Bonnie McDonald has been actively involved in the sport of Agility since 1992, competed internationally (member of 5 AKC EO Teams, 14″ Sheltie 1x, 26″ BC 3x, GSD 1x), and at the finalist level & placing in USDAA and AKC Nationals and The Invitationals, placing in the top 4 multiple times with different dogs. She has had the #1 sheltie, #1 BC, #1 GSD & #1 Belgian Malinois in AKC Agility (some multiple times).
She has been in the Invitational every year since it began, this year for the second time, with GSD Ahron and 3rd time for Dutchy Halo! Bonnie holds Agility Championships (65+ MACH & PACH, 10 ADCH & PDCH, 2 Silver & 2 International Agility Grand Championships, plus other odd assorted organizations’ Championships). She has 4 AKC AGCH, including the first AGCH in Florida and the first Belgian of any type in AKC (pictured to right). Other AGCH: Sheltie Hope, BC Faith & GSD Ahron.
In addition, Bonnie continues to compete in multiple venues, titling multiple dogs in Obedience (through UD) and Herding (through HX), and was active in IPO sports until 2020.
Scent Work is a true passion for Bonnie. She worked with both a Sheriff Narcotic and Cadaver training unit and certified her own GSDs, in addition to working with an SAR training group studying scent and recovery with two different dogs. Bonnie has been tracking, both IPO & AKC style, and working on trailing using lost articles since the mid 1980s. She utilizes a system like no other, developed by her, using police and military training techniques she has studied over the years. She has dogs titled through the top level in AKC & multiple other Scent Work venues, and many students who have accomplished the same. Her dogs include 3x Detective GSD Ahron, Detective Kizzy (BC) & Detective Ice (Malinois). Her young (2 yrs old) Malinois is starting his Detective Dog journey in early 2025 as well.
50 years of experience teaching others to train their dogs, combined with her prior knowledge gained training & competing with her horses (3 day eventing, hunter jumper & dressage since the age of 6) have given Bonnie a strong & competitive foundation to pass on to those that entrust her with their dogs’ training programs. She continues to actively train & compete with her own dogs.
Bonnie & her husband Bill own & operate Sonlight Ranch & K9 Event Center in Brooksville, FL, USA. They host numerous events yearly. They are both AKC Farm Dog Judges, CGC & Trick Dog Evaluators, & Temperament Test Judges, offering these opportunities at Sonlight Ranch as well. They are Christians and believe in these principles, practicing these in their personal and business lives.
Bonnie is also a certified scuba diver, fixed wing pilot land and sea, musician, artist, photographer, retired Army helicopter pilot, mother to two sons and grandmother to three boys. She is a retired CCRN & was a firefighter paramedic prior to entering the Army. Dogs and dog training have been a constant her whole life, since 1968.