Diane Goodspeed, Agility Instructor

Diane's first obedience and agility dog, Sandy

Diane Goodspeed started training with Betsy in 1992. Her first obedience dog was a Lhasa. Between children, Diane and Sandy completed her CD, CDX, and UD and attended two Pupperoni Eastern Regionals. After obedience, Sandy took up agility with enthusiasm, earning an NA, NAJ, OA, and OAJ. She retired, after dabbling in obedience again to earn two UDX legs at the age of ten, just as Diane was beginning to compete with her second dog, Kayla.

Diane with MACH Kayla

Kayla, a border collie out of Betsy Scapicchio's Jinx, earned her CD and CDX quickly so she could focus on agility. Diane and Kayla, training weekly with Top Dog instructor Barbara Miller, earned their first AKC novice agility title in April of 1999 and completed both excellent titles eighteen months later, qualifying for the 2002 Agility Nationals where they finished 30th. Kayla earned her MACH in 2002. Always happy to be busy, Kayla is working on her UD with Diane, trains her daughter, Kathleen, in agility, and most recently earned her therapy dog license.

Diane's son Kevin with Demon

In 2002, Diane's husband surprised everyone by purchasing Demon, a medium-sized Sheltie, for her fortieth birthday. Trained by Diane under Ali Roukas, Demon spent the first two years in agility competing with Diane's son, Kevin. The pair completed Demon's AKC NA, NAJ, OA, OAJ and NADAC NA, NAJ titles in seven months. After Kayla and Kevin semi-retired from agility, Diane and Demon began competing together, completing his AKC AX, AXJ, MX, and MXJ in less than a year. The team qualified for and attended the AKC Agility Nationals in 2006, finishing 25th with five clean rounds on five runs. Diane expects to complete Demon's MACH in 2006 and has already qualified for the 2007 Agility Nationals. Another Lhasa, Jack, joined the family in early 2003 and was immediately adopted by Kathleen. The dynamic duo earned their AKC NA, NAJ, and OAJ in three months. Kathleen, who is only ten years old, is hoping to qualify Jack for the 2006 Agility Invitational.

Kayla, Jack and Demon!

Besides agility training and teaching, Diane writes books. Rutgers University Press published her first book, Family Friendly Biking in New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania, in 2005 and her second book, Happy Tails Across New Jersey, is due out in July of 2006. For more information on the ultimate guidebook to having fun with your dog in New Jersey, go to rutgerspress.rutgers.edu. 

Back to Instructors Page