Staff and Instructors

Don Brown

Owner / Head Instructor / Trainer

With his Standard Poodles: Rolex & Ross

Don Brown is the owner of The Academy of Dog Training and Agility. With more than 25 years of experience training, showing and breeding dogs, he is well versed in the necessary components for dogs to be positive members of their communities. Don started out in confirmation, owner handling his English Pointers to their championships.
     Don has trained in obedience with Susan Strickland, Carolyn Price, West Chester Obedience Club and with Pam Helmer of the Talbot Kennel Club. He has taught for the West Chester Obedience Club and the Wilmington Kennel Club. He has put obedience titles on two of his standard poodles. He trains in agility with Linda Snyer of the Talbot Kennel Club. At the present time he is running "Ross", standard poodle, in agility.
     It was while training at Talbot Kennel Club that Don became familiar with the clicker training positive method. We emphasize the word "positive". It makes training fun for you and your dog.
The following are the dogs and the titles Don put on them:

• Harmonie Buster Blanc Chein  -  CD
• CH Trelarken’s ‘Bout Time  -  CD
• CH Wedgewood Yankee Traveler
• CH Worthalls Worth The Chance
• CH Wedgewood Worth A Million
• CH Trelarken’s Time For Liberty

Want to know more about the breed: Standard Poodle

Lauren Blackson

Agility Instructor / Trainer

With her Border Collies: Jazzy, Karma & April

Lauren Blackson began competing in AKC and USDAA agility with her Border Collie, April, in 2004 when she was just 13 years old. Over the years April and Lauren have successfully made it into the Excellent level in AKC, and the Masters level in USDAA.  In March of 2008, Lauren and April attended their first AKC Nationals in Tulsa, OK and finished 67 out of 220 dogs in the height class.  In September of 2008 April achieved her ADCH (Agility Dog Champion) Title in USDAA, followed by a MACH (Masters Agility Champion) Title in AKC in November of 2008.  In March of 2009, Lauren and April attended the AKC Nationals for a second time, this time in Concord, North Carolina where they finished 27 out 251 dogs in their height class.  In November 2009, they attended the USDAA Cynosport World Games in Scottsdale, AZ and successfully made it into the Semi-finals of Grand Prix.  In addition to her training with the Academy, she has also attended seminars and taken private lessons with some of the top agility competitors on the East Coast including Chris Halling, Barb and Roseanne Demascio, Sandi Daniels, and Darlene Paul.  She thoroughly enjoys training, and loves to pass on her knowledge to up and coming agility handlers.  Lauren recently added a new border collie, Karma, to the family, and is hoping that one day she will have just as much success in agility as her big sister April.  When Lauren isn't working with her dogs, she is busy studying as a Pre-vet student at the University of Delaware.

Want to know more about the breed: Border Collies

Jane Stanley

Assistant Instructor / Trainer

With her Bouvier des Flandres: Riley, Ellie, & Spirit

Want to know more about the breed: Bouvier des Flandres

Carrie Eicher

Assistant Instructor / Trainer / Swimming Paws

With her German Shepherd: Trinity
Siberian Husky: Sadona
Beagle: Jordan
Belgian Malinois: Hans

Want to know more about the breed: German Shepherd

Want to know more about the breed: Siberian Husky

Want to know more about the breed: Beagle

Want to know more about the breed: Belgian Malinois

Cheryl Noel

Assistant Instructor / Trainer

With her Miniature Poodle: Cloe

Powder Puff Chinese Crested: Buddy

Want to know more about the breed: Miniature Poodle

Want to know more about the breed: Chinese Crested

Sue Schneider

Assistant Instructor / Trainer

With her EntleBucher Mountain Dog: Cricket

Want to know more about the breed: EntleBucher Mountain Dog

Janine Britton

Handling / Conformation Instructor

With some of her Whippets

Want to know more about the Whippet from the American Whippet Club

Charles Baluk

Public Relations Manager / Facility Care / Webmaster

With his Miniature Australian Shepherd: Alyssa

Want to know more about the breed: Miniature Australian Shepherd

Dustin Britton

Information Technology Consultant / Webmaster

With some of his Whippets

Want to know more about the Whippet from the American Whippet Club