Meet the Team
Three decades. Countless dogs. One philosophy.
Amanda Nelson has spent her life learning what makes a dog and handler truly work as a team — and teaching others to find it too.
Amanda Nelson
Known for distance. Driven by connection.
Amanda Nelson is well known for her distance handling skills, and she has been traveling the country teaching seminars for 30+ years. She has taught around the world — Australia, Japan, the Netherlands, England, Switzerland, and the Philippines — working with all levels of agility and nearly every breed.
Her focus is teamwork: building a strong, genuine connection between dog and handler. She works with every style, from running with your dog to full distance handling, and tailors each session to the team in front of her.
Her training relies on targeting, food and toy rewards, and a fun learning environment that creates a fast, motivated dog in the ring. Amanda’s handling system combines upper body, lower body, and verbal cues — derived from the natural cues most dogs read instinctively — so each handler can build a customized system that fits their unique dog.
Career Highlights
A record built over thirty years
50+
NADAC Championship titles
30+
Years teaching seminars worldwide
9,000+
Career points — every milestone award
3
NATCHes across all divisions — a first
- Multiple-time NADAC Champion, including Super Stakes and Starter Stakes divisions
- Silver, Gold & Purple MOD SQUAD awards and the Purple Achievement Cup
- First Junior Handler to earn a NATCH, V-NATCH, and JH-NATCH
- Top Bonus Dog, Top Purple Dog, and Top Dog of the Year, multiple times
- Author for Clean Run and Dog Sport Magazine
- Instructor for Clean Run, Agility University & Fenzi Dog Sports
Beyond the Ring
A whole-dog approach
Amanda’s work doesn’t stop at handling. She brings a deep passion for canine fitness, massage, acupressure, nutrition, and most recently PEMF — because a confident, capable agility dog is a healthy, well-cared-for dog first.
The Pack
