I’m Terry Popish, the owner and trainer behind Snowy Pine Dog Training. For as long as I can remember, dogs have been at the center of my life—family companions, working partners, and loyal teammates in the all performance venues.
Snowy Pine began with one simple belief: training should build a stronger bond between you and your dog, not create stress or confusion. Over the years, I’ve spent countless hours studying training methods, testing equipment, and working with dogs of all ages, breeds, and temperaments. That experience has shaped the calm, clear, and reward-based approach I use today.
Today, Snowy Pine is more than just a store. It’s a place where new handlers and experienced competitors alike can find reliable tools, practical guidance, and a trainer who genuinely cares about their success. Whether you’re taking your very first class or polishing skills for the next trial, my goal is to help you feel prepared, supported, and proud of the progress you and your dog make together.
Thank you for trusting Snowy Pine Dog Training to be part of your journey.
My journey into the world of professional training and competitive showing began in 1990, sparking a forty five-year career built on deep-seated passion and hands-on expertise with countless breeds. Today, my own home is filled with the joy of a rescued Saint Bernard from The Saint Bernard Rescue Foundation and a beautiful Landseer ECT.
My heart for canine welfare truly took root when I founded High Sierra Animal Rescue, establishing the very first non-profit, no-kill shelter in Northern California. This mission to protect the vulnerable remains the foundation of my training philosophy today. Throughout the 90s, I shared the healing power of animals by launching a local Pet Therapy Program, serving as a Certified Delta Society Evaluator and spending eight wonderful years visiting hospitals with my two therapy dogs. I also had the privilege of serving as a puppy raiser for Guide Dogs for the Blind, successfully preparing two puppies for their vital work as service animals.
As a dedicated evaluator, I am proud to facilitate a wide range of AKC assessments, from Canine Good Citizen and S.T.A.R. Puppy to Trick Dog, Farm Dog, Fetch and Agility ACT. I bring a specialized perspective as an Animal Care Specialist, certified by the American Red Cross in Dog First Aid, and I am honored to support the next generation of handlers as a registered AKC Mentor.
My experience in the ring and in the classroom includes teaching everything from basic obedience to advanced Utility skills, Rally, and Agility at the Truckee Meadows Dog Training Club, where I’ve also served as Vice-President and a Board Member for two decades. Whether I am judging practice trials or leading seminars on Tracking and Carting, my focus is always on the success of the team. I remain an active competitor across many disciplines, including Fitdog and Scent Work, and hold long-standing memberships with professional organizations like The Saint Bernard Club of America, Working Dog Committee member.
Currently, I find great fulfillment volunteering my time as a trainer and groomer for The Saints of The West rescue in Reno, NV . It is my sincere hope that every dog I touch is one step closer to finding their forever family.
PACH4 WDCH Snowy Pine's Hummer
UD GN GO VER RAE2 FDC MXP10 MXPC MJP17 MJPS2 PAX4 MFP MFPS TQXP T2BP6 TDD2 DD RATS CGCA CGCU TKA HF PE81 O-NAC S-NJC TN-N CD RN RNX RV-E GV-E JS-E-OP JS-O-OP RS-O GS-O GS-N-OP CL1-R CL1-H
Snowy Pine's Sherpa DDX CD PCD BN RE FDC NJP OAP XFP SEN SIN BCAT CGCA CGCU TKP ATT BN-V CD-V VHMA VSWE FITG FTR NDD DD RATI
Snowy Pine's Athena DDX2 CDX PCDX BN GN RAE FDC OAP NJP XFP BCAT ACT2 ACTJ2 DD2 NDD2 CGCA CGCU TKA BN-V CD-V VHMA VSWE FITG FTI RATI
WDCH Snowy Pine's Tundra
CDX GN RE FDC MXP3 MXPB AJP XFP CGCU CGCA DDX2 TDD2 RATO CD RNX RN JS-N RS-N GS-N HF PE22
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