Julie Smarney

Hi, I’m Julie! I was bitten by the “agility bug” nearly 20 years ago when my very first Shetland Sheepdog, Quinn, introduced me to the sport. Since then, I’ve had the joy of sharing life and training with my Shelties, Liza and Simone, as well as my Border Collie, Sting. Over the years, I’ve competed in AKC, CPE, USDAA, and UKI, earning placements and awards at the national level, and even had the incredible experience of competing at the AKC World Team Tryouts.

I’ve been fortunate to handle and teach dogs of many different breeds, sizes, and drive levels, which has given me a deep appreciation for the unique strengths of every team. Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of learning from and training with some of the top names in the agility world, including Christine Frank, Linda Mecklenburg, Karen Holik, and Jennifer Crank. Jennifer, in particular, has been a huge influence on me as both an accomplished educator and competitor who helped elevate agility to the recognition it has today. I also had the opportunity to train with Laura Romanik, a highly respected obedience instructor who further shaped my training philosophy.

My goal as an agility instructor is simple: to provide you with the tools and support you need to reach your goals with your dog—while always keeping the focus on FUN and the positive, rewarding partnership that agility can bring.