Lynn Spagnesi:
Lynn
Spagnesi:
Lynn
brings a diverse background in behavioral education to her
learning sessions. She has accumulated 33+ years of experience
in special education working in the fitness area with extremely
challenging populations. Lynn also accrued 6 years of coaching and 11+ years working with Connecticut Valley Dog Training (Smartydog)
under Martha Bailey.
Lynn began working with dogs in 1978 when she was coaching
women's college basketball and one of her players arrived at
practice with a puppy in every pocket of her jacket. The
puppies were abandoned during the blizzard in the
Northeast! From that venture, she sought to increase her skills
in the canine world. She was gifted to share 17.5 years with
"GEORGE" a behaviorally creative "mix" from that rescued litter.
Lynn regularly attends behavioral seminars. She has attended
canine seminars and workshops with Stacey Peardot Goudy, John Rogerson, Steve White,
Patricia McConnell, Debbie Hutchinson, Terri Cesarak, Brenda
Aloff, Ray Wheeler, Judy Reilly, Pat Miller and Mary Jo Lavin. She credits most of her
hands on learning to Martha Bailey, and Monique Plinck.
Lynn specializes in
directional activities designed to build confidence and improve
the human/handler connection in the pre-novice and novice level
team. Lynn
spends the majority of her time outdoors, enjoying life and
"Cross-Training" her dogs, a method which integrates confidence
and directional work with various movement activities.
Lynn
places the human-canine "TEAM" connection above all other
skills. She has enjoyed "playing" FORMAL agility since 2000 with
Buddy, a robust, highly enthusiastic rescue Labrador retriever. Lynn credits Buddy with being one of
her greatest agility instructors.
Buddy taught LYNN how to guide him to his C-atch-3, Nadac Elite
titles, P2 USDAA titles, and the level of Excellent in AKC before he crossed
the rainbow bridge in 2011.
Since Billy Joe has joined the family he has
achieved his AKC MACH, a CPE C-ate, his Usdaa AAD and Elite Nadac titles in
all classes. He
regularly competes in the highest level across several agility venues.
Known for
having fun - Q or NQ - you can often catch them
smiling as they negotiate their courses! You will also catch Billy-Joe in
Smartydog's Flex classes
having a grand time!
Jambi-Joe is the youngest of the "Boys". He enjoyed his SMARTYDOG puppy and basic lessons and currently participates in Smartydog's FLEX program. He also participates in obedience, rally and many confidence and foundation activities! Jambi-Joe competed in two AKC Rally Novice Trials at the Labrador Retriever Nationals in 2011, taking 1st place each time.
