Our Instructors
Jane Simmons-Moake (Owner and Training Director)
One of the earliest pioneers of agility training in the U.S., Jane Simmons-Moake began training agility in 1986. A top-winning competitor, award-winning author of five books and three videos, and a popular seminar leader in the U.S. and abroad, Jane has also competed internationally as a member of the 1996 and 1997 U.S. World Championship Agility Teams, and was the 20. National Champion at the 2006 AKC Agility Invitational.
Jane's unique background combines over 25 years of competitive dog training success in a wide variety of dog sports with M.S. and Ed.S. degrees in Instructional Technology, the study of designing training programs that really work. As a result, FlashPaws Agility Training Center classes are always in high demand. Moreover, Jane's books and videos have long been considered by many to be essential for serious agility enthusiasts.
Maggie Downey
Maggie has been participating in agility and training at FlashPaws for about 17 years. She has been an instructor here for 6 years.
Kelsey, her first Golden (NAC, MACH14, ADCH, NATCH, ATCH FlashPaws' Kooki Li'L Charmer UD, MX, MXJ, MXP, MJP, GRCA Agility Dog Hall of Fame, CGC), was the AKC National Champion in the 24" height division in 1998. Kelsey was also a member of the 1999 AKC World Championship Agility Team traveling to Slovenia.
Kelsey achieved agility championships in AKC, USDAA, NADAC, and ASCA. She retired at age 13 with MACH 14.
Maggie's second Golden, Carly, is MACH 9, ADCH-Bronze, NATCH Tanbark's One More Time MX, MXJ, MXF, GRCA Agility Dog Hall of Fame, CGC. Carly placed 2nd in the 20. division at the 2007 AKC Invitational in Long Beach. She is 8 years old and stilling loving the game.
Maggie's third Golden, Markie, achieved her MX, MXJ and qualified to go to AKC Nationals before she was 2 years old. Markie has earned the GRCA Agility Hall of Fame title and is currently working toward her MACH 2.
Lois Williams
Lois has been training at FlashPaws and participating in agility since 1996 (13 years) and has been an instructor at FlashPaws for the past 9 years.
Lois' first agility dog was Maggie OA, AD, CGC, an English Springer Spaniel who passed away at the age of 5 shortly after they started showing.
Sunny (MACH 9, ADCH, NATCH Tejas Li'l Thrill A Minute ADHF, CGC) is her second agility dog and first Golden Retriever. Sunny has the distinction of being the #1 dog in Double Q's in AKC All Breed Agility in 2003 and 2004. She was also the #5 Golden in 2004. Sunny is pretty much retired from competition but continues to keep the youngsters in line and is patiently waiting to help train Lois' next agility dog.
Lois is currently training and showing two Goldens: Cutter (MACH 13, ADCH-Bronze, NATCH FlashPaws Cut Me Loose! MXF, ADHF, CGC) who just turned 8, and Keeley (MACH 2 Keeling's Diamond in the Ruff MXF, CGC) who just turned 4. Cutter was the #1 Golden in 2004 and has been one of the top five Golden Retrievers four of the past 5 years. Keeley was rescued from a shelter in Lafayette, LA in November 2005 and was adopted by Lois shortly after that. She started showing in January, 2007 and finished her MACH thirteen months later in February, 2008. Keeley also qualified for the 2008 and 2009 AKC Nationals.
Anna Lewandowski
Anna has been participating in agility at FlashPaws for 14 years and has been an instructor for 6 years. She earned a BA in Sports Science at Rice University in 1988, where she was a scholarship athlete in springboard and platform diving. Anna is married with 3 children.
Anna's first agility dog, Beau, started agility at age 6. He went on to hold a position in the top 10 agility Labrador Retrievers in AKC agility for 2 years.
Her second dog, Rory, is the first Newfoundland to earn the MX and MXJ. Rory and Anna placed 10th in the 24" class at the 2007 AKC Agility Invitational in Long Beach, CA. Rory has been the #1 agility Newfoundland in the country since 2005.
In addition to agility, Anna has been active for many years in Newfoundland Rescue through the Old West Newfoundland Club. She also trains and competes with Rory in Newfoundland Water Rescue trials.
James Taylor
James began Agility with a shy little Cocker Spaniel Named Cody (Cody Beau Barrister MX, MXJ, MAD) back in 1994 (15 years ago). The sport of Agility, along with James' natural training instinct, brought this troubled Cocker Spaniel out of his shell to find his niche as the #3 Cocker Spaniel in AKC Agility , not just one time, but for three years in a row.
James has been an instructor at FlashPaws for 11 years. His patience and guidance have helped many beginner handlers and their dogs through the Beginner Classes at FlashPaws.
James has trained and competed with multiple breeds of dogs through all levels and venues of Agility. Because of his bond with the dogs coming through the training center, James is a popular choice at a show when a handler needs someone else to run their dog due to either ring conflicts or injuries. Not only can James be a stand-in handler, he can also get those illusive qualifying scores on Border Collies, Aussies, Papillions, Rottweilers, Golden Retrievers, Weimaraners, etc. Big or small, fast or slow, James can adjust his handling style to match the moment.
James' breed of choice is the Cocker Spaniel. His current dog Travis competes in Agility at the Excellent level and is also an AKC Champion , finishing with 4 majors.
In addition to Agility training, James is an active member of a horse rescue group in Brenham where he uses the same gentle determination to work with neglected horses.
Paula Parrish
Paula has been training and competing with her goldens for 12 years. In that time she has put over 50 AKC titles on various dogs, mostly in agility. She also competes in conformation, obedience and field events. It all started with Maya (MACh Sir Nic's Maya Sun UDX MX MXJ JH WC) and continues today with "the wild bunch," Boss and Torrey, who are training for both agility and obedience.
Paula spent nearly thirty years with a Houston based energy company and now gives private obedience lessons and provides grooming and boarding services to her clients.
Jan Downey
Jan has been showing dogs in agility and training at FlashPaws for about 17 years.
She has been an instructor for 6 years, and has been the FlashPaws office manager for 8 years.
Jan's first agility dog was a mixed breed named Bear. He was almost 9 when Jan thought he needed to do agility, and he got an AD title. However, agility was not Bear's idea of "fun" so he retired to his couch again.
Her next agility dog was MACH 2, ADCH Binewood's Gee Whiz Sadie ME, CGC, CD, VE. Sadie was Jan's first Border Terrier and is an all around versatile dog. In 1998, Sadie placed 2nd in the AKC Agility Nationals in the 12" jump height. She was retired at age 7 due to a back injury.
Rat-L-Trap Jd's Jessi Belle, AX, MXJ became Jan's third agility dog in 2001. Jessi's enthusiasm for agility was obvious to all who watched her. An injury in 2007 curtailed her agility career. Jan hopes that Jessi can return, in the future, to JWW competition.
Jan is currently training and showing her 4-yr-old mini poodle, MACH Sandstorm Can't Stop Now MXF (Kenda). Kenda qualified for and competed at the AKC Nationals in 2008 and 2009.
Linda Wakefield
Linda has participated in agility for 7 years and has been instructing for 3 years. She is a graduate of the highly acclaimed Triple Crown Academy for Dog Trainers and is an ABKA-certified Advanced Pet Care Technician, as well as an AKC-licensed Earthdog judge.
Pico (a Border Terrier) was Linda's first agility dog, but she let Linda know that she would rather hang with rats.
Binewood
Pico De Gallo CGC, ME, CG
Pico has her Canine Good Citizen title, Master Earthdog Title, and a
Certificate of Gameness from the American Working Terrier Association.
CH Binewood's
Bandido CGC, AX, AXJ (Tito, Border Terrier)
Tito is a Champion in the conformation ring. He has his Canine Good Citizen title, Agility Excellent and Agility Excellent
Jumpers title, and is halfway through his Master Agility and Master Agility Jumpers titles.
Tanbark's F 106 Delta Dart CGC, NA, OAJ (Delta - a field-type Golden Retriever)
Delta is Linda's wild child and has just begun her career in agility. She has her Open Agility and her Open Agility Jumpers title. Linda trains and competes in DockDog trials with Delta, and also has her Canine Good Citizen title.
FlashPaws Productions
7714 Rolling Fork Lane
Houston, TX 77040
(713)896-8484
info@flashpaws.com