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Formal obedience skills are built on a solid foundation of engagement, motivation and teamwork. Whether your goals are a Companion Dog (CD) title or an Obedience Trial Championship (OTCH), we will work on the skills necessary for you and your dog to succeed.

I have competed in dog obedience for over twenty years and have worked with many different teams to help them achieve their goals. Of the five dogs I have personally competed with in the past, five earned Utility Dog titles, while two earned multiple OTCH titles, Obedience Grand Master (OGM) titles, and are the highest point earners in their respective breeds (German Shepherd Dog and English Springer Spaniel).

My current dogs:

RemE - English Springer Spaniel

He loves agility and has earned three AKC Master Agility Championships (MACHs) and is working on his fourth.

He easily obtained his Utility Dog title in obedience and is currently working on his OTCH. He has all of his wins and we are plugging away at points.

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Zoey - Belgian Malinois

She is working on her first MACH and is fast, furious and a little crazy! I have to handle her completely different than RemE and we are learning what works best for her in the ring.

She came out in the Novice obedience ring in May 2024, earning two first places her first weekend out. To top it off, she was in a run off for High in Trial (against RemE) on her very first day in the ring! She finished her CD with another first place and then completed her CDX title over a 3-day weekend in Cheyenne, with two first places, one second place (to RemE) and one High in Trial. She is trained through Utility and loves the game.

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My obedience goals are to have a happy, motivated dog in the ring, while maintaining the required criteria to achieve the scores desired. While all handlers have different criteria for their dogs depending on their goals, it is our responsibility as handlers to keep that criteria as clear as possible for our dogs. My job as an instructor is to help you do that.

The foundation skills for formal obedience start early and are ongoing throughout the dog’s career. Also problem solving and flexibility is critical in formal obedience, as all dogs (and humans!) learn differently. Together, we will use a motivational approach to teach your dog the required skills to achieve your obedience goals.

Achievements:
  • Obedience Trial Championships on two dogs, one earning eight Championships, the other earning nine
  • Three Master Agility Championships on one dog, currently working on his fourth MACH
  • Multiple parent club awards (GSDCA and ESSFTA) and specialty wins in both obedience and Rally
  • Multiple invitations to the National Obedience Invitational with four different dogs
  • Over 150 obedience High in Trial and High Combined awards


To book with Shannon:
Phone (voice or text): 904-210-4227
Email: Shannon@CanineConnectionDTC.com