Clients
About Our Clients
We have a very comprehensive program here that I'm very proud of but don't ask us, ask our clients! Our clients range from the mobility gifted to the mobility challenged and dogs of different ages and breeds. Whether you are a weekend warrior or an agility hobbiest her instruction can help both you and your dog accomplish your goals. Agility is a great way to get out and do something positive with your dog. If your dog has a lot of energy or even needs a way to get fit or build confidence attending an agility class once or twice a week is the way to go. Regular clients (both private and group) are entitled to regular online coaching and video review by their instructors.
“This I do know beyond any reasonable doubt. Regardless of what you are doing, if you pump long enough, hard enough and enthusiastically enough, sooner or later the effort will bring forth the reward.” - Zig Ziglar
A year into training my first agility dog I found out why you need a good trainer! My excitable Aussie Rumor was getting nippy and confused by my handling (and I was confused by the various handling instructions I'd been given.) I was so discouraged that I wasn't sure if I should even do agility with him. I'm so happy that I started lessons with Katie at her beautiful facility in Sandgate -- a two hour drive but worth it! Last summer Rumor and I went through "rehab" together. I became a far better handler and we worked on the foundation training that Rumor never had in the first place. Katie's instruction is clear and purposeful and specific for each handler and individual dog. The classes are fun, challenging, and positive. I always leave feeling motivated and with "homework" to practice. Last summer I also started my two year old Aussie, Hemi. Hemi was a late bloomer and Katie has helped me with motivating him and giving him confidence. And at his first AKC trial in the fall he Qd 3 out of 4 runs! - Julie R., Vermont and Aussies Rumor and Hemi
From my previous experience with HyCaliber and working with Katie Trachte I could not be any more thrilled with my outcomes. Each lesson and seminar is never a one size fits all approach. She takes into consideration the dogs drive, reward value, and level of trainer into consideration. I have learned to RUN my dog, and push him to his fullest potential. I now run on course quietly (without the need to speak with my dog endlessly) and he reads my body (without the arm flaring!). His times have improved and he just gets better with age everytime we run. I have Katie and HyCaliber to thank for our accomplishment. Katie exemplifies professionalism but keeps lessons at an understandable level that you know what she is talking about. - Jen N., New York and Border Collie "Chase"- ADCH Silveridge In Hot Pursuit AX MXJ TM SACh GCh FDCh and Pre (BC in training!)
Katie has been a wonderful help with my high drive border collie, Arthur. She has been able to give me specific instruction and training exercises to work with him on his jumping skills. In addition, she has shown me how to teach him some of the important foundation skills that I didn't know he needed! She is helping us learn to better work together as a team. I would highly recommend Katie to anyone looking to have a fun and successful agility career with their best friend. - Amy H., New York and Arhur and Caper
Addie, my 1 ½ year old Golden Retriever, and I had been doing some training at another location when she was scared by a loud rainstorm on the tin roof. After that, she would not do jumps, tunnels or any of the obstacles that she had previously mastered. So I turned to Katie and HyCaliber Training. Within the time span of one private lesson, Katie had Addie confidently doing the obstacles she had previously learned. With her help and advice in classes, I was also able to have Addie learn the weave poles faster than any other dog I have trained. Addie still has some fear issues but slowly they are improving with Katie’s advice. I enjoy her classes because I know Addie and I will get her full attention and thoughts on what we can do to improve her agility skills. Katie does not live by the clock and if more time is needed to learn what her lesson’s objective was, then we use the extra time for the dogs to “get it”. -Lois H., NY and Golden Retrievers Bailey, Holly and Addie
I live in New York City but spend a lot of time in New Hampshire during the summer. I was not able to find a suitable place to train my shetland sheepdog, Whisper while in New Hampshire. I was really excited when Katie Trachte and HyCaliber moved to Vermont, a beautiful hour drive from our home in NH. Unfortunately, Whisper was injured last summer so my training hopes, I thought, were diminished. But a border collie named Shasta made her way into my life and I was able to take classes with Katie afterall. She started classes unfocused and slow and after a month of classes started to build speed and drive. Katie has a wonderful way of evaluating dog and handler and tailoring the class and handling for each individual dog and handler. Shasta did so well that I've even started competing with her after owning her for 3 months! This Thanksgiving, I was able to take a seminar with both dogs. It was a fun, challenging seminar and I learned a lot. The HyCaliber facilities are wonderful, a beautiful outside, fenced ring and inside has amazing footing. I did not hesitate to train Whisper, recovering from injury on the surface. The classes and seminars are fun with fantastic instruction. I can't wait until next summer so I can train both dogs with Katie again. - Dawn P., Owner, Semper Fido (pet dog training), Brooklyn, NY and Mikamar Best Kept Secret "Whisper" AX, AXJ and HastaBShasta "Shasta" in training with a few legs under her belt Katie, Chucky's one-on-one lesson with you was calm, well thought-out and addressed our issues. He's a young, serious working dog (CL1-R 1st places) with great potential, we just need to do some of our "homework" exercises. Good work, Katie! - Anda and Chucky, VT Although I have only taken a few lessons with Katie Trachte, I can already write with confidence on behalf of what a GREAT instructor she is! Before ever taking a lesson with Katie I already knew that she was a knowledgeable and experienced trainer due to her many successes (even international) with her own dogs. However, just because someone is personally successful doesn’t always mean that they are a skilled instructor. Katie IS! As a professional dog trainer myself I was instantly impressed with Katie’s contagious combination of enthusiasm and patience – in my opinion the two most important qualities that any good teacher should possess! Before my first lesson I had the opportunity to watch Katie teaching a group class, it was obvious at once that she genuinely wants to help each of her students reach their maximum potential and to have FUN while doing it!I went to Katie seeking tips for tightening up handling with my husky mix, Hermes, and for guidance in starting the proper foundation training with my Border Collie puppy, Leda. During our first lesson Katie proved to be a fountain of (seemingly endless) training ideas! Katie set up very challenging courses for Hermes and I to tackle. At first these course seemed daunting, but Katie showed me how to break the courses down and practice the specific skills within them. I’ve kept her “words of wisdom” in mind while walking many difficult trial courses since. Katie’s advice with my puppies contact and jump training has proved invaluable. I am looking forward to continuing our lessons with Katie as my puppy grows. - Tara B.
, NY, Owner, Caliber Canines & ARCH C-ATCH 2 HERMES ChST, ChWC, ChCL, ChFH, RS-E, JS-E, GS-O, PD1, NAC, RL1X, RL2X, RL3 & Hob Nob Follow the Leda (star in training!) One of the best things that ever happened to me since my family and I moved to Vermont was that Katie Trachte relocated her agility business to within 5 miles of my house. I must be the luckiest dog agility person in the world! I am an experienced "Agilitizer" -- I've been playing the game for over ten years. During that time, I've taken lessons from several world class agility trainers. Katie Trachte is as excellent a dog trainer and human teacher as any other person I've trained with! As a very accomplished handler, she knows what skills to teach and how to teach them. She has really helped me understand how to better train my dog. She is patient and kind with her human students and their dogs, and tailors her teaching methods to match the specific dog and handler's needs. With her help, I know that my young little BC, Bunkey, will be a real contender! Thanks, Katie, for moving to Vermont! You're GREAT! -Karen L. & Bunkey, Arlington, Vermont Solar Pro Vermont Katie Trachte is not only a great competitor, but a wonderful teacher. Katie's knowledge of the advanced and fundamental principals of agility are not only reflected in her accomplishments, but the accomplishments of her students. I have learned to become a better handler because of Katie and her clear, concise instructions. Katie has the ability to impart her knowledge and experience upon her students in a pleasant and fun learning environment. Lessons with Katie are a great investment in training my dog and in my becoming a better dog handler. I have learned alot from Katie in a short amount of time and look forward to continuing my training relationship with her. I recommend lessons with Katie to any serious agility competitor. It will be worth your time and investment in your dog and yourself. -Terry O., NY. I had been fumbling my way through training my Chinook Doonerak for 6 years, with no particular method. Now I am starting a new Chinook, Doonerak’s daughter Qannik and I didn’t want to repeat my past mistakes. But I live in rural Vermont and there is little choice in trainers and I had tried them all in the past. Then a friend told me about Katie, thank you Lois. We are no longer fumbling our way along. Katie is teaching us right from the start to do it right and it is working. (photo coming soon) There were 3 things that were very important to me in looking for an agility trainer: First, that the trainer is successful in competition and that she and her dog obviously enjoy competing and training; second, that the trainer continues to further her education and training in the sport; and third, that the trainer has the ability to teach. Katie is all these things and more! She sets a high standard, by example, for competition and in the way she treats her dogs with respect and love. She continues to train with the top people in the sport to bring new ideas for the best individualized training for us, her students. She has the knowledge and capability to break down skills so that we can easily and effectively train our dogs. Katie has great patience, a wonderful sense of humor and strives to make classes and workshops fun, as well as educational. Katie has made a dramatic difference in the training relationships I have with my two dogs! -Janie O., Bailey & Dante, NY
I love going to class and so does Qannik. We go home with full brains and lots of things to practice. I am already seeing the results and I am so grateful. Take my word for it. One lesson with Katie and you will keep coming back, she is just that much fun and that fine a trainer.
-Patti R and Ch. Forever Greene Qannik, West Haven, Vermont