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Janet ingersoll

Agility Instructor

My first exposure to dog ‘agility’ was watching a performance by the “Real Canadian SuperDog Team” in 1986 as part of an obedience and conformation dog show at the Winnipeg Convention Centre. I couldn’t stop watching - I thought WOW I want to do that!


In 1987 I joined Allsorts Dogsports and taught agility for them from 1990 – 1992. A year after joining Allsorts I became a member of the Superdog Team and performed with them at fairs and exhibitions across Canada. In 1996 along with several other Allsorts members, I

became one of the founders of Agility in Manitoba (AIM), our provincial agility organization. In 1997 My friend Iris Shrimpton and I formed Hi-Flyers Agility Training and started holding classes. We put an ad in the paper and waited for people to show up – and they did – slowly at first but the interest grew. After several years of operating out of various locations, we were able to secure a lease on the Bradford building. We had 7 agility instructors and taught 74 students each week. We also rented the building to groups and individuals for various other dog sport activities. After 20 years we gave up our lease in 2019 and closed HF. The timing was perfect as very shortly after we closed our friend Courtney invited us to join her and her sisters in their new dog sport adventure – Dumbledogs! Instructors and students found a new home.
 

What I enjoy most about dog agility is the partnership between handler and dog. Sometimes the communication is a bit of a puzzle. It is truly amazing when your dog understands what you are asking of her and tries her best to get it right. I love the feeling of being “in the zone” when it comes together for you and your dog as a team – whether that is for a competition run or a sequence in practice. I strive to instill that feeling in the students I teach

Accomplishments

  • Over the last 30 years I have competed in agility in Canada and the US with 7 English Springer Spaniels. We have earned many titles and Championships in USDAA (United States Dog Agility Association), NADAC (North American Dog Agility Council) and AAC (Agility Association of Canada).I have qualified in numerous Regional trials and competed and earned placements in several National agility competitions.

  • As co-owner of Hi-Flyers Agility, hosted the first agility trial in Winnipeg (held in Selkirk Park). Continued to host agility trials and fun matches

  • Assisted in organizing and hosting the first and only agility Judges clinic in Manitoba

  • Led the development of the agility foundation curriculum for Hi-Flyers

  • Co-founder of AIM and helped write their constitution, trial committee member

  • Long time member of Agility Association of Canada, Committee Member for 12 years and current Chair of an AAC Committee. Worked with the Board to write the Procedures and Policy Manual and the Standard Operating Procedures at trials

  • earned a Lifetime award from NADAC

  • first recipient of the ‘Spirit of Agility Award’ presented by COKC (Crocus Obedience and Kennel Club) in Brandon in 2010

Professional Development

  • Every year since 1999 I have attended at least one and often more agility training seminars (Stuart Mah, Susan Garrett, Gary White, Bud Houston, Julie Daniels, Kathy Keats, Guy Blanke, Brett Duke, Suzanne Clothier, Rachel Sanders, Barb Davis, Chris Zink, Ian Dunbar)

  • Stand and Fly Agility Camp – Prince Albert SK Terry Simons, Kim Anderson, Cheryl Bartlett

  • 4 day Clean Run Camp in Lexington Virginia to work with my dog under instructors from all over the world that I had only read about previously. (Nancy Gyes, Jo Sermon, Wendy Pape, Dave Blackshaw, Linda Mecklenberg, Julie Daniels).

  • The Agility Instructor Camp in Chicago where Elicia Calhoun and Stacy Peardot critiqued my teaching

  • 4 Day One Mind Camp at McCann Dogs near Hamilton Ontario

  • Flyball Seminar – Aaron & Kelly Robbins from Rocket Relay, Edmonton, AB

  • And more recently – local seminars with Kim Collins, Gary White, Tracy Sklenar, Mikayla Ironside, Aaron Froude

  • Online courses

  • Absolute Dogs – Sexier than a Squirrel and Puppy Training

  • Tracy Sklenar – Max Pup 1, Max Pup 2 – Putting it together

  • Susan Garrett Recallers – 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2024

  • Dogs4Motion - Tricksters Toolbox, FUNdamentals K9 Conditioning

other Accomplishments

  • Placed second overall in the 4 day Clicker Challenge at Karen Pryor’s Clicker Expo in Chicago

  • Volunteered with English Springer Spaniel Rescue Manitoba and wrote their foster program manual

  • Won first place for the fastest pure bred 3 dog sled team at the Festival du Voyageur from the Siberian Husky Club of Canada – with 2 English Springer Spaniels.

  • Conformation – earned a Championship on one of my previous Springers

  • Obedience – have put obedience titles on 2 of my previous dogs to the CDX level, and earned novice titles on 2 other dogs.

  • Field work – trained my Springers in field work and competed in club matches. Earned a Working Spaniel title.

  • Scent Hurdle Racing – competed and titled dogs in Scent Hurdle Racing

  • Disc Dog – trained and competed in Disc Dog events

  • Flyball – played Flyball for 15 years. Kayley was the #1 Flyball Springer in North America, and the first Springer to earn the FMX, FMCH, and Onyx titles

  • Rally O – participated in seminars and matches

  • Taught Clicker Training seminars and PVC Jump construction clinics

  • Have worked briefly with my dogs in Barn Hunt, Dock diving and Scenting

janet is currently owned by...

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Ryobi: Born January 2016 and rescued April 2016. Ryobi is a Husky Lab Cross who is a pretty chill guy, he has a lot to say and is always barking up a storm. He is a Masters level Agility Dog and earned his ATChC in March 2024.  Gamblers is his best class, he LOVES to do his own thing and has no trouble working at a distance! 

Decker: Born April 2022 and rescued July 2022. Decker is a very serious little man who is pretty nervous and working to build confidence both inside and outside of the Agility ring. He has worked his way up to Masters in just a couple seasons and seems to like jumpers the most! 

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