Meet Kim Hansen, CPDT-KA
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH DOG TRAINING? Dogs have always been an integral part of my life. Growing up on a farm, we always had a “farm dog” who was a beloved family member. We showed dairy calves in 4H, but weren’t able to participate in the 4H dog program. After the county fair each year, our rescued German Shepard mix dog, Heidi, would endure hour after hour of practice time at home, as my sister and I pretended that we were showing her at the fair. That was the extent of my “dog training” experience while in my youth. My dad and grandpa (on my mom’s side) were dog lovers too, so it comes naturally, from both sides of my family.
Fast forward at least 25 years…watching dog agility competitions on Animal Planet was a life-changing moment for me. Tanner (shown in the photos on the right doing his famous ball trick) used to watch Animal Planet along with me. I longed to try agility with Tanner. Sadly, he passed away before I ever found a place to learn how to do agility.
A few months later, while waiting at a lady’s desk, I noticed a picture she had displayed of her dogs doing agility. I eagerly asked the lady about her dogs. That lady just happened to be Annette. Annette jotted down some information for me, and I signed up for my first agility class, with our rescue Golden Retriever, Lego (pictured below.) That is how I got started on this great journey.
TELL US ABOUT THE DOGS WITH WHOM YOU CURRENTLY SHARE YOUR LIFE. My husband Ron and I currently share our lives with three dogs. Lego is our Golden Retriever “angel dog” and is the easiest dog ever to live with. We adopted him through RAGOM in 2006 when he was approximately 6 months old, and we feel very lucky that we found each other. He was my first agility partner. We learned so much together! He is now retired from competition and enjoys living the country life —swimming, frolicking in the horse pastures, relaxing on the couch, and simply being with us wherever we go.
Rafe, a black and white Border Collie, is my current agility partner and all-around “best dog ever” (said with adoring eyes, as every enamored dog-mom does.) He was born on Pearl Harbor day in 2014 and is named after the main character in the Pearl Harbor movie (played by Ben Affleck – I couldn’t name my puppy Affleck, and be calling out Affleck, Affleck, sounding like an insurance commercial.)
The baby of the family is Ripcord, who is a full-brother (two years younger) to Rafe. Ripcord does agility and also herding. You can read more about him in Ron’s bio.
WHAT TYPES OF ACTIVITIES DO YOU DO WITH YOUR DOGS? Our dogs are first and foremost treasured family members. Besides being our farm chore partners, traveling companions, and bed-snugglers, Ron and I compete in agility with them. I took my first agility class in the fall of 2007. A little over a year later, I entered my first AKC agility trial with Lego in January of 2009. We came home with blue ribbons in the Novice A classes, and I was hooked! Lego was retired from agility in 2016 when he was 10 years old. Rafe is my current agility partner. We enjoy competing in AKC, USDAA, and also UKI agility trials.
I have dabbled in Barn Hunt with Lego – he loves it. All of our dogs also enjoyed the little bit of scent work training that I have done with them. That is one of several areas that we’d like to explore further. All of our dogs know several tricks too. It’s a good way to keep them busy when stuck inside due to inclement weather.
WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF TRAINING ADVICE THAT YOU’VE EVER HEARD? That is such a difficult question. There are so many facets to dog training, and it is very difficult to pick just one thing. But, I guess it boils down to one of my very favorite quotes by Dr. Amy Cook, “Every time you teach your dog what to do, you are teaching him how to feel.” This encompasses all dog training. No matter what you want to accomplish with your dog, I strongly believe that the relationship you have with your dog is the most important piece and the key to everything.
WHAT IS YOUR TEACHING BACKGROUND? I have been teaching agility classes since 2011, and started offering private lessons in 2016. Through the years, the sport of dog agility has advanced tremendously. I crave opportunities to continually learn new things that I can apply to my classes to help students and dogs. That’s why I attend many seminars, am CPDT-KA certified take online classes, and constantly listen to dog-related podcasts to stay current with the latest research and knowledge.
Besides teaching dog classes, I have been a full-time instructor at a community college for over three decades. In 2019, I was awarded the honor of Outstanding Educator at our local campus and then Educator of the Year on a statewide basis by the MinnState Board of Trustees. I am very proud of that accomplishment. Teaching is in my blood, no matter what the subject.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT TEACHING DOG TRAINING CLASSES? I thoroughly enjoy those “light-bulb moments” when both the human part of the team and the dog have those break-through “now I get it” feelings -- with big smiles and wagging tails of joy. Adjusting training to meet individual needs, to achieve that sense of accomplishment, is a challenge which I embrace. However, I am most passionate about helping people build a great relationship with their dog, by learning how to listen to their dog. That is far more important than any ribbons or titles. It makes my heart sing when I see those moments of true connection between human and canine.
When in a “how to be a better teacher” type class years ago, the instructor said to all of the new teachers that were now in the role of student, “You will be quoted at the dinner table.” That really made me think. Yes, he was right. Many times I found myself telling my parents what my teachers had said that day. My hope is what students learn at dog training class is quoted beyond the walls of the training facility. Being able to influence lives, of both people and dogs, beyond my immediate students is a powerful thing. It is humbling, and I take that responsibility very seriously.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE NOT TRAINING DOGS? In addition to my agility addiction, my husband and I raise and train Quarter horses. We compete in barrel racing and also enjoy trail riding with our horses. I used to compete in Western and English pleasure events too. One special memory was competing with my gray pleasure mare at the State Championship Show. They were announcing the placings, backwards from 8th place, to 7th place, and so on. I thought my mare and I had done a respectable pattern, but also knew there was room for improvement. I was holding my breath as we were atop our horses in the lineup in the middle of the coliseum. They were now announcing 3rd place, and I still hadn’t heard my name. I quit holding my breath, because at that point I just knew we weren’t going to get a placing. When they called my name for 1st place, I about fell out of the saddle. We had won the State Championship in Sr. Western Horsemanship - wow, what a thrill. Coming back down to day-to-day life with horses, to answer the question of what I do when I am not training dogs… I clean a lot of stalls and do a lot of other farm chores in my “spare time”.
WHAT ARE SOME SPECIAL MEMORIES YOU HAVE OF YOUR DOGS? There are so many memories of every dog who has ever been part of my life. Here is an overview of some of them: Chessie, my dad’s hunting dog, was the first dog I can remember. Heidi was our constant companion on the dairy farm and practically helped raise my sister and I. Tanner was truly my heart dog, who still brings tears to my eyes as I miss him so much to this day. Coltie Joe, who made me so proud and taught me so much, was a rescue dog who came with a lot of issues (which I now recognize as training opportunities). Cinch, who was the smartest dog I ever knew, left this world too young. Those are just a few of the special dogs who have shaped me into the person who I am today.
To be more specific, here are a few memories which make me smile, and sometimes tear up, all at the same time.
I remember when our nephews would come out to our farm and want to go fishing in the river. They would return rather quickly, unsuccessful, because Tanner kept going into the river and retrieving the bobber. Tanner was rarely seen without a ball in his mouth - he lived up to the retriever image.
I remember when Colt made me so extremely proud in class one night We were Colt’s 7th “home” and he was on his third name, all by the time we got him when he was 11 months old. He was born in a puppy mill, sold to a pet store, purchased from the pet store, given up to RAGOM where he was fostered, adopted through RAGOM, returned to RAGOM to a different foster home, and then we adopted him. Obviously, we didn’t return him. In any case, I was teaching him a rather difficult trick. In class, the teacher asked us to show what we had been working on. I told everyone in class that we were in the beginning stages of this particular trick. When I cued Colt to do the part of the trick I thought he knew - to my surprise he did the entire trick - right there in front of all of those people. I was so proud of him I couldn’t help but cry with pride. (I am crying as I type this.) All I could think of was all of those people who didn’t give him a chance, and look what he could do!!!! (Alright, Kleenex break for me.)
I remember when I entered my very first agility trial. The entries had to be in the mail about six weeks in advance. I entered, even though Lego didn’t know how to weave yet. Heck, with six weeks to go, I thought I had plenty of time to train the weave poles. I practiced and practiced, and began to think that I had made a big mistake entering that trial. Well, the night before the trial, HE WEAVED six straight up weave poles for the first time. Yes, the night before the trial. We got to the trial and he nailed his weave poles - first try! The unexpected blue ribbons were icing on the cake. The fact that his previous foster mom from RAGOM came to watch made the whole thing even more special.
If you have made it all the way to here, it is probably time to quit reading and go make some special memories with your dog!! Enjoy the journey - it is never long enough.