About

At Synergy Dog Sports, we use training methods based on scientific learning principles to teach you how to successfully motivate your dog and capture desired behaviors. By learning to motivate your dog in a variety of ways, you end your training sessions knowing your dog trusts you, wants to work with you, and is having a lot of fun playing these games with you!

We strive to create teams that want to compete in dog sports, and enthusiasm and joy is our #1 priority. Curriculums are set-up to allow each team to learn and grow at their own pace. No matter what your experience level is, there is a path forward for you here. 

Our goal is to give you the skills to compete in agility with excellence, regardless of your goals. 

About

Megan Foster

FOUNDER, SYNERGY DOG SPORTS

I have been training in agility nearly my entire life. With more than twenty years of experience, I have had the opportunities to work with hundreds of dogs within a large variety of breeds.

I began my agility journey with an American Eskimo and a Westie, both loaner dogs from people in our local training club. In 1999, I began competing with my first Shetland Sheepdog, Buddy. Buddy’s lesson to me was about connection and bond. While running him, I knew that agility was what I was meant to do.

 

Buddy’s agility career was cut short due to an injury, but we spent 15 amazing years together as a team off the agility course!

In 2003, Ty became apart of my life and my agility career took off like a rocket. He was 3-years old and not completely sure of himself, but together, we blossomed into an incredible team, on and off the course!

In 2005, I attended my first National event and took fifth place in the $10,000 Dog Agility Steeplechase Finals with Ty. That same year, I became a USDAA Judge, as a 13-year old Junior Handler, the youngest ever.

Since then, I have competed at the Cynosport World Games twelve times, with eight different dogs. I have also attended the AKC Nationals three times with my border collie, Smack. 

In 2013, I moved to WA state and opened my training school, Synergy Dog Sports that offered in-person group classes, private lessons, seminars, online classes, and video analysis.  Over the years of my agility career, I have learned from many of the “greats.” I believe in agility handling and training from the dog’s perspective, and finding ways for agility handlers of all ages to handle intuitively and with efficiency. In 2015, I added mindset training to my agility program, working with Dr. Kathrine McAleese on a regular basis. Three months after beginning my training with Dr. K, Smack and I won a spot on the US European Open team that competed in Germany that summer. In 2018, I completed my certification as a OneMind Dogs Coach. In 2019, I joined the staff as an instructor for the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy. In 2020, Synergy Dog Sports moved 100% online, where I could start to build my coaching program. 

Currently, I have two Border Collies and a Parson Russell Terrier. Smack, 13 years old, is enjoying retirement by raising puppies and running in the woods with us. Shock, 9 years old, is semi-retired from agility for health reasons, but enjoys apple collecting and staring in demo videos for online classes. Shrek, 5 years old, is actively training in Agility and Obedience with the goal of competing locally in both. 

My main goal as a dog trainer is to create happy dogs and happy handlers using positive teaching methods and a high rate of reinforcement on both ends of the leash.