Lynn Spagnesi B.S. M.S.
Lynn brings a diverse background in behavioral education to her learning sessions. With a B.S. in Physcial Education, a Masters in Special Education and a minor in Psychology, she began her educational experiences working directly with challenging populations. There she was instrumental in the development of unique individualized fitness programs and supported teacher training programs. She accumulated 37+ years of designing individualized special education fitness and technology programs. She developed curriculum for extremely challenging populations in the area of life skills fitness and performance training. At the same time, she was an assistance basketball coach at SCSC, and a member of the new haven board of women's basketball and volleyball officials, as well as an ASA women's fastpitch umpire.
No stranger to high level competitions, Lynn was a 5 star college athlete. At the 1972 AAU's (Amateur Athletic Union) Eastern Regionals, she was the Pentathlon winner. Lynn played on the nationally recognized ASA's Raybestos Brakettes (fastpitch softball), and the USVBA (United States Volleyball Association) Clippers. Each of the above progressed to national level competitions. Lynn was inducted into the Connecticut Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Connecticut Women's Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2024 she was inducted into the Fairfield County Sports Hall Of Fame. She is among those named in Who's Who Among College Athletes, and excelled at officiating and coaching athletes at the Division 1 collegiate level.
(Photo from Women's Sports Magazine 1970, Defensive player is Lucia Harris (the only women drafted to the NBA)
Lynn began working with dogs in 1978. While she was coaching
women's college basketball, one of her players arrived at practice with a
puppy in every pocket of her jacket. The puppies were abandoned during the
Northeast blizzard of '78! 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, Judy Reilly, Brenda Aloff, Mary Ellen Barry,
Anna Eiffert, Rachel Sanders, Jenn Pinder, Pat Miller, John Nys, Mary Jo Lavin, Monique Plinck and Sue Sternberg.
Lynn specializes in creative and diverse activities designed to build confidence and improve the human/handler connection. She is known for assisting the pre-novice and novice level team with the "skills between the obstacles".
Lynn spends the majority of her time outdoors, enjoying life
and "Play-Training" her dogs, a method which integrates fun, connection,
confidence and directional work with various challenges.
Lynn
places the human-canine "TEAM" connection above all other
skills.
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Buddy Balm Of Cook Hill
"Buddy"
Lynn started "playing" FORMAL agility in 2000, with
Buddy, a robust, highly enthusiastic rescue Labrador retriever.
Lynn credits Buddy with being one of
her greatest agility instructors.
Buddy crossed the rainbow bridge in 2011. Buddy, (Buddy Balm of Cook Hill), taught LYNN how to guide him to his C-atch-3,
CT-atch, Nadac Elite, P2 USDAA AND AKC EXCELLENT level titles.
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MACH
Billy-Joe Hunter
"Billy-Joe"
MACH Billy Joe Hunter was a rescue who joined the family in 2004. He achieved his AKC MACH, a C-ate, 2 C-atch's, Usdaa MAD and all his Elite Nadac titles. He earned his CGC, as well as his INTERMEDIATE TRICK dog titles. Billy-Joe also added tracking and noseworks to his repertoire. BJ regularly competed in the highest levels across several agility venues until his retirement in 2013. Known for having fun - Q or NQ - you would ALWAYS catch them smiling as they negotiated their courses! Billy-Joe crossed the rainbow bridge in 2013.
Mach Billy-Joe Hunter crossed the rainbow bridge in
2013.
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PACH Your
Wish Is Granted Long Live Jambi
"Jambi-Joe"
"JJ" is the third in line of the "Joe-Boys". Jambi-Joe aka "the professor", was the most cerebral dog I've ever had. He achieved agility championships in AKC, USDAA, DOCNA, CPE, and NADAC. He also participated in rally, tracking, noseworks and trick training.
At 11 months of age, at the Labrador Retriever National Specialty, Jambi-Joe placed 1st on two consecutive days with scores of 97 and 100 in AKC Rally Novice. Being a phenomenally consisted performer, Jambi-Joe achieved his AKC Rally Novice Title before he was 2yrs old, and his PACH before he was three.
He passed all NASCW and PSD Odor recognition assessments
on his first attempts! He
is known for his under 10 second searches!
Jambi-Joe also has his
CGC and INTERMEDIATE TRICK dog titles.
Jambi-Joe crossed the rainbow bridge in March 2022.
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Mistyfield's Dance With An Angel
"DoJo"
(Mistyfield's Dance With An Angel), is the most energetic of the Joe Boys! He has earned his PACH2 (AKC' Preferred Masters agility championship), his USDAA P-ADCH, and his
C-ATE.
Amazingly, he completed his first PACH at the THANKSGIVING CLUSTER double-Q'ing in
a very challenging environment 2 days in a row!
He also competes in rally and noseworks. DoJo has his CGC and INTERMEDIATE TRICK dog titles.
You can hear him barking with drive and joy as he negotiates an agility courses or
find him woo'ing
folks for treats with his downright CUTENESS!
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Split Rock's Dance With A Dream
"Tayo"
(happiest boy)
Tayo, is the youngest of the boys! He has a very enthusiastic approach to life and is currently working on "being a happy well rounded dog".
He completed his puppy and basic obedience training at smartydog and currently participates in Agility, Noseworks, Core fitness, Rally and Obedience classes.
He has achieved his Novice and Open Standard AKC agility titles!
Additionally, he enjoys foundation exercises through private lessons with Terri
Cesarek, Monique Plinck, and Judy Reilly.
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Catch The Joe-Boys kayaking, hiking,
or at agility, nose works and rally trials in the northeast
- having a grand time!
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