Contact List

I don’t remember how I found GSDOC but I do remember how it felt being part of a dog community after losing my own dog. I hadn’t decided if I wanted another dog at that time, but I came and watched some classes and attended a meeting. There was a comfort in watching people and their dogs working together. It was a partnership I knew I would miss if I didn’t let myself love another dog. I now enjoy the love and high energy of two wonderful English Setter girls Bella and Poppy. Joining the club was an easy choice for me. Having the opportunity to serve on the board is my way to say, thank you.

My husband and I have always had dogs. I became fascinated with Belgian Tervurens when I met my neighbor’s Terv’s 20 years ago. I am now on my fourth Terv. I am obsessed with agility. It is such a fun team sport for my dogs and me. It gives Terv’s an important job which is critical because they are such active dogs. We also do formal obedience to support living as good dog citizens in the community and it is critical for agility. I currently have Masi (2) and Ziva (5) both competing in agility and obedience. Stelvio is retired. She had an amazing agility career and still does long-pack walks.

Ashleigh Young is the 2022/23 Membership Director of GSDOC, she also is one of the volunteer class instructors for the club.  Ashleigh has two dogs currently, a 4-year-old English Springer Spaniel, Pepper who was invited to 2022 Rally Nationals and is currently ranked #1 as the longest jumping dock diving Springer Spaniel in the US! And Saint Fishtopher (Fish), an almost one-year-old rescue dog who has one eye. He holds his Canine Good Citizen and several tricks titles. He’s working towards his Novice Rally and Obedience titles.  Ashleigh has trialed and trained in CPE agility, rally, dock diving, obedience, and K9 Nose Work both personally and professionally.  Ashleigh currently works at Davis County Animal Control in Fruit Heights, Utah as the Director of Animal Care. She loves to foster challenging dogs in her free time, giving them that training that they need and seeing them bloom, eventually finding furever homes. She’s always happy to answer questions about animal shelters and has a very interesting perspective living in both worlds – the purebred, competition dog, and the rescue dog world.  Ashleigh has many topics she is passionate about that don’t include dogs (although, always up for talking about dogs!) – she is an avid knitter, and gardener, loves to bake, and is found hitting the trails most weekends with her dogs

My name is Shea Garcia, I have loved and owned dogs all my life.  I began training as a teenager with the family dogs, and after coming back to GSDOC to start training my first dog as an adult I fell in love all over again.  For the last three years, I have been a teacher’s assistant, a teacher, a Stewart, and am currently the Training director along with the teacher for our Dock Diving class.

I currently have two wonderful rescue dogs! Ash (GSD, Border collie, Australian Cattle Dog mix) who trains/competes in K9 Toss & Fetch Frisbee league, barn hunt, agility, scent work, tricks, and dock diving! And my newest rescue Ziva (Treeing Walker Coonhound, Australian Kelpie, Plott hound, Border collie mix) is working towards getting her CGC title and discovering what sports or events she likes to participate in!  My goal as a trainer is to inspire others to find that one event that their dog absolutely loves and then help them continue to build that unbreakable bond.

By day Jennifer is an elementary school teacher, but after hours she is a dedicated agility handler and trainer. In 2009, Jennifer and her dog Tucker discovered the sport of agility and never looked back.  Since then, she has trained 5 of her own dogs and countless students.  Jennifer’s varied experience has made her great at communicating and giving feedback in a kind way.  Protecting the confidence of the dogs and handlers that she teaches is Jennifer’s number one priority. She loves seeing dogs and people really click and come together as a team.

Rowan is GSDOC’s Junior board member.  Rowan is often seen assisting or teaching puppy class.  When not helping others with their dogs he is spending time with his Wheaten Terrier Saoirse.