About Maureen

Dog agility for Maureen is a "passion! It all started when she got Mach 2 Greta Von Schnapps III!

Maureen has always had a dog or dogs since she was a small child. Throughout her growing years, she was always the kid "bringing home" another "lost" dog. She always liked to work with her dogs teaching them some informal basic obedience. But in May of 1999, that all changed with a little black schnauzer puppy she named "Greta". Greta has been one of those "once in a lifetime dogs". Greta brought Maureen to agility! As a small puppy, Greta seemed to learn things with little effort! One day Maureen's daughter held up a hula hoop and Greta jumped through it! That was it, Maureen started some agility training with Greta and Greta took to it like "she was born to do agility".

At that time in northern Minnesota, there was very little agility training available. Maureen decided early on that if she and Greta were going to compete competitively, she needed to go "wherever the training" was. Maureen has been very fortunate to be trained by some of the best agility trainers in the country**. She has attended numerous agility camps and seminars over the years. She continues to seek out training for the latest techniques. She believes in positive dog training which includes operant conditioning which really helps open the lines of communication between the dog and handler. She believes that the "relationship" between the handler and dog is the most important aspect of a strong agility team.

Maureen and Greta have become a very accomplished dog/handler team. Greta got her first Mach (Master Agility Champion) title in July of 2006 in Houston, Texas. In October of 2007, Greta got her Mach 2 in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. She is on target to get Mach 3 sometime in 2008!. Greta's niece, Liza Von Schnapps, MX, MXJ, OF is Maureen's youngest teammate! Liza is just 4 years old and is working on her Mach title for 2008! Greta has qualified to attend the AKC National Championship for the past 4 years in a row. Liza qualified for the first time this year and will be attending with Greta and Maureen for the 2008 AKC National Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma!

In May of 2007, Greta's Gym opened! It was the first time ever that Maureen, Greta, and now Liza, had a "year-round place to train"! Maureen's goal with Greta's Gym is to provide a "first class" facility for dogs and their handlers to pursue their own dog training goals and dreams in whatever dog sport they choose!