Monday/Friday
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Rebecca Potosky started competing in agility in 2009 with her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Gracie, and quickly became addicted to the sport. Rebecca grew up in 4-H, showing livestock; and while she bred and raised many champions, it was always the showmanship ring she loved the best. Showmanship strips you down to one thing, how you handle your animal, and it was that bond and close relationship that you form with your showmanship animal that Rebecca loved, and she found that again in the sport of agility.
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Rebecca and Gracie became a competitive force in the 8 inch class. With Rebecca, Gracie has achieved 9 MACH titles, qualified and competed (placing 11th overall in 2015) at 6 AKC Agility Nationals, and competed at the UKI US Open and won the bronze medal for the Masters Series. In addition, Rebecca & Gracie have competed at the Westminster Master Agility Championships the past three years, making finals each year and placing 3rd overall twice!
Rebecca has two young Miniature Australian Shepherds, Crickit & Gypsy, she enjoys training and playing disc (Frisbee) with. All four love to be outside hiking and enjoying nature when not competing!
Rebecca believes in bringing the best out of a dog by using positive reinforcement and building drive for the game, making agility fun for both you and your dog!
Rebecca has two young Miniature Australian Shepherds, Crickit & Gypsy, she enjoys training and playing disc (Frisbee) with. All four love to be outside hiking and enjoying nature when not competing!
Rebecca believes in bringing the best out of a dog by using positive reinforcement and building drive for the game, making agility fun for both you and your dog!
Tuesday
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Mike Davis has been competing in agility for 18 years. He has achieved great successes with his Australian Shepherd, MACH 7 Sha La La, who he bred and trained. He continued his achievements with the now retired NAC Lilac, competing at the highest level In AKC and UKI. Besides being very competitive locally, some of his national achievements include multiple top 10 USASA yearend awards, invites to the AKC Invitationals, podium placements in the UKI US Open, and finalist at the AKC Nationals as well as finalist at Westminster Masters Agility competitions. Mike now competes with Suka who has the spark and drive of her Grandmother Jackie D and mother Lilac.
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As co-founder of iQ Agility, Mike has brought in some of the world's top agility competitors and instructors, holding workshops and seminars for US handlers. This invaluable opportunity and his fundamental understanding of agility techniques has enabled him to incorporate the methods of these amazing sources, which he communicates with positive and clear instruction to his students.
Wednesday
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Sally Gichner is one of the most experienced trainers and competitors in the Southern New Jersey area. She has been teaching all levels of agility for over 18 years.
Sally has worked with a large variety of dog breeds, including terriers, hounds and mixed breeds. She spends time figuring out how your dog will best learn and enjoy the sport of agility. |
Sally is also an AKC and UKI agility judge. This has given her great insight into training dogs to be able to learn the skills needed to excel in competition.
Sally currently competes with two Border Collies. Hank is a very consistent qualifier and usually placed in the competitive 20" class in AKC. Hank finished fifth at the AKC Nationals in 2017. Hank now competes in the 16” preferred class. He is very close to achieving his AKC Grand Chamionship Agility title which requires a dog to be able to work in a variety of classes. The dog must have distance, focus and the ability to perform complex sequences. Hank obtained MACH 3, AKC agility trial championship. Hank has shown that he can compete in other venues as well. He has obtained champion status in both USDAA and UKI. Over the last several years, Hank has earned byes to National events. E.V., Sally's other competition Border Collie has just started competing.
Sally has also competed with Belgian Malinois and Shetland Sheepdogs. Past accomplishments include:
Nova (Shetland Sheepdog) achieved agility championship titles in AKC (MACH5 & PACH) and USDAA (ADCh) and she was third at the AKC National Agility Championship in 2012. The USDAA title requires that the dog be able to perform in a variety of agility games that include distance, technical skills and the ability of the handler to plan a course that is better than the competition.
Bridget (Shetland Sheepdog) has achieved agility championship titles in AKC (MACH2) and USDAA (ADCh) and has tried out twice for the World Team, placed at USDAA Regional Finals in Steeplechase and Grand Prix in 2011.
Sally currently competes with two Border Collies. Hank is a very consistent qualifier and usually placed in the competitive 20" class in AKC. Hank finished fifth at the AKC Nationals in 2017. Hank now competes in the 16” preferred class. He is very close to achieving his AKC Grand Chamionship Agility title which requires a dog to be able to work in a variety of classes. The dog must have distance, focus and the ability to perform complex sequences. Hank obtained MACH 3, AKC agility trial championship. Hank has shown that he can compete in other venues as well. He has obtained champion status in both USDAA and UKI. Over the last several years, Hank has earned byes to National events. E.V., Sally's other competition Border Collie has just started competing.
Sally has also competed with Belgian Malinois and Shetland Sheepdogs. Past accomplishments include:
Nova (Shetland Sheepdog) achieved agility championship titles in AKC (MACH5 & PACH) and USDAA (ADCh) and she was third at the AKC National Agility Championship in 2012. The USDAA title requires that the dog be able to perform in a variety of agility games that include distance, technical skills and the ability of the handler to plan a course that is better than the competition.
Bridget (Shetland Sheepdog) has achieved agility championship titles in AKC (MACH2) and USDAA (ADCh) and has tried out twice for the World Team, placed at USDAA Regional Finals in Steeplechase and Grand Prix in 2011.
Saturday
Dina Melendez fell into agility in 2006 with her Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers and was captivated with training her dogs in dog sports. Besides agility, her dogs compete in barn hunt, scent work, tricks and are accomplished "actors". They appeared in the Emmy award-winning movie "The Normal Heart" staring Julia Roberts and Mark Ruffalo which was where her love for teaching “tricks” expanded.
Dina's agility partners include MACH3 PACH "Boone", a 5-time AKC Invitational qualifier, multiple AKC Nationals qualifier and number #1 ranked SCWT 2015 & 2016, "Raphael", OA, OAJ, RATI, RATN and MACH PACH2 “Vida” who is Dina’s most titled and versatile SCWT. At 2 years of age, Vida placed 4th overall in her first NW1 with a 3rd placement in Exteriors and in 2017 was invited to her first of several AKC Invitationals. Vida finished as theTop SCWT at Invitationals in 2022, multiple AKC National Qualifier and was the first SCWT to attend, qualify and place at the Westminster National Championship. Vida also has multiple titles in Barn Hunt and AKC Scent Work, as well as Tricks Titles with AKC and DMWYD. Dina’s newest partner is a Lakeland Terrier, Andele! and shows promise to be a multifaceted sport dog, currently enjoying agility, barn hunt, scent work, tricks and FCat.
Dina’s classes focus on Beginners and Foundations level dogs and/or handlers. Her classes cover an introduction to equipment plus concepts and behaviors in incremental steps. Her approach allows teams to build a solid base. Dina strives to instill confidence in her students as they learn the tools needed to perform the necessary fundamentals. Along the way, they also develop appropriate habits. Dina's many years of teaching these behaviors helps the handler understand the aspects of positive reinforcement and behavior generalization, all while having fun!
Dina's agility partners include MACH3 PACH "Boone", a 5-time AKC Invitational qualifier, multiple AKC Nationals qualifier and number #1 ranked SCWT 2015 & 2016, "Raphael", OA, OAJ, RATI, RATN and MACH PACH2 “Vida” who is Dina’s most titled and versatile SCWT. At 2 years of age, Vida placed 4th overall in her first NW1 with a 3rd placement in Exteriors and in 2017 was invited to her first of several AKC Invitationals. Vida finished as theTop SCWT at Invitationals in 2022, multiple AKC National Qualifier and was the first SCWT to attend, qualify and place at the Westminster National Championship. Vida also has multiple titles in Barn Hunt and AKC Scent Work, as well as Tricks Titles with AKC and DMWYD. Dina’s newest partner is a Lakeland Terrier, Andele! and shows promise to be a multifaceted sport dog, currently enjoying agility, barn hunt, scent work, tricks and FCat.
Dina’s classes focus on Beginners and Foundations level dogs and/or handlers. Her classes cover an introduction to equipment plus concepts and behaviors in incremental steps. Her approach allows teams to build a solid base. Dina strives to instill confidence in her students as they learn the tools needed to perform the necessary fundamentals. Along the way, they also develop appropriate habits. Dina's many years of teaching these behaviors helps the handler understand the aspects of positive reinforcement and behavior generalization, all while having fun!