Sandy Sproull Kowalski

   Sandy  has been breeding and showing Golden retrievers in confirmation and obedience since 1978.  Her dogs have obtained titles  as champions, best of breed, utility degree, obedience trial champion, canine good citizen, therapy dog as well as hunting titles

    Sandy has served as an instructor for Solid Gold Obedience Academy, Dulles Gateway Obedience Training Club as well as Community Education programs and 4 H groups.

    Sandy has done extensive work with Canine Companions for Independence and other service dog groups helping the handicap.  She has worked with rescue groups and shelters providing evaluations and programs for behavioral modification

   Sandy attends seminars staying current with the latest concepts in dog training such as the yearly Association of Pet Dog Trainers seminar.  She is an active member of the Potomac Valley Golden Retriever Club, the Golden retriever Club of America and the American Dog Owners Association that lobbies for pet legislation.  She is a licensed UKC confirmation and obedience judge and is a AKC certified Canine Good Citizen evaluator.  She volunteers her time to judge confirmation and obedience matches for local breed and obedience clubs.

   Her philosophy is that there are very few bad dogs, only owners that need a little training.

Laurie Dourmaux

  Laurie has been showing dogs in confirmation, obedience and field events for over 40 years, having many top winning Golden retrievers in the US.  She is a member of the Golden Retriever Club of America's educational committee, Mattaport Kennel Club and does judge's educational seminars as well as breed seminars across the US and Canada.  She is a world renown AKC judge and we are lucky to have her doing confirmation classes at our facility.

   Laurie loves teaching - so people new to confirmation and children wanting to learn to show in Junior Showmanship are always welcome.

Rhonda May

   Rhonda has had dogs all her life but got hooked on putting titles on her dogs and training classes for 17 years.  She's been involved in obedience, canine good citizen, therapy dog events, flyball, herding and agility.  She's put multiple titles on her dogs - the last two a herding title on Bravo in 2005 and a 3rd place out of 60 dogs in novice for her CD.  Rhonda is a member of the Australian Shepherd Club of America, Dulles Gateway Obedience training club, the North American Flyball Association as well as the International Association of Canine Professionals and the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.  She recently attended the Association of Pet Dog Trainers Conference and regularly attends seminars on obedience training, sheep herding and flyball.

      She not only volunteers her time at A Click Above to teach people flyball with their dogs, but also with Dulles Gateway Obedience Training Club and Loudoun Care Givers with her therapy dogs and in elementary schools to teach responsible pet ownership.

     Rhonda recently appeared in Dog Fancy magazine and watch for her in future magazine articles on flyball and obedience training.   Her breed is the high energy Australian Shepherd and you will find her most weekends at flyball tournaments.

   Rhonda is a certified Canine Good Citizen evaluator through the AKC and can also do Therapy Dog evaluations.

   Her philosophy - dogs need exercise both mind and body.  A busy dog is a good dog - the best companion.

Pam McCarthy

   Pam has been involved in dogs since for 10 years and is working on her CD and CGC titles as well as Therapy Dog Certificates on her Australian Shepherds.  She is a member of the International Association of Canine professionals and Association of Pet Dog Trainers.  She started her career as a day care coordinator for the Dog School of Leesburg.  After taking classes then apprenticing at the dog school, Pam is now assisting with group classes and specializing in private puppy kindergarten.

Meghan Wellar

   Meghan has been a dog person all her life.  She is a Loudoun County native.  Meghan graduated from the National K-9 school for dog trainers in Columbus, Ohio and holds certificates in Behavioral modification, puppy development, basic obedience through utility level of competition, schitzhound and aggressive dog behavior.  She is member of the International Association of Canine Professionals and Association of Pet Dog trainers.

     Meghan is a third generation "dog person".  Her grandmother has bred and shown in confirmation and obedience Bermese Mountain dogs and Schnauzers.  Her grandmother owned a boarding and training facility until just recently where Meghan spent a lot of time while growing up.  Meghan owns and competes with two German Short Hair Pointers.  Meghan's view on training is the use of a balanced scale to obtain a well balanced companion.

Ashley Davis

Ashley recently moved to Hamilton, Va. from Columbus, Ohio where she graduated from the National K-9 School for Dog Trainers with certificates in behavioral modification, puppy development, basic obedience thru utility level competition, schitzhound and aggressive dog behavior.  She has two years experience working at the K-9 school before moving to Virginia along with several pet sitting and training services.  She does not have a favorite breed, but has rescued two German Shepherds that she has trained thru advanced obedience as well as scent detection, personal protection and utility work.  She does in home training as well as pet sitting.  She is a member of the International Association of Canine Professionals and the Association of Pet Dog trainers.

Deb Matthews

   Deb has been around dogs her entire life and started teaching training classes five years ago.  She started with Dog Day Afternoon as a trainer for our day school training program.  Currently she is responsible for our popular Puppy Kindergarten Group Classes introducing new dog owners to the world of owning a puppy.  She prides herself on making sure each owner understands how to communicate with their new additions while teaching both dog and human the ins and outs of basic obedience.  Deb and her Shiloh Shepherd, Chase, volunteer in the community with the Loudoun County Volunteer rescue squad and the local pet therapy program. 

   Deb and Chase compete in confirmation and Chase has earned her Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog certifications.  She is competing in obedience for her CD.  Deb is a member of the Shiloh Shepherds Club of America as well as the International Association of Canine Professionals and the Association of Pet Dog trainers.