Changing Perceptions, One AmStaff at a Time

Professional AKC American Staffordshire Terrier Training & Agility Excellence

Meet Ellie Meet Bo My Mission
#8
Fastest AmStaff (US)
23+
Years Experience
Top 5
2026 Agility Invitational
Multiple
Championships

My Mission

Transforming perceptions of the American Staffordshire Terrier breed through excellence, dedication, and unwavering commitment

The American Staffordshire Terrier is a remarkable breed – intelligent, loyal, and incredibly capable. Through my work with AmStaffs since 2001, including my first three dogs as rescues and now with my first AKC breed standard AmStaff, Ellie, I'm committed to showcasing the true potential of these amazing dogs.

Excellence in Training

Foundation through advanced methods in agility, Rally obedience, FCAT, Scent Work, and performance sports developed over 23+ years

AKC Champion Success

Multiple titles and certifications demonstrating breed capability and performance excellence

Community Leadership

Volunteer Director of Agility at Car-Dun-Al Obedience Dog Training Club, Huntley IL

Meet Ellie

Tradewind's Gone In 60 Seconds BN AX OAJ FCAT SWN SCNE SINE SBNE SCA SIA SBA CGCA CGCU TKN ATT

Our old American Staffordshire Terrier champion

Ellie - American Staffordshire Terrier Champion

Ellie - AKC AmStaff Champion

Ellie dock diving
Ellie at Fast Cat event
Ellie with awards
Ellie with championship awards
Ellie running Fast Cat
Ellie celebrating championship

Competitive Achievements

  • 🏆
    Multiple AKC Championship Titles
    Elite performance across multiple disciplines
  • ⚡
    8th Fastest AmStaff in the United States
    Fast CAT suffix title achiever - 100-yard sprint racing national ranking
  • 🎯
    AKC Agility Nationals Invitational Qualifier
    Technical handling skills in jumps, weave poles, tunnels, and contact obstacles
  • 🌊
    Dock Diving Competitor
    Demonstrating athleticism and drive
  • 🔍
    AKC Scent Work Competitor
    Detection training in container, interior, and exterior search elements

Certifications

Canine Good Citizen (CGC)
AKC Certified
Certified
Farm Dog Certified (FDC)
AKC Certified
Certified

Bloodline & Heritage

Ellie's grandmother and mother - Champion AmStaff bloodline

Ellie's Grandmother (Kai) & Mother (Luna)

Champion Bloodline

Boston, Massachusetts

Tradewind AmStaffs

Ellie comes from Tradewind AmStaffs, a prestigious breeder outside of Boston, Massachusetts. Her pedigree features a remarkable lineage of AKC performance and conformation champions, combining the athleticism required for top-level competitive sports with the structural excellence recognized in conformation shows.

Our Journey to Boston

Bringing Ellie home was an unforgettable adventure. We booked a one-way flight from Chicago to Boston, filled with anticipation and excitement. After landing, we rented a van and made our way to meet Ellie for the very first time – a moment that changed our lives forever. While in the Boston area, we spent precious time with Shauna's family, who all live in the region, introducing them to the newest member of our pack.

The journey home became a three-day road trip filled with memories. We took the scenic route back to Chicago, stopping at various points of interest along the way. From her very first car ride, Ellie showed her natural love for travel – settling in comfortably, watching the world pass by, and already feeling right at home with us. That cross-country adventure together was the perfect beginning to our life with Ellie.

Boston, MA Breeder Champion Bloodline Performance & Conformation

Meet Bo

PACH Bo Levesque MXPS MJP5 PAX2 BCAT SWN SCM SIE SBA TKN

Retired Champion | Enjoying His Golden Years at the Cabin

Bo - Retired American Staffordshire Terrier champion enjoying retirement

Bo - Retired AmStaff Champion

Bo with competition awards
Bo celebrating championship
Bo enjoying retirement at the golf course

A Well-Earned Retirement

Bo is a retired champion who gave his all in agility, scent work, and obedience competitions. After years of dedication and competitive excellence, he's now enjoying a peaceful retirement doing what he loves most – taking long walks on the wooded trails at our cabin.

His athletic spirit and joyful energy showed me the performance potential of the breed, inspiring my journey into competitive dog sports. Now, in his golden years, Bo has traded obstacle courses for forest paths, and competition rings for quiet moments in nature.

Competitive Legacy

  • 🏆
    Preferred Agility Champion (PACH)
    Elite level agility competitor with Master Excellent titles in both Standard and Jumpers
  • ⚡
    Fast CAT Competitor (BCAT)
    High-speed 100-yard sprint racing demonstrating natural speed and drive
  • 🔍
    Scent Work Master
    Master-level container detection, Elite interior searches, and Advanced buried scent work
  • 🎭
    Trick Dog Performer (TKN)
    Skilled in entertaining tricks showcasing intelligence and training bond
  • 🌲
    Trail Enthusiast
    Now enjoys peaceful walks through wooded cabin trails in well-earned retirement

In Loving Memory

Honoring the three rescue AmStaffs who started the journey and forever changed my life

Before Ellie, my journey with American Staffordshire Terriers began with three remarkable rescue dogs. Each one taught me invaluable lessons about resilience, loyalty, and the true character of this misunderstood breed. They were my teachers, my companions, and the foundation of everything I do today.

Dazy - American Staffordshire Terrier rescue who started Shauna's journey

Dazy

First Rescue • Teacher of Patience

My first AmStaff rescue who opened my eyes to the incredible potential of this breed. Dazy taught me patience, understanding, and the profound impact of proper training and love. Her ability to shred the bark off a log and find a ball thrown into the woods was unmatched.

Duke - Gentle American Staffordshire Terrier with loyal heart

Duke

Gentle Soul • Loyal Heart

Duke embodied the gentle nature and unwavering loyalty that makes AmStaffs such remarkable companions. His calm demeanor and devoted spirit touched everyone he met. He loved the water and we fulfilled his last wish to swim in the ocean.

❤️

Their Legacy Lives On

Everything I learned from Dazy and Duke paved the way for my work with Bo and Ellie. Their resilience in overcoming difficult pasts, their capacity for love and forgiveness, and their natural abilities inspired me to dedicate my life to changing perceptions of this remarkable breed. They are forever in my heart.

About Shauna Lindelof

Professional Dog Trainer | Agility Specialist | AmStaff Advocate Since 2001

23+ Years of AmStaff Dedication

My journey with American Staffordshire Terriers began in 2001, driven by a passion to showcase the true character of this misunderstood breed. My first three AmStaffs were rescues, each teaching me invaluable lessons about the breed's resilience, intelligence, and unwavering loyalty. These experiences shaped my training philosophy and deepened my commitment to breed advocacy.

Ellie represents a new chapter in my AmStaff journey – my first AKC breed standard American Staffordshire Terrier. With her champion bloodline from a respected Boston-area breeder, Ellie embodies the perfect combination of breed standard excellence and exceptional performance capability. Together, we're proving what AmStaffs can achieve at the highest levels of canine competition.

Why AmStaffs?

American Staffordshire Terriers are intelligent, athletic, and deeply devoted companions. Through training and competitive success, I demonstrate that breed stereotypes don't define individual character. Each championship, each title, and each positive interaction helps change public perception and showcases the remarkable potential of these dogs.

Community Leadership & Involvement

Currently serving as volunteer Director of Agility on the board of directors for Car-Dun-Al Obedience Dog Training Club in Huntley, IL (3 years). Through volunteer service, I promote the club by attending events throughout the Chicagoland area, showcasing Ellie's talents, obedience, and the exceptional results achieved through proper training and skilled handler techniques.

  • Develop and maintain foundation agility through advanced competition training programs
  • Coordinate AKC agility trials, Rally obedience events, and training clinics
  • Mentor beginner handlers in technical handling skills and course navigation
  • Support multiple performance sports including FCAT, Scent Work, and Conformation
  • Promote positive breed representation and welcome all breeds to competitive dog sports
  • Attend community events to promote the club and demonstrate elite-level training and handler skills with Ellie

Volunteer Commitment

All board service and club promotion activities are performed on a volunteer basis. I donate my time attending demonstrations, trials, and community events to showcase the club's training programs and the remarkable capabilities of properly trained dogs, regardless of breed.

Training Disciplines & Expertise

Agility

Foundation through advanced training in obstacle courses including jumps, weave poles, tunnels, and contact equipment. Compete at AKC trials and clinics with technical handling skills.

Rally Obedience

Precision heelwork, figure-eight patterns, and course navigation through Rally signs. Building teamwork from Novice through Advanced levels.

Fast Cat (FCAT)

Competitive 100-yard sprint racing measuring speed and drive. Training for top national rankings and suffix title achievements.

Scent Work

AKC Scent Work detection training utilizing natural canine abilities. Building confidence through container, interior, and exterior searches.

Dock Diving

Distance jumping competition into water for athletic excellence, building drive and confidence in water-based sports.

Obedience & Conformation

Traditional obedience training including heelwork, recalls, and stays. Breed standard presentation and conformation handling for AKC shows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about AmStaffs, training, and our journey

Q: Are American Staffordshire Terriers aggressive?

No. American Staffordshire Terriers are not inherently aggressive. Like any breed, their temperament is largely determined by genetics, socialization, and training. AmStaffs are known for their loyalty, intelligence, and eagerness to please. With proper training and socialization from an early age, they make excellent family companions.

Throughout my 23+ years working exclusively with AmStaffs, I've found them to be incredibly trainable, affectionate, and stable. Ellie's success in earning her Canine Good Citizen certification and competing in various sports demonstrates the breed's true character.

Q: What makes American Staffordshire Terriers good at agility and performance sports?

AmStaffs possess a unique combination of traits that make them exceptional performance dogs across multiple AKC sports:

  • Athletic Build: Muscular yet agile, with excellent power-to-weight ratio perfect for agility course navigation and Fast CAT racing
  • Intelligence: Quick learners who excel at technical handling skills, Rally sign interpretation, and scent detection work
  • Drive & Motivation: Natural enthusiasm and desire to work with their handler in both trials and training environments
  • Trainability: Eager to please and highly responsive to positive reinforcement methods used in obedience and Rally
  • Stamina: Impressive endurance for sustained performance across multiple runs at trials and clinics
  • Versatility: Excel in diverse sports from precision obedience to high-speed coursing and detection work

Ellie's qualification for AKC Agility Nationals Invitational, ranking as the 8th fastest AmStaff in the US, and multiple title achievements demonstrate the breed's exceptional athletic and competitive potential.

Q: How did you get started training American Staffordshire Terriers?

My journey began in 2001 when I rescued my first AmStaff. I quickly fell in love with the breed's character, intelligence, and potential. My first three AmStaffs were all rescues, and each taught me valuable lessons about the breed's capabilities and the importance of proper training and socialization.

Working with rescue dogs gave me deep insight into how environment, training, and patience can transform a dog's behavior and capabilities. This experience shaped my training philosophy and fueled my passion for breed advocacy.

Ellie is my first AKC breed standard AmStaff from a champion bloodline. Her success represents the culmination of over two decades of dedication to understanding and showcasing this remarkable breed.

Q: What awards and titles has Ellie achieved?

Ellie holds an impressive collection of AKC titles spanning multiple competitive disciplines. Her full title is: Tradewind's Gone In 60 Seconds BN AX OAJ FCAT SWN SCNE SINE SBNE SCA SIA SBA CGCA CGCU TKN ATT

Title Acronyms Explained:

  • BN - Beginner Novice (Rally Obedience)
  • AX - Agility Excellent
  • OAJ - Open Agility Jumper
  • FCAT - Fast CAT (Coursing Ability Test)
  • SWN - Scent Work Novice
  • SCNE - Scent Work Container Novice Elite
  • SINE - Scent Work Interior Novice Elite
  • SBNE - Scent Work Buried Novice Elite
  • SCA - Scent Work Container Advanced
  • SIA - Scent Work Interior Advanced
  • SBA - Scent Work Buried Advanced
  • CGCA - Canine Good Citizen Advanced
  • CGCU - Canine Good Citizen Urban
  • TKN - Trick Dog Novice
  • ATT - AKC Temperament Test

Key accomplishments include:

  • Agility Excellence: Qualified for AKC Agility Nationals Invitational with technical mastery of jumps, weave poles, tunnels, and contact obstacles (AX, OAJ titles)
  • Speed Champion: FCAT suffix title holder, currently ranked 8th fastest AmStaff in the United States in 100-yard sprint racing
  • Scent Work Expert: Advanced level competitor in container, interior, and buried scent detection (8 scent work titles from Novice through Advanced levels)
  • Community Canine: Advanced Canine Good Citizen (CGCA) and Urban CGC (CGCU) certifications demonstrating exceptional temperament and public manners
  • Versatile Athlete: Also competes in Rally Obedience, Dock Diving, and has earned Farm Dog Certified (FDC) and Trick Dog Novice (TKN) titles
  • Temperament Tested: Passed the rigorous AKC Temperament Test (ATT), confirming stable and sound behavior

These 15 AKC titles represent thousands of hours of foundation training, trial experience, clinic participation, and the strong bond between handler and dog in competitive performance sports across 7 different disciplines.

Q: What is Ellie's bloodline and breeding?

Ellie comes from Tradewind AmStaffs, a prestigious breeder outside of Boston, Massachusetts, specializing in AKC American Staffordshire Terriers. Her pedigree features a remarkable lineage of AKC performance and conformation champions, combining the athleticism required for top-level competitive sports with the structural excellence recognized in conformation shows.

This dual focus on performance (agility, speed, working ability) and conformation (breed standard structure and appearance) means Ellie has the athletic capability for elite competition while maintaining excellent breed type. Her pedigree includes dogs proven in both the show ring and performance venues, demonstrating that AmStaffs can excel in all aspects of AKC competition.

Our Journey to Boston

Bringing Ellie home was an unforgettable adventure. We booked a one-way flight from Chicago to Boston, filled with anticipation and excitement. After landing, we rented a van and made our way to meet Ellie for the very first time – a moment that changed our lives forever. While in the Boston area, we spent precious time with Shauna's family, who all live in the region, introducing them to the newest member of our pack.

The journey home became a three-day road trip filled with memories. We took the scenic route back to Chicago, stopping at various points of interest along the way. From her very first car ride, Ellie showed her natural love for travel – settling in comfortably, watching the world pass by, and already feeling right at home with us.

Q: Do you offer training services?

While my primary focus is on training and competing with my own dogs and serving as Director of Agility for Car-Dun-Al Obedience Dog Training Club in Huntley, IL, I'm always happy to discuss training, share insights about AmStaffs, and provide guidance to those interested in the breed or competitive dog sports.

Feel free to reach out via email at with questions about the breed, training approaches, or getting started in agility and other performance sports.

What People Say

Testimonials from the Chicagoland agility community

5/5

"Shauna is an incredible instructor for beginner agility! She has a gift for breaking down complex skills into easy-to-understand steps. My dog and I were complete novices, and within weeks we were running courses with confidence. Her enthusiasm is contagious - she doesn't just teach agility, she gets you genuinely excited about performance work. I can't recommend her enough for anyone starting their agility journey in the Chicagoland area!"

JM

Jennifer M.

Chicagoland Area

5/5

"As a handler new to performance dog sports, I was intimidated by the idea of agility training. Shauna completely changed that for me! Her positive teaching style and clear communication made learning fun for both me and my dog. She has a real talent for reading dogs and handlers, meeting you where you are, and building your skills progressively. Thanks to her guidance, we've discovered a passion for agility we never knew we had. She's doing amazing work at Car-Dun-Al!"

RC

Robert C.

Chicagoland Area

Get In Touch

Questions about AmStaffs, training, or want to learn more about our journey?

Email Me

Whether you're an AmStaff owner, interested in agility training, or simply want to learn more about this amazing breed, I'd love to hear from you.

Passionate about changing perceptions of the American Staffordshire Terrier breed through excellence, dedication, and competitive success.