Photo by 2MC Design

Nita Gandara has been training dogs for 13 years.  She competes in obedience, rally, and agility and has dogs currently competing in all levels of each type of competition.  She is a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, a Certified Trick Dog Instructor,  and a professional member of APDT.  She continues to expand her knowledge through conferences, seminars, books, and trainer round tables.  She finds dog training provides her a stress relief from the stresses of life and would rather be out training her dogs than just about anything else.

Nita is committed to excellence, continuing education, and is certified to show that she is willing to be tested to insure you are getting the best training possible.

2011 Accomplishments and Continuing Education:

• Paw State U students earned 9 titles with multiple placements
• Nita attended the Nosework Level 1 and 2 Courses to bring this exciting sport to the Sierra Vista area.
• Nita attended a Canine Freestyle seminar with plans to bring both dancing and canine fitness classes to the community.
• Nita is enrolled in a Treiball Foundations course so she can help others with this fun sport of “ball herding” for dogs.
• Nita attended the AKC Obedience and Rally Judging Seminar and the APDT Rally Judging Seminar to insure she was bringing you the most up-to-date information on how the exercises are performed and how the classes are being judged.
• Nita completed the Third Way Training Level 1 Certification, insuring she is teaching you the best methods to get results with your dog in a positive manner. 
• Nita took a skills assessment given by the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers and passed with outstanding scores.  This test is given to show that a trainer has the skills needed to train dogs effectively. 
• Nita has been accepted as an APDT Rally Judge.   She has also applied to be an ASCA Obedience Judge.
• Nita's competition accomplishments in 2011:
• In APDT,  Bella completed her Level 3 Title (with an Award of Excellence), ARCH, and ARCHX.  Zane completed his Level 1 and 2 Titles with Awards of Excellence.
• In ASCA (Australian Shepherd Club of America), Bella completed her Companion Dog title with two High In Trials and placements in every trial.
• In AKC, Bella completed her Companion Dog title with four 1^st places and a High in Trial.  She also completed her Rally Novice title with three 1st places.
• Bella is Nationally Ranked in the Top 10 in both AKC and ASCA in obedience.
• Bella has had these amazing results at only 2 years of age.  Zane is only 18 months and is eager to prove that he’s just as good.

Nita's dogs and their accomplishments:

AKC Obedience:  BN, CD (earned with four 1st places and a High in Trial)
ASCA Obedience:  CD (earned with placements and two High in Trials)
APDT Rally: RL1 (Award of Excellence), RL2 (Award of Excellence), RL3 (Award of Excellence), RL1X, RL2X, ARCH, ARCHX
C-WAGS:  CW-ZR1
NADAC Agility: NAC, NJC, TN-N
USDAA Agility:  SPK
Do More With Your Dog Titles:  Novice Trick Dog, Intermediate Trick Dog, Advanced Trick Dog, Expert Trick Dog
CGC
IABCA National and International Puppy Champion
In training for obedience, rally, and agility competitions.
Nationally Ranked #1 in APDT RL2 Category in 2010.


Cirrus Riddle Me This - "Zane"  (Aussie)
APDT Rally:  RLP (Award of Excellence), RL1 (Award of Excellence), RL2 (Award of Excellence
C-WAGS:  CW-ZR1
Do More With Your Dog Titles:  Novice Trick Dog Titles
CGC
Nationally Ranked #4 in APDT RLP Category in 2010

Retired:
Perennial Alamo de Los Suenos - "Travis" (Aussie)
AKC Obedience Titles: CD, CDX
ASCA Obedience Titles: CD, CDX, UD
AKC Rally Titles: RN, RA, RE 
APDT Rally Titles:  RL1 (Award of Excellence)
AKC Agility Titles: NA, NAJ
USDAA Agility Titles: PS1, PJ1, PG1, PK1, PD1
NADAC Agility Titles: NAC, NJC, TN-N, WV-N, OAC, OJC
ASCA Agility Titles: RS-N, JS-N, GS-N,
CGC
Front and Finish Awards: FFX-OP, FFX-AP2, FFX-OG, First & Foremost Honorable Mention 
Ranked #6 for ASCA Novice Obedience in 2005

Sandy Acres Thyme for Perennial - "Emily" (Aussie)
Rally Titles: RN, RA, RE
ASCA Obedience: CD, CDX (with a High in Trial)
AKC Obedience:  CD (with a High in Trial)
CGC
Top 10 AKC Australian Shepherd in Rally Novice in 2008
Top 10 AKC Australian Shepherd in Novice B in 2010

Gone but not forgotten:
Perennial Irish Harper - "Harper"  (Aussie)
AKC Obedience Titles:  CD, CDX
ASCA Obedience Titles:  CD
CGC

Braylor's Prince of Thieves - "Robby" (Papillon)
AKC Agility Titles: NA, NAJ
USDAA Agility Titles: SJ
NADAC Agility Titles: NAC, NJC, NCC, TN-N, OJC, TN-O
ASCA Agility Titles: JS-N, GS-N 

Our method of training:
We use a method of training known as "operant conditioning."  This is the scientific principal that dogs (or any creature - ask us about training our cats) will increase or decrease a behavior based on the consequences of that behavior.  Within operant conditioning, our main type of training uses "positive reinforcement."  We all prefer to be praised rather than punished, and by rewarding the behavior we want, that behavior will increase.

To help communicate with our dogs, we train using a clicker.  A clicker is simply a small "toy" that makes a click/clack noise.  Your dog will quickly learn that when it hears that noise, it will get a treat.  Soon, it will be doing anything it can to make you click your clicker.  (If you're not careful, your dog will think it's training you to click rather than you training it to sit!)  

What are the hazards to clicker training?  None!  You will not injure your dog's trachea.  You will not have to shock your dog.  You will not have to force your dog into a position.  There is no jerking and popping in these classes.

Clicker training is fun for both you and your dog.  Our motto:  A smile on your face and wag on your dog's tail.

Join us to see how clicker training can work for you and your dog.