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Bonnie McDonald, Chief Training Officer

Student comment: There are great “Handlers” who “teach” and there are great “Teachers” who are also “great handlers”. Bonnie is a natural teacher with the ability to pass on the knowledge she possesses in a way that benefits all individuals and their dogs.

Raised an active horsewoman (including hunter jumping, equitation & dressage), her early activity with dogs was limited to some obedience and conformation showing with the family’s collies. In 1976 Bonnie began teaching Obedience Classes for the Parks Department and the Tampa Bay German Shepherd Dog Club. Her involvement with Agility started shortly after its introduction in the Tampa Bay Area in the early 1990’s. Bonnie has titled several dogs through the top levels in AKC & UKC & had to retire her GSD “Sierra” (9 yrs young! Still competing in AKC) before completing her ADCH with USDAA. Sierra did earn the MR title and was one leg short for all of the other games with very limited trialing. Before retirement from USDAA “Sierra” qualified for the finals in both the Grand Prix and Steeplechase two consecutive years at the ages of 6 & 7! She qualified for the DAM team tournament finals as well at age 8 and earned her AKC MACH at age 8 1/2! Along the way Sierra also earned her AKC HX & UD (with UDX legs) and her RE. She had conformation wins owner handled out of the puppy & Novice classes. She also earned her UKC UACHX, CDX (with UUD legs and plans to finish), is Cadaver & Narcotics Certified, is trained through a Schutzhund 1, has a BH, AD, WD, TC, TDI, many NADAC titles & is a working Service Dog. Other accomplishments belong to beloved companions who wait at the Rainbow Bridge. These include (12/12/92-8/5/05) German Shepherd “Bear”, the first German Shepherd to attain the MX title in the Southeast US as well as the first GSD in Florida to earn any AKC & UKC Agility titles. Bear also earned an AD in USDAA (at 30”! She was barely 21”) UACHX & UCDX in UKC, HT & PT herding titles, AKC CDX, TDI, Bonnie’s first Service Dog & TC. She was retired early from competition due to a serious cruciate injury. Belgian Malinois “Jazz” (2/14/97-8/28/04) was owner handled to a her AKC Breed Championship, also earned her AKC MX, MXJ, USDAA AD, P2, TC, TDI and UKC UACHX. She was just starting obedience when tragically lost in a freak drowning accident.

While Agility is certainly a passion, Bonnie also believes in the “Total Dog” concept. She trains her own dogs in multiple venues and dog sports as reflected by the many titles her dogs have earned. Currently, in addition to Sierra (above) Bonnie is training and handling the following dogs:

Shetland Sheepdog "Speed", 20 months, competing in agility since mid May 2005.  Currently has MX, MXJ, 5 QQs, 200+ points, RN and is actively training in herding;  Belgian Malinois "Dancer" (Jazz Daughter), OA, OAJ on "agility break", herding and starting obedience; Belgian Malinois "Rave" (Jazz Daughter home since last year), coming out this fall in agility, obedience, Rally and Schutzhund and lastly, new GSD "Cadence" (dob 5/5/5!) will do it all, and do it well!  Look for her late next year!  Bonnie also successfully handlers her son's BC "Hailey" when he is off on a Judging assignment.

A gifted Instructor, Bonnie has an intuitive ability to apply appropriate learning styles to individuals. This allows many to succeed simply by presenting the material in a better light geared specifically for that individual, their learning style and that of their dog. The success of Bonnie’s methods is best shown by the many accomplishments of her students including titles too numerous to mention, earned by dogs of all groups & by handlers of all ages & abilities! Visit the “Our Students” page to see just a few of the many who have accomplished so much! (check back! it will be up and running by the end of the summer, 05!)

Bonnie is an AKC, UKC, USDAA Agility Judge and a WWKC Obedience & Rally Judge. She has served as past President of the Tampa Bay German Shepherd Dog Club, was Training Director for several years for The Dog Training Club Of Tampa as well as having served on both club’s boards. She is an active writer and has published articles in National publications and currently writes a column for the American Belgian Malinois Clubs Bi-Monthly publication, The Performer. She has been a member of NADOI and ADPT for many years and holds many other memberships in National Organizations. Currently training dogs full time since 1992, Bonnie is also a Registered RN/Paramedic and is retired from the US ARMY as a former Warrant Officer and Helicopter Pilot. Prior to serving in the Army Bonnie was the first woman to graduate from Ocala Fire College and worked for a year as a Firefighter/EMT in the mid 1970’s.

Quite artistic, Bonnie loves to draw, paint, and create elegant jewelry, ceramics and more in her very limited spare time. She once operated her own photo business and is still an avid photographer. Bonnie plays Piano along with many other musical instruments including brass, woodwind and percussion. Many years ago she played keyboard and sang vocals with a music group. This artistic passion is probably what gives Bonnie her ability to read people and dogs so well along with her education in teaching and behavior studies. She successfully home-schooled two sons through High School. Her son Daniel is in completing College (read Daniel’s Bio in this section) and teaches for Bonjon. He is the youngest male to become a judge for USDAA. Bonnie is also a certified advanced/nitrox scuba diver and enjoys sailing, roller blading, hiking & kayaking.