Brian

Brian founded Good Dog Workshop with one goal in mind: to help dogs. After years of volunteering with dog rescue groups, seeing so many people struggle with their dogs’ behavioral issues, he realized that people simply didn’t understand their dogs. He felt that after the successes with his own dog and his foster dogs, he believed he could help others. So in 2008, Brian established Good Dog Workshop to teach people how to “Speak Dog”.

Brian has been a student of dogs for many years. His interest in dog behavior combined with his passion to help dogs led him to volunteer with dog rescue groups where he has fostered and found homes for dozens of dogs and continues to evaluate dogs and provide in-home assistance to people who might otherwise have surrendered their dogs.

From his work rehabilitating dogs came his idea for DogMatch™. Brian realized that pairing the right dog with the right owner from the start would eliminate many problems that would otherwise occur and could be easily avoided. With DogMatch™, Brian assesses the needs and desires of a family looking to acquire a new companion and then he searches for the perfect canine match.

Another way he helps dogs in need is by educating the volunteers who work with dogs. He holds seminars for rescue groups to train volunteers and foster parents on the best ways to raise well-balanced, more adoptable dogs.

Brian has owned German Shepherds for 15 years and is always accompanied by Morgan, his 9-year-old rescued GSD. Morgan assists Brian in training sessions and provides an excellent example of achieving the ideal Human-Dog Bond.

Brian has carefully hand-picked each member of his staff to provide every client with the best instruction and best customer service possible—the #1 goal at Good Dog Workshop.

Carlos

As a young man growing up in Northern Virginia, Carlos witnessed a lot of unnecessary stress and abuse towards dogs ranging from over-feeding to aggressive and violent behavior, sometimes resulting in euthanasia. These unfortunate incidents of neglect and cruelty sparked a very powerful desire in Carlos to effect a change. This led Carlos to want to reach out and help. His love for dogs grew as did his drive to help dogs, even suffering a leg bite when he attempted to help a neighbor turn around her dog. He quickly realized it would take more than just courage to get his message across. He began educating himself in ethology, obedience, leadership and animal psychology. He sharpened his timing and agility with corrections with some difficult dogs.

Carlos credits Cesar Millan and Dr. Temple Grandin for giving him the inspiration to develop a very organic and intuitive way of dealing with dogs.

Learning about dog behavior wasn’t enough for Carlos, however; he also wanted to learn about human behavior. He used his opportunity in college to study social psychology and interpersonal relationships where he learned about the similarities between humans and dogs including fear, avoidance and anxiety. He graduated from the George Mason University with a Degree in Communications with a Film & Video specialization.

Carlos currently manages the Good Dog Workshop company page on Facebook and has created all the company videos including a documentary he wrote, produced and narrated. He hopes to continue to help build the company and will continue to be a die-hard ‘documentarian’ to promote responsible dog ownership.

Christina

Christina has over 35 years of experience showing, training and breeding dogs. She has bred and trained over 30 AKC Champions as well as participated in sanctioned obedience and agility events, training multiple breeds of dogs to CD and CDX titles. She developed a top kennel of English Toy Spaniels that have captured multiple Best & Specialty and Best in Show awards. Her current show dog, Grand Champion Royalist Ready to Reign, has won six all-breed Best in Shows as well as being the Westminster Breed Winner in 2009 and 2010.

Christina also specializes in promoting responsible dog ownership through her position as an AKC Canine Ambassador and an AKC Breeder of Merit. Christina focuses on matching the right dog with the right owner and has done so in a professional capacity for 20 years.

With Good Dog Workshop she is the Head Obedience Trainer and works with dogs from early puppyhood through maturity. With her extensive background in the world of AKC dogs, she is also Head of Pure Breed DogMatch™ and can assist clients to find the perfect well-bred addition to their household.

In her spare time Christina trains and rides horse and has two children who are also dog fanciers. Her 11-year-old daughter is an avid horse show participant and is training a Papillion in agility.

Christina’s current pack is comprised of English Toy Spaniels, a Japanese Chin and a German Shepherd.

Mike

Mike is a true dog lover who strives to help rescue, train and support man’s best friend. His affinity for dogs started at a young age, but Mike’s desire to learn more about pack behavior and training was born out of necessity. Mike learned firsthand the consequences of not providing leadership to his pack and sought help in gaining that role back. After a few years of working with trainers and studying on his own, Mike started volunteering his time to help other dogs and owners in need of guidance.

Since then, Mike has worked at a private dog park as a monitor, temperament tester, and open-house supervisor where he honed his skills, particularly encouraging appropriate social behavior and integrating anti-social dogs into a stable pack. He has a strong understanding of off-leash dog play and can help any dog and owner feel comfortable in an off-leash area.

For the last several years Mike has volunteered with Virginia German Shepherd Rescue where he regularly fosters some of their more challenging Shepherds, as well as assisting other foster parents. He has hosted small workshops for volunteers to help them to become better foster parents, and has led off-leash training events at local parks. He also helps with home visits, temperament testing, foster tracking and finding the right dog for prospective adopters.

Mike is currently helping Dog World Rescue by working with their problem dogs until they are ready to enter the rescue and stay with a full-time foster parent. He also attends their adoption events to assess dogs and help educate foster parents and other volunteers.

Mike has been working with Good Dog Workshop since 2009 and specializes in teaching leadership, proper leash-walking and good house manners. His focused approach of leadership, communication, exercise and socialization helps Mike make every appointment a success. Mike’s Labrador Maynard and his German Shepherd Jaden are happy to assist him with his clients and training activities.

Mike’s dedication to helping dogs achieve a happy and balanced life is apparent in his unyielding drive to give them so much of his time and attention. When he is not working with dogs he can be found riding his motorcycle or rollerblading with his pack.