Located in Santa Cruz, California, Laura Hartwick spent over 35 years as a professional in the hunter/jumper world, all while taking a deep dive into the sport of dog agility. Now a full time agility coach, Laura has over 20 years as a successful trainer, handler, and national level competitor in agility, and has loads to share with all levels of students at Heart Dog Agility in the Santa Cruz mountains. Watch her in action here.

Laura’s owned and competed with many breeds in those twenty-some-plus years, ranging from her lightning fast border collies to her proud members of the Small Dog Mafia, weirdo little terrier-heeler-whotheheckknows rescue dogs, all of who were consistently ranked in the USDAA Top Ten. She currently competes with her two incredible border collies Banksy and Bader, you can see their resume of wins at major US events below.

Laura is still an artist and writer, and spends untold hours ambling around in the woods, but these days mostly you’ll need to catch up to her running her tail off with her border collies at agility trials around the country instead of horse shows. She is the owner of the Lost Empire Ranch in the Santa Cruz mountains, and still spends time sitting on horses up there.

When the weather’s crummy, she’s inside drawing and painting. Weather’s good, you might spot her painting outside somewhere, if you know where to look. She is no longer taking year round orders for commissioned portraits, but if you hit her up on a good day, maybe she gets you in.

Laura is available at any of these convenient locations:

Agility Training and Seminars:
https://heartdogagility.com/lessons/

Social Medias:
https://www.facebook.com/laura.hartwick
https://www.youtube.com/@teamsmalldog

Commissioned Dog Portraits & Murals on request via email.

Banksy and Bader’s Agility Resume:

Bader Western US and National Events:
2026 USDAA Western Regional Biathlon Gold Medal
2026 USDAA Western Regional Grand Prix Final Silver Medal
2026 UKI West Coast Classic Biathlon Gold Medal
2026 UKI West Coast Speedstakes Challenge Gold Medal
2026 UKI MHDS Festival Games Challenge Gold Medal
2025 UKI Stakes Finals West Coast Open Gold Medal
2025 USDAA Western Regional Steeplechase Final Gold Medal
2025 USDAA Western Regional Team Final Gold Medal
2025 AKC ISC Red Solo Cup Finals Gold Medal
2025 USDAA Western Regional Grand Prix Final Silver Medal
2025 UKI ICE International Tournament Silver Medal
2025 UKI West Coast Cup Games Challenge Silver Medal
2025 AKC ISC Flower Power Cup Silver Medal
2024 World Cynosport Games Grand Prix Finalist
2024 USDAA Western Regional Grand Prix Final Gold Medal
2024 USDAA Western Regional Steeplechase Final Bronze Medal
2024 Purina Incredible Dog Challenge Western Regional Weaves Gold Medal
2024 Purina Incredible Dog Challenge National Finalist
2024 UKI West Coast Open Masters Bronze Medal
2024 UKI West Coast Open Gamblers Final Winner
2024 UKI ICE Inaugural International Silver Medal
2024 UKI International Champion IAC5 and IWAC4
2024 USDAA Agility Dog Champion
2023 UKI West Coast Open Games Challenge Gold Medal
2023 USDAA Western Regional Steeplechase Final Gold Medal
2023 USDAA Western Regional Grand Prix Final Silver Medal
2023 AKC ISC Belgian Waffle Cup Gold Medal
2023 AKC ISC Red Poppy Cup Bronze Medal
2023 AKC ISC Red Solo Cup Gold Medal
2023 UKI West Coast Classic Masters Gold Medal
2023 USDAA Western Regional Steeplechase Final Silver Medal
2022 USDAA Western Regional Steeplechase Final Silver Medal

Banksy Western US and National Events:
2024 World Cynosport Games Steeplechase Finals Bronze Medal
2024 World Cynosport Games Grand Prix Finalist
2024 USDAA Western Regional Steeplechase Final Gold Medal
2024 USDAA Western Regional Grand Prix Final Gold Medal
2024 Purina Incredible Dog Challenge Western Regional Medium Dog Silver Medal
2023 USDAA Western Regional Steeplechase Final Silver Medal
2023 UKI International Champion IAC3 and IWAC2
2022 UKI West Coast Open Speedstakes Finals Silver Medal
2022 UKI West Coast Open Games Challenge Bronze Medal
2022 UKI West Coast Open Pentathlon Bronze Medal
2022 UKI West Coast Cup Games Challenge Gold Medal
2022 UKI West Coast Cup Biathlon Silver Medal
2022 UKI West Coast Cup Overall Bronze Medal
2022 USDAA Western Regional Grand Prix Final Silver Medal
2021 USDAA Western Regional Grand Prix Final Silver Medal
2021 USDAA Western Regional Steeplechase Final Silver Medal
2019 USDAA Western Regional Steeplechase Final Silver Medal
2019 USDAA Western Regional Grand Prix Final Silver Medal
2019 USDAA Western Regional Biathlon Bronze Medal
2019 UKI West Coast Cup Games Challenge Silver Medal
2018 USDAA Western Regional Steeplechase Final Bronze Medal
2017 USDAA Western Regional Steeplechase Final Bronze Medal
2016 USDAA Western Regional Steeplechase Final Gold Medal
2016 USDAA World Cynosport Games Steeplechase Semi Finalist
2016 USDAA Agility Dog Champion

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So many ways to find her that there’s no reason not to.

Get in touch! email: laurahartwick at gmail dot com

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