WCRL Club Corner: CynoLogic Dog Sports

From Nebraska to Arizona, duo brings wealth of rally experience.

Jul 5, 2024

By: Cheyenne Lord

Although CynoLogic Dog Sports just started offering rally trials in San Tan Valley, Arizona, earlier this year, organizer Dawn Antoniak-Mitchell and her husband, Jeff, bring a wealth of experience to the ring. They have shown dogs in various sports and venues since 1989 with their first Dalmatians. Dawn became a CCPDT-certified professional dog trainer in 2004, an obedience and rally judge in 2005, and opened BonaFide Dog Academy in Omaha, Nebraska, in 2006. She and Jeff, also a rally judge, offered their first World Cynosport® Rally Limited (WCRL) trial there in 2009.  

Jeff Mitchell-Dawn Antoniak-Mitchell-Kris Woodke-Gabriel-Omaha2015 500

Jeff Mitchell; Kris Woodke (one of the competitors-turned-judge in Omaha) and Gabriel when they finished his ARCHMX at one of the Omaha trials; Dawn Antoniak-Mitchell, in 2015. (Photo by Gerianne Darnell)

"When we opened our training facility, we knew we wanted to bring WCRL (then the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, APDT) to our part of the Midwest, but we also knew it would be expensive to bring judges in since we were just starting out,” Dawn said. “We traveled many, many miles in 2007 and 2008 to become APDT judges so we could offer trials in Omaha. Then one of our business partners became a judge, then a few friends, and eventually, we developed a nice group of local judges to rotate through so everyone (us included) could have a chance to play in the ring.” 

When Dawn and Jeff moved to Arizona, a friend took over their Nebraska trials while they created CynoLogic Dog Sports to bring more rally opportunities to the Southwest. The couple has used online events to earn their titles due to the lack of local trials. Dawn also keeps busy in other sports including conformation, obedience, earthdog, scent work, Fast CAT and dock diving.  

“Even though this is our first year hosting in Arizona, we are celebrating 15 years of hosting trials this year!” Dawn said. “Hopefully, the venue will grow enough to bring in more local judges and allow us to participate again. For now, we are content offering the same fun trials and exhibitor experiences we used to offer in Omaha. We also offer limited private and online classes to help people prepare for WCRL competition and will be expanding our offerings in the future."

Jeff Mitchell, Michelle O'Neill and Cianan, and Dawn Antoniak-Mitchell (Photo by Julie Paige) 500

Jeff Mitchell, Michelle O'Neill and her Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier Cianan when she finished her L1 title, and Dawn Antoniak-Mitchell at their first Arizona trial held in Phoenix (Photo by Julie Paige) 

As part of their outreach efforts, Dawn has organized a rally event to take place at this year's Cynosport® Dog Agility World Games Presented by Purina® Pro Plan® in Tucson, Arizona on Wednesday and Thursday, November 6 and 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Learn more about this event. 

“We hope that exhibitors will take the opportunity to compete in WCRL while they are at Cynosport,” Dawn added. “We are very excited to provide a titling opportunity in both regular and Flash classes concurrent with such a prestigious event and to meet everyone participating!” Entry forms will be available in early August on the WCRL website.

Dawn and Jeff are currently owned and loved by Ember (Dalmatian), Mycroft (Border Collie), and Djinni and Franklin (Parson Russell Terriers).