "high drive" boys. I have competed at National level, earning invites to the AKC Invitational (top 5 from each breed are invited) for 8 years and one of my boys has been ranked the #1 agility Weimaraner for the last three years and also has the most Master Agility Champion titles (15) for his breed. I also compete in obedience, rally, dock diving and field. To further my knowledge of this wonderful sport, I try to attend at least one seminar a year. When teaching my greatest joy is seeing the dog and handler starting to become a team, seeing a nervous dog overcome its' fears and enjoy the thrill of this wonderful sport. Whether you intend to compete or you do this purely for fun, agility is an amazing way to bond with your dog and have exercise while you are doing it!
DIANE MAEHR, INSTRUCTOR
Diane has been doing some sort of dog competition since about 1990. She started out with AKC obedience competition until 1997 when she was bitten by the agility bug. It was about this time she began teaching classes with Best Friends Obedience.
Diane says: "Agility is such a fun activity for you and your dog." She primarily competes with Australian Shepherds. Her first dog did not have a very good foundation for sports, she says, but it taught her the importance of obtaining such a foundation. "I feel he was my once in a life time dog, but our time together was cut short by his illness." Since him, she has trained an additional 4 Aussies for the sport. They each presented their unique needs with learning their agility foundation. Some were more patient with her as their handler, Diane says, but all were very willing to learn and her current dog continues to teach Diane to communicate quicker and earlier to meet that dog's needs in the sport since that dog lacks patience.
Diane says: "My goals are to continue with the fun sport of agility while maintaining a consistent, happy working dog at my side.
MERINDA TIFFANY, INSTRUCTOR
Merinda grew up in the dog world, actively showing in 4-H dog events and AKC Junior Showmanship. She began competing in agility in 2007 and became an agility instructor with Best Friends Obedience in 2009. Although her breed of choice is the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, she has a lot of experience teaching all breeds.
In 2014, she and her now retired corgi, Porter, won the AKC Preferred National Agility Championship at the 4" jump height. Porter is the only Cardigan Welsh Corgi to earn this title. He went on to earn his PACH as well. Her younger corgi, Stout, recently won the Triathlon event at the breed specialty - winning High in Trial in herding along with placing in both agility & obedience.
Merinda is currently training and competing in agility, herding, rally, obedience, and barn hunt. She routinely takes online classes and attends seminars & clinics to continue her education.
AMANDA BRANDENBURG, INSTRUCTOR
Amanda has been training and competing in agility since 2009. She started with a rescue American Staffordshire Terrier (Amstaff) named Voodoo. She knew immediately after their first class she was hooked and wanted to learn as much as she could about this incredible sport. Since that time, Voodoo has earned multiple titles in agility and made the Top 10 list for her breed. Voodoo is now semi-retired and still plays in agility and also competes in other dog sports like Rally and Obedience. Amanda now has a young Border Collie named Axel she is currently training and looking forward to their future competing. Amanda avidly pursues ongoing education and professional training by attending agility camps/seminars every year. She has had the opportunity to train with some of the Top Trainers and Handlers in the country. Amanda started teaching for Best friends Obedience in 2016. She is committed to providing positive training and a fun environment for students and their dogs. She loves training dogs of all levels and motivation. Her favorite thing about teaching is watching handler and dog build a bond and become a team. "There is nothing better than seeing the relationship between them grow. It is the best feeling!" When not working or helping students learn about this amazing sport, she enjoys spending time with her husband and trains/competes in agility with her own dogs.”
