winning partnerships

Our Philosophy

A Click Above, LLC is a partnership built on passion and excellence. Our combined expertise spans several decades (more than we care to admit!) and across many venues - from agility to obedience to breed and beyond.

We employ positive reinforcement and operant training methods to achieve our impressive results. "Clicker training" is at the heart of this philosophy and enables us to teach everything from basic manners to tricks to complex handling. We believe everything for the dog - and handler - should be fun and enjoyable.

Most of our classes have multiple instructors to ensure each student gets the time and attention needed to build rewarding partnerships that will last a lifetime.

A Click Above's World Class Training Facility

World-Class Training Facility

Our facility has one indoor building with sprint turf footing measuring 100' x 125'. We are able to divide the area to safely hold two concurrent classes with enough room left for crating. The building is fully heated in winter and air conditioned in summer, providing both dogs and handlers the ability to comfortably train year-round.

We also have two outdoor rings on grass - perfect for preparing for outdoor trials. Our front ring is also fully lit for evening training.

Our equipment is the latest available and maintained in top condition. We have complete rings for AKC, UKI and USDAA agility as well as AKC Obedience and Rally-O. We can accomodate Nose Work, Fly Ball and Free Style as well.

Did you know?

We rent our building (owned by Elmay, LLC) to clubs, dog businesses, etc Fridays through Sundays. Contact us at plawlmay@aclickabovellc.com for rental information including pricing for single day, weekend, or three day weekend packages.

Meet our Instructors

We are proud of our instructors who've been atop podiums in nearly every performance arena. Each year our instructors excel at national and regional events, earning the highest honors and titles. We have broad experience across many different breeds and challenges.

Elsie Maylott

Elsie Maylott

Founding Partner, retired
Foundations, Agility, Obedience

Elsie has been involved in dog training for over 20 years. She is a member of the APDT (Association for Pet Dog Trainers) and attends many educational workshops, seminars, and… Read More

Claudia Bates

Claudia Bates

Partner and Instructor
Foundations, Agility

Claudia is a former technical writer that has been training dogs and people with dogs since 1996. Her dogs have earned titles in tracking, obedience, herding, and agility. She successfully… Read More

Karen Allen

Karen Allen

Instructor
Foundations, Obedience

Karen has bred, trained, showed 21 German Shorthaired Pointers since 1977. Her dogs have earned, Conformation Championships, Obedience Championships, Agility Master Championships, RAE?s and Master Rally titles , Hunt test… Read More

Kirsten Anderson

Kirsten Anderson

Instructor
Foundations, Agility

Kirsten lives in Catharpin, Virginia and has been a Veterinary Technician for 15 year at Towne Animal Clinic in Leesburg. Kirsten has a couple of border collies, one of whom… Read More

Ashley Anderson

Ashley Anderson

Instructor
Agility

Ashley got her start training dogs at age six, and by age eight, she and her Golden Retriever, Whirly had their first AKC title, a CD from the obedience ring.… Read More

Elizabeth Breyer

Elizabeth Breyer

Instructor
Foundations, Obedience

Liz Breyer has been training dogs for 30+ years. Starting with Bernese Mountain Dogs and then switching to Golden Retrievers, Liz has trained and titled multiple dogs in both Obedience… Read More

Samantha Burton

Samantha Burton

Instructor

Sam is a licensed massage therapist for humans and dogs. She became a certified canine fitness trainer (CCFT) in 2020 after becoming more serious with her own dogs fitness.
<… Read More

Patricia Dranchak

Patricia Dranchak

Instructor
Agility

Trish's passion for animals started when she was four and fell in love with training and competing with horses as well as caring for all the creatures that came… Read More

Sarah Dyer

Sarah Dyer

Instructor

Sarah got her start in dog sports in 2007 with her dog-reactive Standard Poodle, Faith. It took a lot of work, but Faith earned her novice titles in AKC… Read More

Diann Gastley

Diann Gastley

Instructor
Foundations, Obedience, Agility

Diann grew up with dogs and became involved with her own dogs when she got her first Jack Russell Terrier, Cayenne, over 10 years ago. She was active with the… Read More

Mary Iannelli

Mary Iannelli

Instructor
Foundations, Agility, Obedience

Mary has always had a dog by her side from a very young age growing up on Cape Cod. Her love for animals has been a large part of her… Read More

Janet Kolakoski

Janet Kolakoski

Instructor

I started in obedience training in the early 80's when my employer and mentor, Julie Hogan introduced me into the joy of dog training. Her philosophy was "Dog… Read More

Elaine Maher

Elaine Maher

Instructor
Foundations, Obedience

Elaine has been training dogs for almost 20 years. She has titled multiple dogs in Obedience, Rally, Agility, Tricks, and Nose Work and has also trained in Field and Barn… Read More

Beth Mathews-Bradshaw

Beth Mathews-Bradshaw

Instructor
Agility

Beth has been training and showing in agility for almost 20 years. She has handled dogs of all sizes from Dobermans to 8-pound toy Manchesters. She currently lives in… Read More

Abigail Tidwell

Abigail Tidwell

Instructor

Abby grew up with Golden Retrievers while dog sitting, working as a vet assistant in high school, and helping out with anything dog related; handling dogs since she was a… Read More

Nancy Walkins

Nancy Walkins

Instructor
Foundations, Agility, Obedience

Nancy has been training and competing with dogs since 1984. A native New Englander, Nancy began teaching obedience in Maine in 1987, and eventually agility, when it evolved in the… Read More

Kayla Wieland

Kayla Wieland

Instructor
Foundations, Agility

Kayla began competing with dogs at age 7, doing so in agility, conformation and eventually Junior Showmanship with her Siberian Husky, Timber. She also got into obedience and rally then… Read More