Mia Grant has been teaching agility for nearly 10 years for Goleta Valley Dog Club as well as facilities in Ventura County and San Luis Obispo County. She’s worked with dogs her entire life and discovered agility in 2000. She has had the pleasure to help a diverse variety of dogs and people. She feels the fun of the sport is the most important thing for both the dog and the handler. Mia focuses on positive training methods for agility, using lots of toys and cookies (for the dogs ;-) ). Her classes benefit teams with all levels of interest in agility, from the casual enthusiast, to teams that want to compete at the highest levels. She has attended many seminars/workshops/private lessons with top level trainers and continues to do so, to stay on top of the latest developments in the sport.

Mia has had great success in competition over the years. Three of her teammates are in the USDAA Hall of Fame. Her dogs have earned 4 ADCH’s, 3 ADCH-Bronze and an ADCH-Silver. Since 2005 her dogs have always at least made the semifinals at Nationals. Mia has also been in numerous Finals with 3 different dogs and earned numerous placements at National events over the years. She has also had 3 different teammates earn National Top 10 year-end rankings.

Mia presently shares her home with two Border Collies, Starlet and Vic. Starlet is a gorgeous 7 year old Border Collie that came to Mia as a re-home when she was 11 months old. She has been the teacher of many lessons, coming to Mia with significant confidence issues. By learning how to play and lots of high value cookies, Starlet has really blossomed. In 2009, Starlet finished her ADCH-Bronze/Lifetime Achievement Bronze to enter the USDAA Hall of Fame. Her young dog, 3 year old Vic, came to her from England. In his very young agility career he has accomplished some great results. As a two year old, Vic finished his ADCH, was ranked in the Top 10 in Jumpers and won several Grand Prix and Steeplechase classes at local trials. He began 2010 already qualified for the 2010 Nationals and they’ll be making the trip to Louisville this fall. Mia is very excited about their future in the sport.

In 2009, Mia lost her original agility teammate, Max, an Australian Cattledog/Border Collie mix. Max was a tremendous first agility dog, allowing Mia to really develop her handling techniques. He accomplished many great things in the agility ring, in addition to being the best dog ever.

Before all of these dogs was Roxanne, a pound rescue who hadn’t had the best start in life. She is the dog that taught Mia the joys of positive training and remains Mia’s inspiration in teaching others.

In addition to her own dogs, Mia has also had the pleasure of training/handling a very talented Aussie, named Finn, for Betty Brooks. He has also been the teacher of many lessons, but his enthusiasm and power have always been fun to work with. It was with Finn that Mia had her biggest win to date, when they won the Performance National Standard Championship in 2008.

Mia’s Teammates and their accomplishments

Starlet

ADCH-Bronze Eyes for Ewe GoneWithTheWind
Starlet on the teeter, photo by Nancy Latthitham, Gold Coast Photography

Photo by Nancy Latthitham, Gold Coast Photography

Vic

ADCH Touchango Victory Dance SCH-Bronze, JCH-Bronze, GCH, SAM, GM, RM

Waiting at the bridge

Max

Max at the Nationals in 2006, Photo by Doghouse Arts

Photo by Doghouse Arts

Roxanne aka The Roo

Agility partner to

Finn

ADCH-Bronze APD Kachina Mtn’s Grand Finale
Finn earning his ADCH, July 4, 2005 with Mia, Betty & Judge Tom Kula

ADCH Finn