What makes Prodigy Pups Dog Training Different?  The answer is in the small one on one training you and your dog receive.  Dog training working on the idea that quality, in your training, is better than quantity of people walking through the doors.  Prodigy Pups does not have a large facility where you and the dogs get lost in the numbers.  Instead we are a small business that works on dog training out of our home and on location through out the Twin Cities and Central Minnesota.  Each program is tailored towards you and your dogs specific needs.

Christa Malinski is Prodigy Pups Dog Training’s owner/trainer/CEO for the last 7 years.

Christa came into Prodigy Pups with many years of experience training dogs in many different venues including but not limited to Obedience, Flyball, Nosework, Barn Hunt, Whippet Racing and more.  With over 20 years of working with dogs in many different venues and situations has allowed Christa to learn new training techniques for you and your dog.

Christa also has volunteered for numerous Humane Societies and rescue groups over the last 20 years.  She has fostered numbers of dogs, cats, rabbits and more giving them a second chance.  Christa still works with a number of local Humane Societies and Rescue’s fostering dogs occasionally, giving training advice, and helping out the new owners as needed.

Before becoming a trainer Christa worked for 15 years as a veterinary technician working not only in day practice but also in emergency and critical care during that time.

Christa owns a pack of dogs including Whippets, Border Collies, an Australian Kelpie and a Chihuahua mix.

In her free time Christa enjoys baking, camping, birdwatching and taking pictures of nature.

Christa has experience training dogs of all ages, breeds and behavior types and would love to work with your dog.  

If you would like more information please call 320-316-3787 or email at [email protected]

Becky has been with Prodigy Pups Dog Training since 2019.  Becky is the Puppy Board and Train extraordinaire and does board and trains for older puppies as well.   Becky lives in the Twin Cities area so for all of those living in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area you are most likely going to see Becky at some point in time.

Becky came to Prodigy Pups with lots of dog experience including 20+ years of grooming, which she still does, as well as being a vet tech since 2016.  Becky has also been training dogs for many different dog sports for over 15 years including but not limited to Flyball, Nosework, Weight Pull, Agility, Rally and Canine Ninja.  Becky has also trained dogs to go on for advertising for Target, Kohl’s, Chuck & Don’s and more.

Becky has also fostered hundreds of dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, and pocket pets over the years through many different humane societies and rescues organizations.

Becky has two small children, which keep her busy, but in her free time her and her family enjoy going to the cabin, going to flea markets and antique stops, and cooking.  Her husband and kids are an integral part of the training with the little ones always wanting to help.

Becky’s furry family consist of a Pitbull Terrier Mix, A Feist Terrier, and a Lurcher Mix who all play some sort of dog sport.

Look for Becky if you are doing any of the Private Lessons or Board and Train Programs especially in the Twin Cities Area.

Manda started Prodigy Pups Dog Training the summer of 2021.  Manda does the Private Lessons and Board and Train Programs in the St. Cloud area.

Manda like all the other employees comes to Prodigy Pups Dog Training with many years of dog experience before coming here.  Manda had the opportunity to watch her dad train K-9 officers so started watching dog training at a very young age.

Manda has worked as a groomer at a vet office for over 20 years and still does.

Manda has trained her dogs in a number of venues including all levels of obedience and agility.  Her daughter now trains Freddy their shih/Lhasa mix for agility.  Although Manda and her daughter do not trial their dogs they do continue going to classes to keep up on their skills and as a bonding experience for them and their dogs.

Manda like all of us also has fostered dogs through different human societies and rescue organizations throughout the years.  This is also were Manda found out she loved training the dogs that came into foster care.  This love of helping out the dogs that had no skills and making them more adoptable transferred into helping owners with their own dogs and helping them keep them in their homes in the first place.

Manda is married with 3 kids and 4 dogs that share her house.  Her dogs include Riley (German Shepherd/Malinois), Leroy (German Shepherd), Rick (Lab) and Freddy (Shih/Lhasa).

In her free time Manda enjoys running, camping, gardening, canning, and hiking.  Manda also volunteers for pet therapy at the nursing homes.  A lot of time is spent outdoors for her and her family enjoying nature both in the summer and winter.

Laine started Prodigy Pups Dog Training January of 2022 and is playing an active role with the Board and Train dogs as well as Private Lessons in both the St. Cloud and Twin Cities locations.

Like all of us at Prodigy Pups Laine has actively volunteered with many different rescues and shelters since 2016.  She has fostered a variety of different breeds over the years but tends to gravitate towards the dogs who have nervous fearful behaviors and are less likely to be adopted.  Training these dogs and building up their confidence, then seeing them succeed, is what made her fall in love with training.

Laine has worked at a dog boarding and daycare facility for a number of years.  There she had tons of hands on experience with dogs, how they communicate with each other, and handling skills with them.  She also did an internship at Valor K9 Academy in Boise, ID for balanced dog training before coming to Prodigy Pups.

Laine continues to train her own dogs in many different activities including nosework, agility, weight pull, and therapy work.  She also trains her dogs and cat for Target ads.

In her free time, Laine enjoys hiking, paddle boarding, biking, and pet photography.

Laine’s dogs include Buddy (Doberman/Pitbull) and Buzz (Pitbull/Husky).  Glo the cat is also always present to lend a helping paw.