AMADO — Ayda Sandoval lives among dogs and describes herself as the "top dog" in her home.
Sandoval's family consists of 13 dogs — six Chihuahuas, two Labradors and five border collies.
"They know I am the top dog and they show me respect," said Sandoval, 34, who moved from Brownsville, Texas, to Southern Arizona in 1997.
When not training her dogs in obedience or in dance, she is working with other dogs and their owners, or at the Santa Cruz Humane Society in Patagonia. She runs a six-week obedience program there.
Sandoval works mostly in the Sahuarita, Nogales, Patagonia, Río Rico and Green Valley areas.
During the summer, Sandoval immerses her life full-time in working with animals. But during the school year, she cuts back because she has a full load as an English teacher at Río Rico High School, where she also is the adviser for the K-9 Club.
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She founded the club and teaches students about dog appreciation, grooming, training and breeds. Students bring their dogs each Friday after school to the club meeting.
Last week at her home, Sandoval worked with a 3-year-old Cardigan Welsh corgi named Bob. "Bob needs to learn socialization skills and to be calmer," said Sandoval. "I am teaching him obedience skills, and how to focus. He needs to learn this before we move on to dancing skills."
Rori Wailes, Bob's owner, is hoping that Bob can learn an Elvis Presley tune, possibly "All Shook Up."
Sandoval also is working with her dog Caballo, a 2-year-old border collie mix who she began training when he was 12 weeks old. She adopted him from FAIR, the Foundation for Animals in Risk, a nonprofit animal-rescue organization.
Caballo, an obedient dog who can open doors, receives 40 minutes of dance lessons daily. Sandoval breaks the lessons into three sessions, the first beginning at 5:30 a.m., then another in the afternoon, and the final one at 9 p.m.
She has Caballo in training and hopes to enter him into dance competition next summer in the category of beginner canine freestyle. The performance can be from one to two minutes.
"Caballo knows 40 commands and loves to dance 'Banda Dominguera' by Grupo Control," said Sandoval.
The fast-paced cumbia has Caballo turning, and moving back and forth on his hind legs while his two front paws rest on Sandoval's lower back. He also walks between Sandoval's legs.
In this number, Caballo would wear a red, white and green scarf around his neck, and Sandoval would dress in a a custom-made suit with the same colors.
Or, Caballo may dance a fast-paced mariachi tune by Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan. Caballo could wear a black scarf around his neck and Sandoval may dress in a black charro outfit.
"Caballo is very coordinated, but he needs to get comfortable around crowds, noise and other dogs," said Sandoval, who has taken dog obedience and dog dance classes with Janet Galante and Loren Jensen-Carter, respectively. She also has picked up tips from reading books and studying videotapes.
In addition to Caballo, the dog trainer is gearing up to enroll México and Corazón, 7-week-old border collies, in an obedience class for puppies. "I hope to get them ready for dance competition next year, too," Sandoval said. "I like their energy. Their energy is crazy. It is like mine."
DANCING DOGS
• Ayda Sandoval, an English teacher at Río Rico High School, is planning to become certified this summer as a professional dog trainer from Animal Behavior College in Northridge, Calif.
• In addition to teaching obedience skills, she teaches the pooches how to dance. Classes begin at $35 an hour. Sandoval, who lives in Amado, can be reached at 1-520-591-2208.
