Geoff Empey
We are proud to welcome Ottawa Working Ring Dogs (OWRD) to our French Ring demonstrations at UNITED K9, September 12–14 at ICAR Mirabel.
OWRD is an Ottawa-based working dog club led by president Geoff Empey, a seasoned sport dog trainer with a lifetime of experience in hunting and working dogs. Geoff's passion began at a young age, spending time with his uncle at the Fundy Beagle Club, and grew into a career that has spanned weight pull, mushing, and high-level competition in the demanding sport of French Ringsport. His retired dog, Petites Fusee's Phin, reached the pinnacle of the sport with a Ring 3 title, while his current partner, Royale Cami du Catheric, is making her mark as an upcoming star. Geoff's past champion, Sasha Van Arek, twice earned the title of Canadian Ringsport Champion in Ring 2, along with multiple other accolades. Beyond his personal achievements, Geoff has trained with and mentored under renowned trainers across North America and Europe, and continues to lead the OWRD community.
Joining Geoff at UNITED K9 are other dedicated members of the OWRD:
Zachary Hanville
OWRD Vice President, dog handler, and certified Level 1 Homme d'Attaque (attack decoy). With roots in Schutzhund training alongside his father, Zachary now competes with his Belgian Malinois Zeke, who has achieved a French Ringsport R1 title and is preparing for Ring 2. Zachary also serves as OWRD's training director and decoy, and is an active member of the Canadian Ringsport Association.
Kate Jones
An accomplished K9 professional who runs a busy grooming shop in Kingston, Ontario, and trains certified service dogs for the disabled. Kate competes with her Dutch Shepherds, Nitro and Dolly. Nitro already holds his PSA 2 and the first leg of FR1 as he pushes toward PSA 3, while Dolly is preparing for her Brevet and FR1. Kate is also a training decoy with OWRD (yes, she wears the bite suit too!) and leads the club's obedience training.
With leaders and members like these, OWRD embodies the skill, dedication, and passion that makes French Ring one of the most thrilling protection dog sports in the world.
We are excited to showcase their talent and commitment at UNITED K9, where they will join us in our fun match demonstrations — bringing both expertise and entertainment to the field.
Come see Ottawa Working Ring Dogs in action this September at ICAR Mirabel, and experience firsthand the precision, athleticism, and teamwork of French Ringsport.
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