it's a dog's world training director - daisy peel

In July of 2007, Daisy officially left the world of public education and joined the staff of It's A Dog's World.  Formerly a high school chemistry teacher in Oregon, Daisy jumped at the chance to "go pro" with her passion when the invitation was extended. 

Daisy has a wealth of information regarding both training and handling dogs to success in agility, and has competed at the highest levels of national agility competition.  In 2006, Daisy and her rescue border collie Fly came in 2nd place at the AKC National Agility Championship in Tampa, Florida, by a narrow 1/10 of a second.  In 2007, Daisy and her young border collie Jester WON the AKC National Agility Championship in Sunbury Ohio, becoming the first ever 26" National Champions - this was Jester's first trip to the AKC National Championships! 

Daisy is an avid trainer and competitor with a critical eye for the movements of both dog and handler on a course.  Emphasis is placed on how body language (as well as verbal language) can be developed in order to maximize both speed and efficiency on and off the course, promoting a dog that is a happy and enthusiastic worker, and a handler that communicates clearly and positively to the dog on course. Daisy uses positive and energetic methods to ensure that both the handler and the dog are actively participating as a team.  Agility is fun!  It is a great way to de-stress and to relax.  It's also a great way to get exercise and to build a strong and lasting relationship with your canine companion.

Daisy believes that fast and efficient performances can only come if the following things are set in to place: a strong and trusting relationship with your dog, a training foundation that ensures that the dog has a full understanding of the behaviors requested of him on an agility course, and clear, consistent, and confident handling .  Performance is not enough - the attitude must accompany the performance!  It is the responsibility of the handler to create this attitude and strive to be as they wish their dogs to be. Daisy's classes are fun and PROGRESSIVE - if you aren't learning something, then it isn't a class....it's just practice. And if you're always just practicing and not learning, then you're not progressing.

The 2007 AKC USA World Team: L-R, Daisy Peel and Jester, Carrie Jones and Jive,
Linda Mecklenburg and Stellar, and Ann Braue and Spree.

 

Because Daisy is a teacher by trade, she is able to tailor instruction to the needs of the individual dog and handler using sound principles of learning theory and behavior that apply to both human and canine pupil alike.  Private lessons are available in addition to classes, with more time being available in the summers, and less time available during the academic year - so if you're thinking of visiting, please contact Daisy as soon as possible! Classes are available, and private lessons and seminars are available as well.  Contact Daisy for more information.

 

 

 

Daisy and Fly share a moment at the start line.

 

Gonzo, Daisy's first dog, was a rescued red and white border collie from a local shelter, age and origins unknown.  He was found matted and smelly on the side of a highway after local sheep farmers called to say he would be shot if he was found near their sheep again.  Submissive to the point of urinating when people bent over him, he was quite a challenge.  After enrolling him in a local agility class in Corvallis, where Daisy was attending OSU, there was no turning back!  Gonzo has provided valuable insight in to the training skills required to work with an extremely soft and sensitive dog.  Gonzo has accomplished his AX and his AXJ, and is just one leg short of a MAD.

Fly, Daisy's second dog, was also a rescue, only this time, he came from border collie rescue.  Daisy was looking for a driven dog, and Fly was it!  Fly has provided valuable experience - if your timing isn't dead on with him, things can run amok, and quickly!  In just seven months, Fly went from AKC Novice A to AX and AXJ.  He now has his AKC MACH2, MX, MXJ, and USDAA ADCH-Bronze, Bronze Snooker Champion, Bronze Relay Champion, Bronze Gambler Champion, Silver Standard Champion, Bronze Tournament Master, and Jumpers Champion titles, and is five years old.  Together, he and Daisy have accomplished the following:

• 2006 USDAA Grand Prix of Dog Agilitysup>® World Championships Finalist, 22"

• 2006 AKC National Agility Championships 20" Reserve National Champion

• 2006 AKC National Agility Championships 1st Place: ISC Standard, Round 2, and Round 3

• Multiple High In Trials

• 1^st Place USDAA Steeplechase Regional Qualifier, 2002, Corvallis, OR 

• 1^st Place USDAA Steeplechase Regional Qualifier, 2002, Redmond, WA

• 1^st Place Overall 2002 Columbia Agility Team NW Cup

• Qualified for USDAA Grand Prix 2001, 2002

• Qualified for the DAM Team Nat’l 2001

• 1^st Place 2003 USDAA GP Regional Qualifier, Vancouver, WA

• 1^st Place 2003 USDAA GP Regional Qualifier, Elma, WA

• 3^rd Place Steeplechase Regional Qualifier, 2003, Denver, CO

• 2^nd Place DAM Team with Stacy Peardot and Able, and Gerry Brown and Larrie, 2003, Denver, CO

• 1^st Place Steeplechase Regional Qualifier, 2003, Lacey, WA

• DAM Team Qualifier, 2003, Lacey, WA

• 4^th Place 2003 USDAA GP Super Regional Qualifier, Sunnyvale, CA

• Semifinalist, 2003 USDAA Grand Prix World Championships of Dog Agility

• 4^th Place 2004 USDAA GP Regional Qualifier, Vancouver, WA

• 1^st Place 2004 USDAA GP Regional Qualifier, Elma, WA

• 2003 USDAA Grand Prix of Dog Agility^® World Championships Finalist, 22"
• 2003 USDAA $10,000 Dog Agility Steeplechase^® Jumping Championships Finalist, 22"
• 3^rd Place, 2003 AKC National Agility Championship Standard Class
• 5^th Place, 2003 AKC National Agility Championship Jumpers With Weaves Class
• 1^st Place Cumulative Score, 2003 AKC National Agility Championships (Standard, JWW, and Hybrid Class combined)
• 2003 AKC National Agility Championship^© Finalist
• Top Ten, 2003 IFCS World Team Standings
• 2^nd Place DAM Team with Rhonda Carter and Blast, and Daneen Fox and Chopper, 2004, Vancouver, WA
• 4^th Place 2004 USDAA GP Super Regional Qualifier, Vancouver WA
• Semifinalist, 2004 USDAA Grand Prix World Championships of Dog Agility
• 2004 Grand Prix of Dog Agility^® Southwest Regional Championships Winner, 22"
• 2004 Grand Prix of Dog Agility^® World Championships Finalist, 22"
• 2004 $10,000 Dog Agility Steeplechase^® Jumping Championships Finalist (4^th Place Overall)
• 2004 Dog Agility Masters^® Three-Dog Team Championships Finalist
• 2^nd Place, Dog Agility Masters^® Three-Dog Team Championships Snooker
• 1^st Place Overall 2005 Columbia Agility Team NW Cup
• 2^nd Place, ISC Standard Class, 2005 AKC Agility Nationals (20")
• 2004 Tournament Top Ten, USDAA
• 2005 Top Ten, USDAA
• Bronze Lifetime Achievement Award (As of September 2005)

Jester is Daisy's young competition dog.  At just three years of age, Jester and Daisy won the AKC National Championships, becoming the first ever 26" National Champions. 
Jester and Daisy have also been named to the 2007 AKC Agility World Team, which will represent the USA at the 2007 FCI World Championships in Hamar, Norway.

Jester is also shown in conformation, as time allows, and has both of his majors, and over half of the required points for his breed championship.

Jester's Accomplishments

• 2007 AKC 26" NATIONAL CHAMPION (First 26" Champion ever)
• 2007 AKC USA WORLD TEAM MEMBER
• Major Pointed in AKC Conformation (Best of Breed, Best of Winners, November 11, 2006, WVKC)
• 2006 USDAA NW Super Regional 3rd place, 26", and 2006 USDAA World Championships Semi-Finalist 2006
• 2007 USDAA NW Super Regional 3rd place, 26", and 2007 USDAA World Championships Semi-Finalist 2007
•  World Team Invitational Participant 2007
• World Team Invitational Qualifier/Participant 2006
• 1st Place ISC Standard class, Portland Rose City Cluster, 26"
• 2006 $10,000 Dog Agility Steeplechase® Jumping Championships Finalist - 5th Place
• 2006 World Cynosports Games Power and Speed - 4th Place
• 2006 World Cynosports Games Team Standard - 4th Place
• 2006 World Cynosports Games Team Jumpers - 12th Place