Brian training during one of the Gyes clinics held at Dog Works
Brian began competing in dog agility in 1997 with Satchmo, his Chow-mix. Satchmo was not the most motivated or focused agility dog on the planet. Brian dedicated himself to mastering focus, drive, motivation, and ring-stress. In 2003, Brian adopted Divot, a three year old Border Collie.
Brian found that all his focus, drive, and ring-stress training didn’t necessarily help him get a border collie around the course clean, and subsequently dedicated himself to mastering agility handling. To his surprise, and eternal gratitude, he found that the same clear, consistent handling cues that were required for his border collie, also helped motivate his chow-mix.
Brian has been teaching agility and pet behavior at Dogworks in lovely western North Carolina since 2003. In 2006, Brian left his full time engineering job to devote his time to dog training. Brian is a graduate of Jean Donaldson’s Academy for Dog Trainers.
Brian has placed top level titles (Masters, Excellent, Elite) on four dogs. Brian and Divot were on the first place DAM team at the North Central Regional in 2007, as well as being Grand Prix Semifinalists at the USDAA Nationals in 2007. Divot also competed in the 2005 USDAA Nationals. In 2007 Brian began trialing Lightning Bug, owned by Dogworks’ owner Maureen Robinson. Brian and Lightning Bug placed second in the USDAA Southeast Regional Performance National Standard 16” class, and took second place with Meryl Sheard and Blitz in the 2007 USDAA Nationals PVP Team Relay Finals. Brian and Bug competed at the 2008 AKC Nationals in Tulsa, taking fourth place in the ISC team events on Friday, with the top score from North Carolina.
Brian has trained extensively with Jean Donaldson, Ronda Carter, Nancy Gyes, Susan Garrett, Greg Derrett, Mary Ellen Barry, and Theresa Rector, and has studied with numerous others. Brian is available for private consultations and seminars, as well as his regular teaching schedule. Brian is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer and member of the Association for Pet Dog Trainers.Click here to email Brian
Click here to see one of Bian's runs in the USDAA Nationals held in Scottsdale, AZ, Nov. 2005.
