About Linda Sperco


Linda Sperco is an accomplished teacher, coach, and competitor. She created the first rally training program in the tri-state area and is the creator of the CDSP Obedience program. Linda also developed a Basic Skills for Hunting Retrievers program. She is an AKC and APDT Rally judge and a CDSP Obedience judge.

Linda's clients and their canine companions excel in AKC and CDSP obedience, AKC and APDT Rally, and AKC hunt tests. She works with a variety of breeds from Goldens to Greyhounds, Shih-Tzus to Spaniels, Mixed Breeds to Beagles.

Linda’s current dogs; WR HR ARCH Topbrass Rye With A Splash SH WCX CD CDX-C RA has a long list of honorifics to her credit and HR SR Trifecta’s Legacy JH WC CD-C RL1 was invited to the NAHRA Regional Invitational Tournament in 2010.

Read more...

Linda's first performance dog, a golden retriever, SR ARCH Trifecta's Jersey Girl UD JH WC CDX-C earned 2 HIT's, 20 OTCH points, 2 UDX legs and a first in Utility B before having to retire at 9 1/2. ARCH Murphy RL3 CDX-H was her mixed breed dog who earned his CDX title at the age of 11.

Linda has studied and trained with some of the most accomplished and well known obedience and field trainers in the country.

Linda conducts workshops throughout the country and her articles have appeared in national publications.


Contact Linda at .


Training Philosophy


There is no 'one size fits all' training when it comes to performance. Read more...

Each dog and each handler are different but one thing remains true; whatever the sport, success depends on relationship. Linda incorporates Janice Gunn's Power Play method in her obedience and rally classes. Power Play teaches you how to get and keep your dog engaged with you. Power Play uses food as a teaching tool that is easily phased out because your dog learns that interacting with YOU is the best reward of all. The results are happy, upbeat, focused dogs in the ring .

Linda has been greatly influenced by Pat Nolan in her approach to teaching retrievers the skills needed for success in the field; break each skill into its basic components, teach the dog what to do and how to do it and always set the dog up for success. The results are confident, capable, and successful retrievers doing what they love most.

It's relationship building at its best.

What We Do

Simply put, we help you achieve your goals and we make training an enjoyable experience for you and your dog!


" I have trained with Linda for six years. In that time, I have learned a great deal from her about dogs, dog training, and preparing for competition. She walked me through my "first competition dog" jitters and always found positive and creative ways to train my very soft Golden. We went from a Novice A dog with a Novice A handler right through to earning our OTCH last December! Linda was a VERY BIG part of our success!"

Mary Meila & Indy, Maddie, Toby, Ben ×
"Linda has a way of inspiring you to try different venues and keep going onward and upward. She is always there to support you." ×

"I want to thank you for your classes --- they were instrumental in Fly getting the perfect score or 100 and 1st place over 34 entries ----YEAH"

Sandi Ver Sprill ×

"Linda has a talent for bringing out the best in a team... she has a unique style with all kinds of tricks up her sleeve... I do not have 'just a dog' anymore, I have a partner."

"Linda can have a whole class in front of her, yet she is still able to provide for individual skill development. We couldn't be happier!... Her dedication to her students is abounding. A skill can always be taught, but the mutual respect, the human-animal bond that has developed through our training happened as a result of our training with Linda. She is always "proud of your accomplishments" no matter what happened! We have been training with Linda since December 2007... and will continue... Thank you Linda!"

Maureen McEntee & Jenna

"I'm an active Labrador girl who needs to be, well, active! I am having so much fun now winning Rally OBEDIENCE Titles - yes me! I love my teacher Linda (who has really been training my Mom how to handle me!)... and Mom is doing a great job. I get so excited when "it's time to go to school" because learning with Linda is very fun and rewarding. Thanks Linda, for bringing out the best in me!"

Love and licks!

Hobbyhorse Jersey Girl "Jenna" RN, RA, RL1, RL2, RL1X

×