OUR MEMBERS
Finding the right club for you will depend on your breed of dog, level of interest in the sport, desired training goals, and most of all the amount of time that you have to dedicate to training. IGP is a sport that requires consistency, dedication and LOTS of time training in all types of weather. Our club is grateful to our members who show up to support each other.
Ricky Bass
About: My father was a vet so I’ve been around dogs my whole life. I started training my first Doberman, Belle, in 1982 in AKC Obedience. We successfully got to a CDX.
With my second Doberman, Gringo, I was bitten by the tracking bug and we managed to get to one AKC trial before marriage, fatherhood, horses and responsibilities took over. I met my wife, Kathi in a parking lot obedience class and we’ve shared an interest in dogs and horses for nearly 40 years.
In 2021, she supported my dream of Schutzhund training and we got our GSD, Floki. Not satisfied with just one dog, we added Aly to our family in 2024. I’m looking forward to completing IGP’s with both dogs. We’ll take this as far as we can!
Dogs: Floki (BH), Aly
Breed: German Shepherd Dog
Favorite Phase: Tracking
Fun Fact:
Heather Carberry
About: Hey, my name is Heather and I’ve been doing IGP for about 12 years. I crossed over to dogs after a long career in the horse industry, and own my very own herd of Malinois.
My current competition dogs are Blanco’s Fire and Epic Endeavor vom Cascade. Fire is 2.5 years old and currently has an IGP1 and an FH. Endi is a young dog with a promising future and we will see what is in store for her as she matures.
I have a 12 year old Malinois, Mela, who was my first IGP dog and I titled to a IPO3. I also have a semi retired female who I titled to an IGP2.
Dogs: Mela (IPO3), Billie (IGP2), Fire (BH, FH, IGP1), Endi
Breed: Belgian Malinois
Favorite Phase: Tracking
Fun Fact: I have a conure named Biggie Smalls.
Christina Hardy
About: I’m Christina! Ever since I was little I loved dogs and horses. Once I got to college I got my first big dog, a German shepherd that started my training journey into obedience and protection; however, I didn’t train in the sport of IGP until I got my current dog Azula 3 years ago. I’ve been hooked since! She has been a thrill to own and train and has taught me so much!
When I’m not training dogs I like spending time with my family, traveling and horseback riding.
Dog: Azula (BH)
Breed: German Shepherd Dog
Favorite Phase: Obedience
Fun Fact: I was born in Australia.
Meagan Long
About: Hey, I’m Meagan. I am originally from Virginia, but I moved to Texas in 2023. I have always had dogs and started my competitive career with horses in Western Pleasure and Barrel Racing. I didn’t move to dogs until I got my first working breed, a Malinois mix named Sig.
Sig taught me a lot about the physical and mental needs of a working breed. We started our Schutzhund journey in 2021. In 2022, I got my first working-line Malinois, Mox, and we continued our journey in Schutzhund
Dogs: Sig (BH), Mox (BH)
Breed: Malinois
Favorite Phase: Obedience
Fun Fact: I’m an avid line dancer.
Diane McKinney Pilcher
About: I have lived the life of an avid animal person and lover. My love of horses started before I could walk, riding with my grandfather. Later I showed in halter classes, reigning and barrel racing. At Bellaire High School, I was in FFA where I raised four steers, winning Reserve Grand Champion my junior year and Grand Champion my senior year. My next love was with the Rottweiler breed. I have owned them since 1991.
After 30 years of showing in AKC in conformation, obedience, rally, herding, agility, dock diving, lure coursing, carting and any other event that I could do with my dogs, I ventured on a new challenge in the sport of IGP looking for new tools for training. It was the best decision and one that lead me on an incredible journey in the sport, meeting some pretty incredible people. What a blessing.
Dogs: Nox (BH, IGP2), Riggs (BH, TR1, OB1, & OB2), Bex (BH)
Breed: Rottweiler
Favorite Phase: Obedience
Fun Fact: I love making stuff with PVC, hence my nickname as the PVC Queen!!
Donna Toms
About: I began my Schutzhund journey in 1982 while living in St. Louis. I titled 2 dogs to a Schutzhund I and 1 dog to a Schutzhund III.
I stepped away from the sport for a period of time and began again 8 years ago. I currently have 2 German Shepherd females that I am training and prepping for competition.
Dogs: Kase (BH, IGP 2), Agave (BH)
Breed: German Shepherd Dog
Favorite Phase: Obedience
Fun Fact: We have a rose-breasted cockatoo, Bourre, as part of our pack.
Fabian Vega
Terri White
About: My interest in dogs began in high school. From there I became a professional handler, first working for several different handlers to gain knowledge of all breeds before going out on my own. I am currently applying for my judging license for AKC Conformation.
I’ve had many all breed Best in Show dogs. I’ve won regional shows and nationals as well I’ve titled dogs in many AKC sports as well as UKC. I’ve had several high in trial, Obedience , dogs, and high in trial rally. I’ve had several dual champion Labs and Brittanys with hunting titles and AKC Confirmation titles
About 10 years ago, I decided I wanted to try my hand at protection sports. I’ve had six different dogs that I’ve titled to a BH. My Dutch Shepherd started in Mondio ring. She had a Brevet and a level 1 title. We represented the United States in Belgium at the Dutch Shepherd Mondio Ring world championships. I then decided to do IGP with her where she achieved her IGP 3 and her IFH.
Dogs: Pixel (Level 1, BH, IFH, IGP3), Firnen (BH)
Breeds: Dutch Shepherd, Rottweiler
Favorite Phase: Tracking
Fun Fact: I used to race Jeeps on ice.