In 1996, Linda Coates took over the instruction of classes at Shamrock Acres Training Center. At the time, Shamrock offered only a couple of classes and there was no agility. Now Shamrock is a busy training center offering not only Obedience, but Rally and Agility Classes 5 nights a week!

A student can come and learn the basics in the Beginner’s obedience class and be ready to move along to Advanced Beginners , Novice, Open, and Utility competition classes. Agility classes offer 5 different levels as well as boasting instructors with over 30 years worth of experience training multiple Master Agility Champions from a wide variety of breeds.

All of the Obedience classes are taught by Linda, which provides continuity in the program. Positive motivational methods are used and having multiple instructors at the Beginning level insures that all students receive the help they need. Teaching the entire family to work with and understand the dog is an important part of every dog’s training.

Linda has been training dogs since the late 1960’s. She enrolled her first dog, a Wire Fox Terrier in classes with the 4-H Program and soon thereafter fell in love with the sport of obedience and the wonderful relationship that she developed with her dog. In 1980 she began instructing Obedience classes and became the Director of Training for the Greater Louisville Training Club. She spent the next 10 years teaching for GLTC and continued to educate herself on the many different training methods that were available. In addition to this she taught Obedience classes thru the Jefferson County Adult Education program for 8 yrs.

Linda has competed in Obedience trials since 1979 with a variety of breeds of dogs. She has put titles on Smooth Fox Terriers, Labrador Retrievers, Airedale Terriers, and Pugs. She has earned National recognition for achievements on several of her Airedales and Pugs. One of her Airedales, Crovenay Bingley Barrister UD, “Ramsey” was ranked # 1 in the country 6 times! Ch Who dun it’s Murder Mystery UDX NA , “Butler” was Linda’s first breed Champion, first agility dog and her 3 rd Airedale to earn a Utility Dog title. Butler was #1 Nationally 3 times and was the first Champion Airedale to earn the UDX title. Butler went High in Trial and High Combined at the National Specialty at age 10!

Linda’s Pug, Otis, OTCH Whodunit’s Surprise Witness VCD2 UDX4 TD OM1 RA MX MXB MXJ NF MX2 MXPB MJP2 has earned over a dozen All Breed High in Trial Awards, multiple Specialty High in Trials and is only the 3 rd Pug in the history of the breed to become an Obedience Trial Champion. He has been ranked # 1 Obedience Pug in the country 8 times. He has been invited an attended the AKC Invitational Obedience Tournament 4 times and in 2009 won the Toy Group. At age 10 Otis earned his Tracking Title which has made him the first Pug to ever receive the Versatile Companion Dog 2 Title awarded by the American Kennel Club. Otis passed away in April of 2020 at the ripe old age of 18 yrs 8 months and 2 days, he lived his life to the fullest and made an impact on the breed by showing how versatile a Pug can be.

Currently Linda is working on advanced Tracking titles for her 11 yr old Airedale Slammer and her 8yr old female Airedale Snitch. Snitch is the FIRST Airedale to earn a Tracking Dog Urban Title and just recently completed her Excellent Agility titles.  Ernest T is  a 9 yr old Pug  and is the son of Otis. He earned his CDX, GN and is a Prefered  Agility Champion. Louie is Ernie's son and at 3 yrs old already has an All Breed High in Trial and multiple Spec High in Trials, he has attended the AKC Eukanuba Event where he competed in Novice. Just this fall he completed his Excellent standard title and Open jumpers title in agility. New to our family is Gator an Airedale who at age 2 already has rally and obedience titles...he is currently showing in conformation. Also there is Chili Bean...5months of Pug fun and who knows what she can do?!

 Linda is a Lifetime member of the Greater Louisville Training Club and Louisville Kennel Club. She has been Obedience Chairman for the Airedale Terrier Club of America for the past 15 years and is currently on their Board of Directors, she is also Co-Chair of the Agility Committee.. She served as Agility and Obedience Chairman for the Pug Dog Club of America and chaired the Agility at the Specialty Show which was held at Shamrock in September of 2014.. Linda is now looking forward to being the Agility Chair for the 2018 Pug Dog Club of America Agility Trial to be held in Indianapolis this coming Oct .

Linda is a certified Canine good citizen Evaluator and is approved to judge non-regular classes for the American Kennel Club.