Jean Owen, Performance Coach

If you want your team to feel confident, connected, and ready to shine, Jean’s workshops make training clear, effective, and fun for both ends of the leash.

Jean Owen brings decades of hands-on experience in dog training, behavior, and performance to every workshop she leads. A nationally ranked competitor in obedience and agility since 1999, Jean has earned 4 OTCHs and 14 MACHs of her own and has coached her students to more than 40 MACH titles. She is known for her ability to troubleshoot, fine-tune, and bring out the best in both dog and handler, combining precision, strategy, and heart.

Jean has been invited to speak at APDT conferences in Atlanta, Ellenville, and Portland and has traveled nationwide helping teams polish their performance and rediscover their joy in obedience and agility. Her workshops focus on clarity, confidence, and connection, making even the most challenging skills feel achievable and fun. Jean’s calm, intuitive teaching style blends technical skill with practical application, creating lightbulb moments for both ends of the leash.

Her commitment to dogs goes far beyond the competition ring. With her therapy dogs Piper and GG, she volunteered daily at the WTC Family Crisis Center from September 2001 through January 2002. She also served as president and training consultant for a 400-member off-leash dog park in lower Manhattan for fourteen years.

Jean and her dogs have been seen on The David Letterman Show, The Purina Incredible Dog Challenge, Animal Planet (multiple shows), Good Morning America, The Today Show, Good Day NY, Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central, Regis and Kathy Lee as well as many other news programs.  She has also been published in over 100 dog agility related articles.  From 1980-1983  Jean was the director of a private animal shelter in upstate NY.  During that time, she honed her skills in working with fearful and difficult dogs and to this day she attributes running that shelter to her ability to attain remarkable results in the competitive dog sports world.

Enjoy a little clip of Smartie Pantz - https://youtu.be/qlc0SK4K7Kk?si=vbZ1_zlZVYQyXfnO

Use this link to download the Workshop description 

👉  bridge the gap workshop .docx

Bridging the Gap Between Training and Competing Discover how to confidently transition from practice to performance.

Use this link to download the Workshop description 

👉  upping your game in obed workshop.docx   

Upping Your Game and Your Score: Putting the Fun Back into Obedience Learn how to energize your training, boost scores, and rediscover joy in the ring.

🐾 ORT Prep Workshop: Get Trial-Ready with Confidence!

Thinking about competing in NACSW Nose Work trials? Before your dog can enter, they must pass the Odor Recognition Test (ORT) — and we’re here to help you prepare!

🎯 What You’ll Learn

• How the ORT is structured and what to expect

• Strategies to build odor value and search confidence

• Practice runs with 12-box setups using Birch, Anise, and Clove

• Tips for reading your dog’s alert behavior

• Q&A with experienced trainer and Certifying Official

🐕 Who Should Attend

• Teams preparing for their first ORT

• Nose Work students ready to take the next step

💬 Why It Matters

Passing the ORT is your dog’s ticket to NACSW competition. This workshop gives you the tools, practice, and confidence to succeed — in a supportive, educational environment.