Trainer Nadja Palenzuela began training dogs when she adopted a very high energy black lab mix named Indalo, who was in need of some direction. During her search to find ways to channel Indalo’s energy, Nadja took up agility, and later began training for flying disc. Nine years and six shelter dogs later, Nadja is considered an expert in canine sports that range from dock diving to agility to flying disc.

She and her dogs have competed all over the world, at events like the Skyhoundz World Championship, the ESPN Great Outdoor Games and the Purina® Incredible Dog Challenge. As a devoted animal lover and advocate for positive training methods and animal rescue, Nadja travels across the country sharing her passion for dogs and entertaining audiences everywhere as part of the Purina® Incredible Dog Team.

Nadja’s entourage includes five incredible Australian Cattle Dog mixes and one American Pit Bull Terrier that perform acrobatic freestyle flying disc routines all around the country. Eight-year-old Clementine is truly a jack of all trades, holding titles in agility, dock diving and freestyle flying disc. Bandit, an active 6-year-old, leaps with ease and makes catching a flying disc look effortless. Although Squirt, a 3-year-old, is deaf, she compensates with incredible drive, focus and attention. Wee-la, 2, the tiniest of the bunch, took home third place in the 2007 Skyhoundz World Championships. The youngest of Nadja’s cattle dogs, Lolita, has already wowed the crowds in three different countries with her incredible speed and enthusiasm. And her newest addition to the team, Thelma, a 1-year-old rescued Pit Bull, is one to watch. Her incredible flying disc skills are simply amazing!

Through performances with her canine team, Nadja hopes to encourage potential pet owners to see the great potential in high-energy shelter dogs that can end up being great pets if given the proper activity outlet.

When Nadja is not traveling across the country performing at pet shows and competitions with her own dogs, she enjoys working with foster dogs in order to help get them adopted. Although Nadja spent most of her life as an architect, she recently took her passion for dogs further by opening her own dog specialty store Hooked On Dogs, offering pet owners in her area a great resource for athletic canines and pets alike.

Training Tips From Nadja