Bonjon Shepherd Ranch

Home of Bonjon Training School


Phone: (813) 545-JUMP or (813) 961-3367

6915 Mushinski Road  Tampa FL

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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 naturally gifted teacher with the ability to pass on the knowledge she possesses in a way that benefits all individuals and their dogs.”


Raised an avid horsewoman (including hunter-jumper, equitation,  dressage & 3-day event competitions), Bonnie’s 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. 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.  Bonnie has titled several dogs through the top levels of Agility in AKC, USDAA & UKC & had Elite Titles in NADAC prior to the change in equipment and frequent and illogical change in the NADAC rules.  In addition, she has titled dogs in Obedience through Utility (in AKC & UKC), in Herding through HX, has earned Schutzhund Titles with her GSDs, trained and certified her GSD & Malinois in Cadaver & Narcotics detection, has trained SAR (and plans to return to SAR once they move to their new location), has earned Dock Dog Titles and much more.  In addition, Bonnie assists people with disabilities train and subsequently certify their canine partners as Assistance Dogs.  These partners in independence have enabled many to live independently and have accompanied their owners all over the world.

 

A gifted Instructor, Bonnie has an intuitive ability to apply appropriate learning styles to each individual and their canine partner.  This allows many to succeed simply by presenting the material in a better light geared specifically for that individual, their primary learning style and that of their dog. The success of Bonnie’s methods is best shown by the many accomplishments of her students.  This includes MAChs by dogs from every group, numerous USDAA ADCHs, several Top 5 Agility Dogs (AKC & other venues),  and other titles too numerous to mention, (again, earned by dogs of all groups and by handlers of all ages and abilities, not just shelties and border collies!)  Visit the “Our Students” page to see just a few of the many who have accomplished so much!  

 

Bonnie is an AKC, USDAA and UKC 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 and haswell served on both club’s board of directors. She is an active writer and has published articles in several National publications, is a regular contributor to Clean Run Magazine 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, truly ahead of her time for a woman in that field.

 

Quite artistic, Bonnie loves to draw, paint, write music 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, guitar and percussion. Many years ago she played keyboard and sang vocals with a Christian music group & has been a member of several Praise & Worship groups over the years. 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 a co-owner and Instructor for Bonjon. He is the youngest male to become an Agility judge for USDAA & AKC. Bonnie is also a certified advanced/nitrox scuba diver and enjoys sailing, roller blading, hiking, mountain bike riding and kayaking.  She is also a born again believer in Jesus Christ.  Bonnie lives with her husband, Bill (married since 1976), son Daniel and older son, John (who is currently in school full-time studying electrical engineering).

 

Bonnie’s Canine Partners & Their Accomplishments (present to past):

  • MACh 2 Bonjon’s Cadance Ad Traumblick, “Cadie”: RN, MXF, USDAA AAD (over ½ to ADCH), TDI, Service Dog, started SAR/Cadaver Dog Training and Splash Dog Title.  Also currently training in Freestyle & is started in Schutzhund.  #3 GSD for 2008, Finalist in AKC Invitational, currently #5 for 2009 with limited AKC showing (due to USDAA this year).  First MACh earned at 3 years and 1 week.

  • Speedoggie Power 2 Thrill Bonjon, “Thriller”: AX, OAJ, NF, USDAA AD.  This dynamic little BC (18”) is a niece to Hailey.  At less than 2 yrs she has accomplished much and is well on her  way to being a super star!  Check out links to her runs on the website. 

  • Tottakai Nikolai, “Micah”; AKC “STAR” Imported from Finland, Bonnie is currently training this 19+” one year old smooth-faced Pyrenean Shepherd in Agility.  She co-owns him with her son Daniel and the importer, Terri Walker.  When completely trained, Daniel will be the primary handler.

  • MACh 4 Himark Wiki Hoaloha Bonjon, “Speed”; CD, RN, PT, XF, TDI.  Speed currently lives with her new owner Cindy Jeffers who completed the 2nd half of her MACh 4 and earned her CD.  She is continuing to train for her CDX & UD.  Prior to moving in with Cindy, Speed was trained and ready for her Herding Started.  Speed holds the record for the youngest Sheltie to earn a MACh at just under two years of age.

  • Bonjon’s Jazzed Up OT Vitosha, “Rave”; RA, MX, MXJ, MXF, USDAA AD, TDI, Schutzhund started.  Belgian Malinois (out of Ch Jazz) Rave has many double Q’s and ½ the points for her MACh but prefers Obedience to Agility.  She is currently retired.

  • MACh, UADCHX, UCDX Majestic’s Sierra Von Bonjon , “Sierra”; UD, HX, RAE, TDI, USDAA MAD, NADAC Elite Titles, WWKC CDX, Schutzhund 1 trained, BH, AD, WD, Water Rescue trained, Service Dog, Cadaver & Narcotic Certified,  is Bonnie’s first “heart dog”.  Sierra earned her MACh at 8 ½ starting Agility well-before the title (or even JWW) was introduced.  Sierra has been a previous #1 GSD (QQs) and would’ve been invited to the AKC’s first Invitational had they not run three years behind schedule!  Sierra qualified for the PAM the first year it was introduced, already meeting ALL the requirements.  I doubt that any GSD has as many titles in so many different areas as Sierra.  Sierra won 1st’s in Conformation proving she has looks AND brains.  She placed 5th in the last Pupperoni Classic (previously Gaine’s, 1998) against many top handlers.

  • Bonjon’s Jazz Dancer OT Vitosha, “Dancer”; PT, OA, NAJ, NAP, USDAA AD, TDI,  Malinois & littermate to Rave, Dancer currently lives a life of luxury and retirement with an older couple that travels all over the USA & Canada with her along.  She is Service Dog trained and prior to moving in with her new family, she was trained and prepared for the Herding Started Title.

  • Champion, UADCHX Bonjon’s Allegro Von Metloff, “Jazz”: MX, MXJ, USDAA AD & P2, TDI.  Owner handled to her AKC breed Championship, Jazz was also trained for a Schutzhund 1.  My first Malinois, she taught me much.  She was Daniel’s first partner at an AKC National (Springfield, MA) & came in 6th with Daniel as her handler at the last Pupperoni Classic (previously Gaine’s, 1998)  She was lost in a tragic drowning accident before she could earn her MACh or advanced obedience titles.  She is greatly missed.

  • UACHX, U-CD Jendhi Shepherd’s Prominence, “Liza”; CD, CDX, NA, NAJ, HT, PT, Sch BH, TDI, also picked up some conformation wins along the way.  Lisa was a solid black GSD who taught me patience!  She was a problem solver and taught me to be a problem anticipator (and preventor!).

  • Majestic’s Geronimo Von Bonjon, “Moe”; NA, NAJ, HT, TDI, CGC and was capable of much more only Moe didn’t really see the point!  He is currently an ambassador for GSDs and a regular at the VA Hospital in Tampa.  Also solid black, Moe is a Liza son and currently is living and loved by Sally McGraw of Tampa.  Moe also gave me a daughter that also lives with Sally.  “Jesse”, a beautiful gray sable, inherited her dad’s mellow temperament and would rather be loved and give love than work.  She has shown in Rally and has earned herding titles with Sally and I had one litter which has produced some really nice obedience & agility dogs.

  • UADCHX, UCDX Heaven’s Baroness Von Bonjon, “Bear”; MX, NAJ, CDX, HT, PT, NADAC Elite Titles, NCDA Titles (the precursor to UKC) & ASCA Agility & Obedience Titles, Schutzhund 1 Trained, BH, WD, AD, USDAA AAD, my first Service Dog.  SAR trained.  Bear was a little GSD (21 1/8th) with a great big heart!  She could climb trees and would do anything you asked of her.  Born in 1992, she was sidelined from Agility early on due to a cruciate ligament injury that would never heal properly.  She was the first GSD in the Southeast USA to earn ANY Agility Title.  She also earned a few blue ribbons in the conformation ring and was from my first “home bred” litter.

  • Ivan Von Bonjon, “Ivan”.  My first solid black GSD.  Ivan taught me much about training Service Dogs.  He eventually went to live with a blind lady as her full time guide dog.  He was Bear’s dad.

  • There were many others that deserve mentioning because they all taught me much and are responsible for the trainer I am today.  Lassie was my first dog.  A Tri-colored rough collie (I know, very original!).  I was six when she was born out of a conformation litter my mother bred.  I taught her a million tricks and we were constant companions when I was growing up.  I did compete in some Jr. Handling events but never really found that very satisfying (I was “horse crazy” like so many young girls are!).  Lassie lived 13 years.  Next, and my first GSD, was Micah.  He was headed for the pound with a cast on his front leg (car chasing!).  I was a Jr. in High School and had lost my brother that summer in a car accident.  Although I never formally trained Micah, this 6 month old blonde GSD boy probably saved my life by being there for me when everybody else was completely wrapped up in their own sorrow.  It was Micah that taught me how valuable dogs can be to be in need.  Micah lived to be 16 and remained with my parents after I married and moved out.  He couldn’t imagine life off the farm.  Jacob was the first dog I purchased.  He was a gorgeous black and tan GSD.  I was newly married and I showed him in conformation and trained in obedience and Schutzhund back when it first came to the Tampa area (mid-late 70’s).  Being newly married, working full time and going to school interfered with actually earning the titles but he had lots of potential.  Next came my first Bear.  He came at another tough time during my life.  I lost him to intestinal torsion before he turned two and it almost broke my heart.  I still get a lump in my throat whenever I see a B&T long coat.  He will always be in my heart.  Not long after I lost Bear we welcomed Heidi into our home.  She was a gorgeous B&T German/American GSD and although she never earned any titles, she became the mother of my 2nd Bear (above).  That’s when it all really got started!

 

My next dog?  I don’t know yet.  I would love to have another malinois.  They are fun happy dogs with incredible potential for athleticism and speed.  It could be another BC (out of a future Thriller breeding) or a smooth faced Pyr shep bitch (out of a future Micah breeding).  I will never be without a GSD though.  My next one will probably be a DDR or DDR/Czech bloodline and yes, another female, my preference by a mile.  Maybe another sheltie?  (Notice I have a “thing” for herding breeds <G>!)