Topgun's Quintessential Uptown Lass "QUINN" 3/22/08 - 4/27/2022
Foundation Matriarch of the Perfect 10 line of Border Collies
Quinn was a 36lb, 18” dynamo! She was extremely athletic with a natural jumping style and ability to use her body well with a great deal of power, which she imparted to the subsequent pups in our line. Even though she seemed to compete at one speed (warp), she was able to turn off and chill out at home. She was serious while working but had a very gregarious personality. Like all Borders, she usually figured out what you were asking of her and found a way to do it her way which was usually by the shortest route. Among the dogs I have owned and trained in the past 50 years, she was one in a million and will be honored by her progeny in the years to come.
QUINN’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Utility Dog Excellent, Obedience Master 1, Beckwith Challenge Trophy Winner (highest scoring obedience dog for the year) 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 & 2021, Lifetime Bronze Achievement Award, Agility Dog Champion-Bronze, Agility Trial Champion, Standard Agility Champion, Gamblers Champion-Silver, Relay Champion-Bronze, Tournament Champion-Silver, Snooker Champion-Bronze, Jumpers Champion-Bronze, International Agility Champion, International Winner Agility Champion, International Winner Agility Champion Select, International Agility Champion Select 3, Master Performance Dog, Master Agility Champion 5, International Bronze Jumping Award, International Silver Game Award, International Bronze Agility Award, Champion Speedstakes, Master Excellent, Master Excellent Jumper, Master Excellent Fast, Time2Beat, Rally Novice, Jumping Vet-Elite-Superior Performance, Jumping Standard-Elite-Outstanding Performance, Gambling Standard-Elite-Outstanding Performance, Regular Standard-Elite-Outstanding Performance, CPE Level 3, Trick Dog Advanced, Certified Service Dog
Quinn's Kids and Grandkids!
Dog Dynasty Duluth LLC is a family owned and operated business originally founded in 1970 by Dan and Rita Herald under the name Arrowhead Dog Training Academy. Since then it has become a premier training facility for professional dog training. It is currently owned and operated by their daughter, Diane Craig and her husband Jim. DDD offers instruction in Obedience and Agility, as well as behavioral consultations and private lessons, obedience and agility trials and more! A new merchandising venture under this newer name was founded in 2014 by Jim and Diane along with their daughter Robin. The Dog Dynasty store offers quality dog training products at competitive prices.
Diane trained her first dog as a teen in the late 1960's and over the years has continued to train and compete with her dogs in Obedience and Agility, garnering dozens of titles on her dogs including UDX and many agility championships. She has always had a thirst for knowledge when it comes to dog training and behavior and she continues to educate herself in all aspects of the canine in order to bring the best to her clients. Recently losing her 14 year partner, Quinn, Noli has stepped into the role of competition partner as well as business partner. In addition to Noli, her mother Lizzi is resuming her competition career after producing two great litters and Jim is working with Quinn's grandson, Tru.
Jim formally trained his first dog in Obedience and Agility in the early 1990's; a German Shepherd named Sally. Since then he has worked with the multitude of dogs that have made their way through the household through their Border Collie rescue program. Being a custom cabinet maker by trade, he is the genius behind all the training equipment and obstacles, maintainer and re-modeler of the facility, as well as being Diane's right hand during class.
Robin trained her first dog as a teenager and went on to work with a MinPin named Lexi. Since Lexi had a less than optimal start to her life, Robin has spent a great deal of time working through undesirable behaviors with her and has gone on to gain numerous agility titles and championships as well as several obedience titles. Robin has wholeheartedly embraced the shaping and positive reinforcement training methods we employ and has become a very astute trainer and sought after clinician. She is currently working with Quinn's granddaughter, Vibe, who is Tru's brother. In August of 2020, Vibe had a litter of five and Robin is now also working with her new little boy named Vice, and also chose a little red girl from Lizzi’s last litter named Versa. Robin is presently an instructor at several facilities in the Twin Cities area and lives in Maplewood, MN. Jim and Diane have a hobby farm just three miles from the training facility.