FREYA'S K9 ACADEMY

Ashley began her dog-training journey in 2020 after bringing home her first dog, a German Shepherd named Ragnar. Inspired by the bond they built and driven by a growing passion for canine behavior, she enrolled in the Olympia Kennels School for Dogs, where she successfully completed their Professional Trainer Apprenticeship program. 

Following her formal education, Ashley continued training under the guidance of owner and Master Dog Trainer Mike Pinksten for the next five years. During this time, she deepened her knowledge and hands-on experience working with a wide variety of dogs, from family companions to working-breed athletes.  As a commercial dog trainer, Ashley has developed expertise in diagnosing and addressing behavioral challenges, building solid obedience foundations and leading both private and group lessons where owners build confidence in a highly effective learning environment for dogs and owners alike. 

Freya came home in 2020 — and to be honest, she was a bit of an impulse buy. I was taking private and group lessons with Ragnar at the time, completely immersed in learning about working dogs, and when the opportunity came up to bring home another puppy with similar West German/Czech working-line bloodlines, I couldn’t resist. She joined my family at eight weeks old, just like Ragnar.

Freya became my sport dog, my demo dog, and a huge part of my growth as a trainer. She worked beside me throughout my apprenticeship with Master Trainer Mike Pinksten, helping me practice, demonstrate, and refine real working-dog training in live teaching environments. Together we trained in advanced obedience, protection foundations, and tracking — and she helped me understand drive, engagement, and precision on a deeper level.

Freya and I earned her BH title, and the journey to that point taught me so much about structure, accountability, teamwork, and training clarity. She is the dog who pushed me to elevate my handling skills and showed me how powerful a strong, connected partnership can be.

Freya wasn't planned — but she became one of the most important pieces of my development as a trainer.

Astrid is Ashley’s dream brought to life — a classic red and black West German show-line German Shepherd, representing the beauty, structure, and temperament that first drew Ashley to the breed. Astrid embodies the ideal family companion: stable, affectionate, and balanced, with the elegance and presence true to her lineage.

As Ashley’s breeding female for a well-known kennel, Astrid has played a vital role in expanding Ashley’s experience in responsible breeding and early canine development. Through whelping and raising litters, Ashley has gained hands-on knowledge in neonatal care, early socialization, temperament shaping, and understanding natural maternal instincts within the breed.

Working with Astrid has deepened Ashley’s appreciation for preserving and protecting the German Shepherd standard — ensuring health, temperament, and structure remain at the forefront of ethical breeding. With each litter, Ashley has developed a keen eye for evaluating puppies, temperament testing, and successfully pairing families with the right puppy for their lifestyle and goals. Astrid has helped me grow into not only a trainer, but a responsible steward of this breed I truly love.