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Bridget Thomas CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP

Dog Sport Enthusiast
Animal Trainer
Instructor and Coach
Behavior Geek 
Animal Lover

 

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KarenPryor
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About Bridget

Bridget has been training and competing with dogs (and other animals) since she was a teenager, and for the past twenty five years has been heavily involved in dog training, dog sports and dog activities of all kinds. Agility is their primary sport and she and the dogs have traveled all over the country, competing and teaching.

She has been lucky enough to study with some of the top trainers and educators in the field over the years, and staying current with training and handling trends as well as science-based learning is the goal! She loves working with all levels of teams including brand new teams, junior handlers, and those that are hooked and want to take their training to the next level.

Bridget and her dogs have been perennial finalists/winners over the years in AKC Nationals, USDAA Regional and National events, and UKI Cups, Classics and the US Open. Bridget started agility with her JRT, Bucket, then added her Whippets, and then Border Collies. Her BCs Kestrel, Molly and Renny were very successful agility and herding dogs and put Bridget's name on the map, placing in many major events around the country. In 2019 Bridget and Grape, her terrier mix, were chosen to travel overseas to compete with Team USA on the AKC European Open Team and the WAO Agility Team (at the ripe old age of two!). In 2020 they finished in 7th place overall at the European Open team tryouts and were once again chosen to represent the AKC at the European Open. They were also able to add "national champions" to their resume by winning the 2019 UKI National Finals at the US Open. In 2021 big guy, Kepler-79 went from quarter-finals straight through to finals at his first big event and took 4th place in Steeplechase at the USDAA Cynosport in Tennessee. Grape also became a 2x national champion wining the UKI Nationals Final at the 2022 US Open. Betelgeuse is now setting his course for world domination. At his first AKC European Open Tryouts he placed 5th in round four and cumulatively finished in 11th place earning him a spot on the 2023 AKC TEAM USA heading to Denmark in July 2023, all at the ripe old age of two. Bridget and Betel have also been invited to compete at the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in Texas in 2023 and Florida in 2024, earning 2nd place in both competitions. They are now headed to the Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge Finals in September 2024 at Purina Farms in MO. In 2024 they have really started to "gel" as a team and have had a pretty impressive start to 2024 with lots of UKI podiums, and a trip to the Challengers round at AKC Nationals.

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As much as she enjoys training and competing she also finds teaching immensely rewarding and loves to see her students excel. Bridget specializes in building motivation, enthusiasm, inspiration, and connection in agility teams. Many have seen success at the regional and national level, as well as the AKC Invitational, and internationally too. She is equally comfortable working with beginners to dog sports, helping newbies find enjoyment in spending time with their dogs. Bridget also enjoys mentoring families bringing home new puppies/dogs, helping them have success in molding and shaping the perfect family companion. In June a slew of DogStar students headed to DACOF (the Dog Agility Competition of Florida) where our DogStar team earned 8th place overall with three HIT teams, and a bunch of top three placements. So proud of everyone!

Bridget prides herself in being a trainer that works with all dogs, of all shapes, sizes and breeds. Over the years she's worked with everything from Affenspinchers to Komondors and has herself owned and trained a variety of dogs, both purebred and mixes from the herding, toy, hound, terrier and sporting groups. 

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When she is not teaching or competing in agility you can usually find Bridget and the dogs out in the woods trail running, hiking, or riding her horse. They also dabble in a multitude of other dog sports including herding, disc dog, scent work, dock diving, rally, Barn Hunt, and racing/lure coursing. Currently Bridget is owned by her awesome animal family, two Border Collies, a lurcher, two amazing little sport mixes, two horses, and a gaggle of assorted furry and feathered critters. Her very understanding husband, Mike, is the guy who keeps everything on the farm in working order.


Education:

  • BFA in Medical/Scientific Illustration, RIT

  • Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA-CTP)

  • Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA)

  • Living and Learning with Animals, Professional Course with Dr Susan Friedman

  • FitPaws Master Trainer (FP-MT)

  • Professional Member of Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT)

  • AKC Canine Good Citizen/AKC Trick Dog Evaluator

  • Certified Trick Dog Instructor with "Do More With Your Dog"

  • Member of the Pet Professional Guild

  • Member of IAABC

  • Former instructor at “Camp Gone To The Dogs"

The DogStar Pack

The Pups That Make it Happen!

SR DESMODRONIC
"Desmo"

His agility career was not long-lived, for his own safety, but he's happy being a hiking, boating, trail running companion, and that's not a bad thing.
 

ITS THE PURPLE WAY TO TRAVEL
"Grape"

My heart and soul. The bestest girl scruffy, squirrel-murdering princess EVER.

2019 UKI Northeast Cup Speedstakes Champion
2019 USDAA Northeast Regional Grand Prix
2019 USDAA Northeast Regional Steeplechase Champion 
2019 WAO Team USA
2019 AKC European Open Team USA

2019 UKI US Open National Champion

​2020​ ​AKC European Open Team USA
2021 USDAA Southeast Regional Grand Prix Champion
2021 UKI Northeast Cup Speedstakes Champion

​2022 UKI Southeast Cup Overall Champion
2022 USDAA Sunshine Regional Grand Prix Champion
2022 UKI US Open National Champion
2023 UKI Southeast Cup Overall Reserve Champion
2023 USDAA Cynosport Biathlon Reserve Champion
2024 UKI Southeast Cup Games Challenge Champion
2024 UKI Southeast Cup Masters Series Challenge Reserve Champion
2024 UKI Southeast Cup Overall Reserve Champion
2024 USDAA Sunshine Regional Grand Prix Champion
2024 USDAA Sunshine Regional Reserve Champion
2024 USDAA Sunshine Regional Biathlon Reserve Champion
2024 UKI Texas Classic Reserve Champion
2024 UKI Texas Classic Biathlon Champion
2024 UKI RSCR Classic Biathlon Reserve Champion
2024 UKI NE Cup Games Challenge Champion
2024 UKI NE Cup Overall Reserve Champion

OUTRUN'S SPACE RACE
"Kepler-79"

Slow to mature, but so athletic. We work on Kepler's timeline and that's ok. My constant shadow and bestest boy.

2021 USDAA Cynosport World Games Steeplechase Finalist - 4th
2022 USDAA Sunshine Regional Steeplechase Champion

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ITS LOOK UP FOR BETELGEUSE
"BETEL"

Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse! I love this little guy so much. He is athletic, talented, fast, and such a character. Betel is the dude. Excited for what's to come!
 

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MRF URSA MAJOR
"Ursa"

It was time for a new Border Collie in my life. Ursa is growing up athletic, talented, and quirky, like any good BC. Looking forward to our future together.

2022 USDAA Sunshine Regional Biathlon Reserve Champion
2023 AKC European Open Team USA
2023 USDAA Sunshine Regional Steeplechase Champion
2023 Purina Incredible Dog Challenge - Central Regional - 2nd place
2024 UKI Southeast Cup Biathlon Champion 
2024 UKI Southeast Cup Speedstakes Reserve Champion
2024 USDAA Sunshine Regional Biathlon Reserve Champion
2024 USDAA Sunshine Regional Grand Prix Reserve Champion
2024 Purina Incredible Dog Challenge - Eastern Regional - 2nd place
2024 UKI Texas Classic Champion
2024 UKI RSCR Classic Reserve Champion
2024 UKI RSCR Classic Speedstakes Champion
2024 UKI RSCR Classic Biathlon Reserve CH
2024 UKI NE Cup Biathlon Champion

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