Meet the Trainer and the Dogs of Driven Dog Training

The training field at the farm in Lake Odessa, MI. 

Mel Pellerito began her journey in competitive dog training in 2006 when she brought home her first Border Collie, Shadow.  It all began with a basic puppy kindergarten class and when Shadow was only 4 months old, they proceeded into competition level obedience class.  Since that time, Mel has trained extensively in sheep herding, competition agility, obedience, and rally obedience.  Mel has titled her Border Collies in herding (ducks and sheep), agility, rally obedience and obedience.

You will sometimes hear Mel say that she didn’t get her first Border Collie in order to do competitive dog sports, but rather she began doing competitive dog sports because she got a Border Collie that needed a job!  But training her dog has become a passion that she now shares with others by helping people learn how to play the fun game of agility with their dogs, as well as doing in-home private lessons for basic obedience and manners.

Mel’s philosophy in agility training is to establish a solid foundation and build good relationships between dogs and their handlers.  She enjoys helping people and their dogs achieve whatever level they choose, for fun in the back yard, or going on to competing in agility.  Agility should be all about having fun with your dogs and Mel works hard to ensure her students enjoy every minute!  Training our dogs is a fantastic way to build a good relationship and bond with them.

Meet the Dogs

C-ATCH CS-ATCH2 Shadow CD OA OAJ XF RA CGC FDC – Border Collie
Shadow has trained and competed in herding, obedience, agility, rally obedience and dabbled in tracking training.  She currently has titles in Rally, Obedience and Agility and has earned her CGC (Canine Good Citizen) and FDC (Farm Dog Certification).  At the age of 10 years old, in the summer of 2016, Shadow earned her CPE agility championship and she continued to compete regularly in CPE agility which included attending CPE nationals in June of 2018 (at 12 years old) where she earned the award of High in Games Specialist Dog.  Shadow has some serious heart and drive for everything we have ever trained and competed in and these days, she is fully retired and enjoying life on the farm.

CS-ATE C-ATCH3 Skye HSAds MX MXJ MXF T2B CGC FDC  – Border Collie
Skye has trained and competed in sheep herding and agility, dabbling in a little frisbee from time to time.  He competed in the Masters level of AKC agility and has earned a variety of CPE agility titles along the way and also has his CGC (Canine Good Citizen) and FDC (Farm Dog Certification).  At the 2018 CPE Agility National competition, Skye took the award for High in Games Veteran Dog.  He is a wonderful boy to work with and has been a truly amazing competition partner.  Skye earned his HSAd title (Herding Started A Course Ducks) in 2018 and earned his HSAs title (Herding Started A Course Sheep) at the Border Collie Specialty in 2019.  Skye is now retired from competition and will enjoy the rest of his life being a happy farm dog.

**Top left herding photo credit: Phyllis Ensley Photography

Drizzle PT OA NAJ XF  CL-4  – Border Collie
Drizzle came out of a breeding long planned out of our boy Skye.  She was born in June of 2017 and this little girl is full of competitive potential.  Drizzle started her agility career in he fall of 2018 at 15 months old.  In just a couple months, she qualified to attend the CPE Nationals for June 2019.  She is fast and furious on the agility course but has remarkable handler check in and focus.  Drizzle has also been training in sheep herding and she is off to a great start so far.  She recently completed a PT (Pre-Trial Tested) at the Border Collie Specialty and we opted to move her into HSAs (Herding Started A Course Sheep) where she earned her first qualifying run with a 2nd placement.  We look forward to this little girl’s future!