Elaine is a successful dog trainer and competitor as well as a professional wedding photographer. She shares her journey in dog agility as well as what led her to pursuing her passion of photography as a profession. Her story telling is remarkable and I am honored to have had her as a guest. Enjoy!

Dog Handlers please consider joining the Mental Management Solutions for Dog Handlers Patreon Channel where Heather Sumlin, Barbara Currier, and Teah Anders share Mental Management tips and tricks for handlers. We also added an extended interview with Elaine that you will not want to miss!!   / mentalmanagementsolutionsforhandlers  

Women who want to learn more from Heather Sumlin and our guests may also enjoy the She Wins Solutions for Women Patreon Channel -   / shewins_solutionsandstories7  

Find Heather Sumlin

Patreon -   / shewins_solutionsandstories7  

Website - https://www.heathersumlin.com/

Instagram -   / heathersumlin  

FaceBook -   / heathersumlinmentalcoach  

Find Elaine Welbourn

FaceBook -   / photos_by  

Instagram -   / elaine.welbourn  

Photography Website - https://www.flashbackphoto.ca/

Elaine's Bio: Elaine's love of Dog Agility started from the highchair. As a toddler she sat feeding Goldfish crackers to the family Springer Spaniel while her mother walked the course. At the age of 10 years while most of her classmates played hockey and baseball she competed as a junior handler with a beautiful Rough Collie, “Shady", and taught private lessons in the sport from her backyard. In high school Elaine found a new passion for digital arts and photography which lead her to complete a university degree in Media Communications and build a successful wedding photography business.

"Life Turns Corners"

In 2016 Elaine purchased her first home and the first dog of her own -- a Shetland Sheepdog she registered under this name to honour her mother's favourite words of wisdom. “Ryder” inspired her to come back to the dog world and reignite her passion for training and competing first and foremost in Agility, but also in the sports of Scent Detection, CKC Obedience, Dock Diving, and Rally Obedience.

Later Elaine’s family grew as she added rescue mixed breed “Tanner”, sweet-natured Shetland Sheepdog “Maverick”, and wild-child Australian Koolie “Zephyr” to the pack.

In 2020 amidst the Covid-19 pandemic Elaine connected with a local puppy owner looking for advice raising her first sports dog. Online training sessions almost every day grew into a treasured friendship and the inspiration for Dream Higher Agility Coaching. Now in 2024 Elaine coaches an incredible group of dedicated, passionate dog handlers who make her life more fulfilled just by existing in it. Her students range from excited pet owners wanting to build a stronger relationship with their dogs to several currently working toward the goal of competing at national and international events.

Of course, as ‘life turns corners’, Elaine competed for Agility Team Canada in England while eagerly awaiting another new addition; her puppy “Luca” who joined the family in August 2024.