Hi, I'm Sarah Palm, agility and obedience instructor/assistant/grunt at Cloud Nine. I've lived with and loved animals all my life but didn't start serious training until my Dachshund, Clem, and I answered a friend's challenge 10 years ago to give agility lessons at Cloud Nine a try.

After the first night we were hooked, and Clem has gone on to earn master/excellent/elite agility titles from AKC, NADAC, and TDAA as well as being her breed's record holder for the Clean Run Ultimate Weave Pole Challenge. In October 2009, one month shy of her 12th birthday, Clem placed third at the TDAA Petit Prix. Thanks to Dawn, Clem's obedience training blossomed from sits and rollovers to more advanced moves, allowing Clem to earn her Canine Good Citizen certificate and eventually her Rally Excellent title. The RE led to certification with Therapy Dogs International. Prior to retiring, Clem actively volunteered for Fairview Hospice and also at a local nursing home.

In addition to Clem, I live with and train two other dogs - my Dachshund, Ruthie and my Sheltie, Nephew. Ruthie is an obedience junkie and has her Rally Advanced title, and she competes at the excellent / elite levels in AKC and TDAA agility. Ruthie also is a therapy dog registered with Delta Society. Given a choice, though, Ruthie would rather be out in the earthdog fields and woods tracking and hunting vermin. Ruthie is competing at the Master level in AKC earthdog and loves every minute of it.

Nephew is still learning the ropes and started competing in agility and rally in 2010. He is competing at the open and excellent levels and has a reputation for being quite vocal about his love for the game. Nephew and I are training to become a certified Pet Partners team through the Delta Society.

I also live with a cat who is clicker trained to sit as well as shove clothes down our laundry chute.

I am a charter member and currently sit on the board of the Greater Twin Cities Earthdog Club and a member of Minnesota Agility Club and the Minnesota Dachshund Club.

Outside of the training ring you can find me in the massage room working on dogs or producing commercial photography for national and international clients.

I am always inspired by helping people and their dogs to learn new things. I think having respect for the dogs' learning processes and a sense of humor goes a long way for having a successful human / canine relationship. I know those two things have made training my "non-traditional" breed easier for me.