Meet Your Instructor

We can't wait to meet you!

Naomi Boyar

Naomi Boyar is a dog sport enthusiast. She has competed in agility, K9 Nose Work, and AKC Barn Hunt. Naomi has been instructing students in dog sports for over 15 years.

Paige Hoelscher has been involved in dog training for over 10 years. Her approach to training is centered around building a connection between dog and handler,while having fun! Paige has been working with the Dog Alliance for a year and brings her Disc Dog, Tricks, and Agility skills and knowledge to our team of trainers.

Paige’s training philosophy is team-oriented; focused more on a good relationship and teamwork rather than the "owner is the alpha to the dog" mentality. Her focus and goal when working with dog and handler teams is that both parties are learning together. Paige’s training style is to create a positive and fun learning experience for both dogs and their owners.

Paige currently has 3 dogs: two Australian Shepherds, Echo (10) and Edge (6), and a Border Collie named Early (1). Edge and Early have won multiple high-level disc events, including qualifying for world finals. They both have many AKC CGC, AKC Trick, Agility, Dock, and Disc titles through various organizations.

Sarah Maloney

Sarah combines her project management experience and legal background with the aim of using her skills to enhance the Dog Alliance and help the community. While she is not a dog trainer, Sarah is a dog lover and enjoys being the “fun treat lady” for the dogs on campus; someone the dogs can love on and just be a dog around after training! Sarah manages daily operations for dog training classes, private lessons, and volunteer opportunities. She also uses her creative problem solving skills to run special projects that elevate the Dog Alliance programs and customer experience.

Sarah volunteers as a Therapy Team with Sky throughout the community visiting schools, hospitals, and corporate offices. Spending time with Sky bringing smiles to members of the community has brought her so much joy!

In her free time, Sarah enjoys traveling, reading, and cooking. She has a 14 year old lab mix named Mack who is the perfect co-pilot, snuggle buddy, and sous chef.

Susan Windham

Susan joined The Dog Alliance in 2007. Her passion for children, animals, and teaching has led her to lend her talents to many of the activities the Alliance provides. Susan received her Certified Professional Dog Trainer Accreditation in 2012. Susan and her therapy dog partner Zoe were a registered therapy team from 2011 to 2018. Susan was credentialed by Pet Partners in 2013 as an evaluator.

Susan comes to The Dog Alliance with a background in child care with 18 years of experience. She holds her Child Care Directors license having spent over 11 years as the Director of a child care center. Susan has been able to combine her passion for children and dogs in her role as the Director of The Dog Alliance Summer Camp program. Susan is also the Director of the Hounds for Heroes program.

Wendy Hodges

Wendy brings her wide variety of dog passions and expertise to the Dog Alliance! She has over 23 years of experience with sighthounds, 14 of those years actively involved with lure coursing as a judge, trial chair, secretary, and lure operator. Additionally, Wendy is an AKC Evaluator and Judge across various categories including Rally, Tricks, Barn Hunt and more! She has trained dogs in agility, obedience, coursing, barn hunting, rally, therapy work, and trick dog. #WeDoAllTheThings is her motto!

Wendy has also been involved with Therapy Dog work, serving the community for almost 10 years. Her first Therapy Dog was certified in 2016and she started visiting schools in 2018. They spent the next 6 years volunteering in schools, logging 340 visits and 383 hours of service! Wendy’s second Therapy Dog was certified in 2022 and has currently logged 114 visits and 156 hours of service. Wendy and her therapy dogs have also done work with St. David's Heart Hospital, St. David's Children Hospital, St. David's Acute Care, Austin Lakes Mental Health, Cross Creek Hospital Psychiatric Facility, and The Arc of the Capital Area.

Wendy teaches a variety of classes with a range as wide as her interests, from Puppy Kindergarten to Advanced Rally and her favorite sport, Lure Coursing! For Wendy, the best part of lure operating is watching a hesitant dog go from shy and wary to running over 30 mph. In her words, “There is no other sport that gives an owner a greater appreciation for their dog’s elegance, form, power, and beauty than these games!”

Wendy has shown dogs at Regional and National Specialties across the country for Anatolian Shephard Dogs, Australian Cattle Dogs, Basenjis, and Whippets. In addition to showing dogs in conformation, she has participated and placed in Rally, Obedience, Lure Coursing, Racing, and Agilitywith her dogs. Wendy was on the show committees for multiple events and served as the Triathlon and Versatility Chair for the American Whippet Club's National. She has been to the AKC National Lure Coursing Championship (in addition to serving on the field committees) and the ASFA International Invitational and Grand National. Wendy’sdogs have qualified to compete at the AKC National Agility and Rally Championships several times.