Welcome to Shape Up Agility
Meet Our Instructors
Passion, expertise, and a deep love for dogs—that’s what defines our instructors. With years of experience in training, behavior, and care, they are dedicated to helping you and your dog succeed. Meet the team that’s here to guide you every step of the way.
30+ years of dog training expertise
With decades of hands-on experience, our instructors bring unmatched knowledge and dedication to every training session. From obedience and behavior modification to specialized skills, our team has worked with dogs of all breeds and temperaments.
Justine Davenport
Justine is one of Canada’s most accomplished agility competitors and a consistent presence on the world stage. For over two decades, she has represented Canada at the FCI Agility World Championships, competing with her Shelties — Bounder, Chase, Riot, Preston, and Viva — and her Border Collies Summit, Never, Match, Valley, and Revival.
Her achievements include:
6th in the World – Small Dog Team (Bounder)
4th in the World – Medium Team (Chase)
7th in the World – Medium Individual (Preston)
Justine’s longevity at the highest level of the sport reflects her commitment to consistency, precision, and thoughtful training. She is known for her technical excellence, calm handling style, and ability to produce confident, competitive dogs year after year.
Beyond competing, Justine recently stepped into a coaching role, leading the AWC team at the World Championships in Finland — an extension of her dedication to elevating Canadian agility on the international stage.
Drawing inspiration from international competition and collaboration with some of the world’s top trainers, Justine continues to evolve her approach while maintaining the high standards that define Shape Up.
Karen Childs
Karen Childs was born and raised on a sheep farm in rural Ontario, Canada, where her love of animals was woven into everyday life. From an early age she was drawn to partnership, the quiet communication between human and animal — but it was the world of dogs and agility that ultimately captured her heart.
Her agility journey began in 2010 with a little red and white Border Collie who changed everything. Since then, Karen has represented Team Canada on numerous occasions across two heights, competing at some of the sport’s most prestigious international events:
European Open 2015, 2016, 2017 with Cash
European Open 2019 & WAO Wildcard 2019 with Keys
European Open & Agility World Championships 2022, WAO 2023 with Glow
Agility World Championships with J.R. in 2023 and 2024
Karen owned and operated a successful dog training business in Ontario from 2015–2019. After relocating to Edmonton, Alberta, she immersed herself fully in the craft of training and competition. Over the years, her focus has evolved beyond mechanics and medals. Today, she is deeply passionate about helping teams build confident, joyful partnerships rooted in clarity, trust, and understanding.
Working alongside her life partner, Justine, has profoundly shaped her perspective on training, performance, and growth. Together, they bring a balanced approach to Shape Up — blending technical excellence with emotional intelligence and a commitment to lifelong learning.
Karen’s greatest fulfillment comes from helping teams unlock their potential while genuinely enjoying the journey — because success means little if the partnership isn’t thriving.
