DogStar, LLC

Ranked #1 in Alachua and #28 in Florida

5 Stars,26 Reviews
24518 NW 110th Ave, Alachua, FL 32615

Service area: DogStar Farm is located in Alachua, FL. Bridget also travels to teach workshops and seminars all over the country.

Service Overview

Types of Dog Training

  • Family Dog
  • Competition / Agility

Specialty Focus Areas

  • Basic Obedience
  • Puppy Training

Training Formats Offered

  • Private Lessons
  • Group Classes
  • Private Facility
  • Board and Train
  • Day Training

Program Formats

  • Sessions Package
  • Ongoing Weekly
  • Intensive Program

Types of Dogs

  • Small
  • Medium
  • Large
  • Giant
  • Herding
  • hound
  • terrier
  • Sporting

Age of Dogs Trained

  • Puppy (<1 year)
  • Adolescent (1-2 years)
  • Adult (2-8 years)

Dog Training Methodology

Methods: 

  • Positive Reinforcement Only

Equipment: 

  • Obstacle Courses

DogStar offers private and shared agility lessons for all levels, from beginners to national and international competitors. For those new to agility, a thirty-minute private “intro lesson” is offered, followed by half-hour private lessons to learn basics. Group agility classes are available for Novice, Open, and Masters level teams, with spots typically offered to students already working with Bridget via private lesson coaching.

Workshops and seminars are held at DogStar Farm and at other facilities across the country, covering various agility handling and training topics. DogStar also hosts UKI agility trials and UpDog Challenge disc dog tournaments. Additionally, they provide scent work classes, life skills and manners training for family companions, and limited day training and board & train options.

Pricing & Policies

Pricing Summary

An “Intro to Agility/Meet Your Coach” lesson with Bridget is $30, or free with the purchase of a three-30 minute lesson package. A one-hour private lesson is $85, and a shared one-hour lesson is also $85. A thirty-minute private lesson is $42.50. Group Agility Handling Classes and Group Agility Foundations Classes are $189 for a six-week session (four team maximum). Weekend Agility Workshops with Bridget (three-hour workshops) are $82.50 (six team maximum).

Lesson packages offer discounts: Three one-hour lessons for $234 (8% discount), six one-hour lessons for $438 (14% discount), three thirty-minute lessons for $117 (8% discount), and six thirty-minute lessons for $219 (14% discount). Packages must be paid in full by the first scheduled lesson and used within one calendar year. Availability is not guaranteed, and the business closes roughly July 1st through October 1st.

Policies

Packages must be paid for in full by your first scheduled lesson. Packages are asked to be used within one calendar year. The business closes up shop for the season roughly July 1st through October 1st. Normal cancellation policy will still apply. Packages are not available in combination with any other promotions.

About the Trainer

DogStar, LLC is a dog training business led by Bridget Thomas, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA-CTP). Bridget has over twenty-five years of experience training and competing with dogs and other animals, specializing in dog sports, particularly agility. She focuses on building motivation, enthusiasm, inspiration, and connection in agility teams, helping students achieve success at regional, national, and international levels.

DogStar offers private lessons, shared lessons, and group classes for all levels, from beginners to advanced competition teams. They also provide workshops and seminars at DogStar Farm and host outside presenters. Additionally, DogStar offers scent work classes, life skills and manners training for family companions, and limited day training and board & train options.

Bridget prides herself on working with all dogs of all shapes, sizes, and breeds, having owned and trained a variety of purebreds and mixes. She also enjoys mentoring families bringing home new puppies or dogs, helping them mold perfect family companions. DogStar Farm hosts UKI agility trials and UpDog Challenge disc dog tournaments, and the facility can be rented for events.

Accomplishments

Bridget Thomas is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA-CTP). She holds a BFA in Medical/Scientific Illustration from RIT and has completed the Living and Learning with Animals Professional Course with Dr. Susan Friedman. She is also a FitPaws Master Trainer (FP-MT), an AKC Canine Good Citizen/AKC Trick Dog Evaluator, and a Certified Trick Dog Instructor with “Do More With Your Dog.”

Bridget and her dogs have achieved significant success in dog sports, including being perennial finalists/winners in AKC Nationals, USDAA Regional and National events, and UKI Cups, Classics, and the US Open. Her terrier mix, Grape, was chosen to compete with Team USA on the AKC European Open Team and the WAO Agility Team in 2019 and again for the AKC European Open in 2020. Grape also won the 2019 and 2022 UKI National Finals at the US Open. Her Border Collie, Betelgeuse, placed 5th in round four and 11th cumulatively at his first AKC European Open Tryouts, earning a spot on the 2023 AKC TEAM USA. Bridget and Betel have also placed 2nd in the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in 2023 and 2024, and 3rd at the finals in Missouri. DogStar students have also seen success, with a team earning 8th place overall at DACOF with three HIT teams and multiple top-three placements.

How to Get Started!

For those new to agility, the first step is to schedule a thirty-minute private “intro lesson” to get started. After this initial meeting, training continues with half-hour private lessons for basics. For other inquiries or to schedule, clients can contact Bridget via email. An email list is available for updates on classes, lessons, and events.

DogStar, LLC featured image for this Dog Trainer
  • 25 Years Experience

Availability

  • Weekdays
  • Weekends
  • Morning
  • Afternoon
  • Evening

Certifications

  • CPDT-KA
  • KPA-CTP
  • Credentialed

Associations

  • APDT
  • IAABC
  • PPG

Languages

  • English
  • onsite services
  • wheelchair accessible parking

Other Services Offered

  • Pet trainer

Location

24518 NW 110th Ave, Alachua, FL 32615