Jody Faulkner is proud to be a part of the legacy of the Dallas Agility Working Group®, better known as DAWG, the oldest agility club in the 40-year history of the United States Dog Agility Association®.
Her beginning at DAWG nearly 27 years ago was linked to a promise to train her newly adopted 1½-year-old Australian Shepherd, Gracie. The young Aussie proved to be talented at racing through tunnels and over A-frames. As the twosome advanced in prowess, Gracie earned multiple USDAA championship titles.
At DAWG, “I found agility to be a great way to stay active with your dog,” says Jody, of Plano, Texas. “It’s fun to watch your dog learn and do things you never thought they’d be able to do.”
The oldest agility club has built a reputation as a leader in the sport. On its outdoor training fields in Wylie, Texas, friendships blossom, skills are developed, and members work together to give back to the club that has given them so much fun.
Among its flagship events, DAWG has hosted 17 USDAA regional championships. The most recent, held May 1–3, 2026, was the South Central Regional Championship, part of the USDAA Tournament Series Sponsored by Purina® Pro Plan®. More than 100 dog-handler teams traveled to the Longhorn Arena and Event Center in Greenville, Texas, to take part.
As for DAWG’s beginning, a tribe of devoted agility enthusiasts founded DAWG in 1985, one year before USDAA’s first sanctioned event. Ken Tatsch, founder of USDAA, and fellow obedience enthusiasts Jon and Karen Bishop, Paul and Marissa Chapel, Laura Gummelt, Elizabeth Hezeau, Mary Jones, Kay Moulder and Heather Smith coalesced to form the club. They hauled equipment to parks for practice and held demos at public events, simultaneously spreading the word that agility was a great companion sport to enjoy with dogs.
In 1987, DAWG co-hosted the second USDAA competition, with multiple clubs participating. “Altogether, DAWG has hosted over 90 USDAA events,” says Valerie Evans, of Dallas, Texas, who joined the club in 2001 and has served in several officer roles.
We want them to feel at home. The club’s hospitality and community outreach have been key in promoting and growing the sport. – Valerie Evans, Officer of DAWG
“DAWG takes great pride in welcoming competitors who travel great distances to attend our events,” Valerie says. “We want them to feel at home. The club’s hospitality and community outreach have been key in promoting and growing the sport.”
DAWG’s progression from holding classes at public parks to owning its own property with two outdoor training fields, an irrigation system, lighting, a clubhouse with restroom facilities and a large storage area came gradually. The property, located in a rural area on 1.5 acres northeast of Dallas, was purchased in 2016 and has become one of the premier destinations for dog agility training in Texas.
“We bought the property in Wylie using money we saved from holding trials,” says Jody, a longtime officer who currently is the club’s field trial secretary.
“DAWG was renting a pasture from a large-animal veterinarian in Allen, Texas, and still hauling in the equipment for training when I joined to work off the boisterous energy of our 3-year-old Standard Poodle, Mitzy,” Valerie says.
Fifteen years later, Valerie and club member Herb Blase led the club’s purchase and development of the new property in Wylie.
“Owning land has allowed us to invest in improvements that would not have been practical on a rental property,” Valerie says.
The investment also boosted the club’s community. Agility training for dogs of all skill levels is offered through weekly classes from beginner to master level, taught by club members with years of experience. Seminars featuring outside trainers draw club members and others in the community seeking knowledge and guidance.
The benefits of being active in a local club include “making a lot more friends than you would if you were not in a club,” Jody says. “Our members guide and mentor one another on their journey.”
Valerie recalls being drawn in by the friendliness of DAWG club members. “We would come to class early to help build courses, and we were encouraged to attend events, volunteer and learn and what it takes to put on an event,” she says.
While the club has gained prominence hosting regional championships, local events continue to be a mainstay of its mission.
“Our grassroots local events are the core of keeping our sport vital and growing,” says Valerie, a professional art director who is the club’s website designer. “We’ve given the sport exposure through demonstrations, television appearances and showcase events like our Pretzel Run© at a local Oktoberfest.”
Although the days of transporting equipment in a trailer to a rented site for practice are over, Jody, the equipment manager for DAWG, says, “Now, we rent out our equipment and electronic timers to clubs that don’t have a facility and don’t have equipment for their trials. The competition equipment is separate from our training equipment.”
As DAWG has grown, it has begun donating gifts of $1,000 to three nonprofit canine organizations each year. Recipients have included a local group, Seniors’ Pet Assistance Network (SPAN)©, which helps low-income seniors afford food and health care for their pets, and a national nonprofit, Patriot Paws, based in Texas, which trains dogs for disabled veterans.
“Our philanthropic funding comes from the money the club has earned from holding trials,” Jody says.
Ultimately, “our success comes from our amazing members working together to meet goals whether it’s improving our equipment and training facility or taking on a big task such as the regional,” Valerie says. “It takes a lot of people pitching in, so no one person is wearing too many hats.”
Valerie reflects that her pride in being part of DAWG is tied to its culture rooted in compassion and sportsmanship.
The club is a beacon that brings together people who want to share the experience of agility, friendship and their love of dogs. – Valerie Evans, Officer of DAWG
“DAWG has been a shining star to the agility world from its beginning in 1985,” Jody agrees. “The club is a beacon that brings together people who want to share the experience of agility, friendship and their love of dogs.”
Congratulations, Dallas Agility Working Group, on 41 years of success!
Pro Plan Dog Food Delivers Top-Notch Nutrition to Agility Dogs
Jody Faulkner, of Plano, Texas, is a longtime agility competitor and a loyal feeder of Purina Pro Plan dog food.
“I began feeding Pro Plan SPORT Performance 30/20 Chicken & Rice Formula when I was getting ready to breed my multi-champion female Brio,” Jody says. “This food was recommended as a good choice to support pregnancy and lactation. I began learning about the nutritional science behind Pro Plan dog food. Ultimately, Brio delivered a healthy litter and did very well.”
Jody feeds Brio and her son, Wyatt, Pro Plan SPORT® Performance 30/20. Brio, who is 10½ years old, competes in the Performance level at USDAA events, and Wyatt, who is 5 years old, takes part in regular classes. Brio has earned the Platinum Lifetime Achievement Award, and Wyatt is working toward the Bronze Lifetime Achievement Award.
“As a senior dog, Brio is still competing and doing well,” Jody says.
Among the benefits of Pro Plan dog food, Jody says her dogs “have great coats and high energy. They are healthy, and clearly the food is working for them.
“I’ve never considered feeding another food,” she says.
