In founding Argos International, I hope to bridge the ever-widening gap between loving, honest homes and quality dogs with the health, temperament, and pedigree to fulfill their correct role within a family or relationship. The modern dog has strayed from its original purpose as functional individuals, bred and raised to help humans accomplish essential tasks. Today, most dogs live in homes and are considered “part of the family.”
While this shift in mindset may seem positive, it has actually caused significant harm - not only to families but most of all, to dogs. That statement might be shocking to some and may even cause a few to retract or disagree. Let me explain.
Dogs belong to the family Canidae, along with wolves, coyotes, dingoes, foxes, jackals, and more. These animals are apex predators, living in packs with deeply ingrained, genetic instincts for survival. Though dogs have been domesticated descendants of wolves since before the development of agriculture, we cannot erase their genetic code or instincts.
Over time, humans have purposely concentrated genetics into different avenues of function. These functions still utilize the original genetic instincts in order to create the motivation needed for various types of work. This has given rise to distinct breeds, each developed for a purpose: herding, hunting, guarding, and many others.
In recent years, as dogs have moved away from these functional roles, people have begun to forget the generations and generations of highly concentrated genetics, much less the genetic code descended from wolves. In doing so, we inadvertently do dogs a disservice by expecting them to thrive in roles meant for an entirely different species. It’s only natural for us to view dogs through a human lens, but doing so creates unrealistic parameters and leads to unrest in the home.
I’m here to say that it is absolutely possible to have dogs in the home as cherished members while still honoring their genetics and establishing expectations designed for success. The first step is matching the right breed and individual dog to your lifestyle.
Who am I?
Ashleigh Derrickson - Owner and Founder
I began my journey at just 15 years old with my first Malinois, training in the protection sport of IGP (then called Schutzhund). Prior to that, I was involved with horses and competed in Eventing both in the U.S. and while living overseas. I pursued both passions for a time before dogs fully took over.
I went on to compete at a national level in the sport of IGP as well as in PSA. My dog, Argos, was the second dog in the world to earn both an IGP3 and PSA2 title, and he was the first to do so at a national level. We also competed in French Ring, American Schutzhund, dock diving, weight pull, and Fast CAT. In addition to his sporting accomplishments, Argos was trained in bed bug detection and served as my service dog. Most of all, he set the standard of an ideal companion and best of friends.
I have personally trained or assisted in the training of hundreds of dogs, including police, military and special forces dogs, sport dogs, search and rescue dogs, cadaver dogs, service dogs, bird dogs, and countless pet dogs. I’ve helped train and certify K9 handler teams and have guided many families in creating a successful lifestyle with their pets.
Since 2019, I’ve also bred Belgian Malinois under my kennel, Skyfall Kennels LLC, many which have gone on to become successful working, sport, and companion animals.
As competitive as I am as a handler, what I enjoy most is spending quality time with my dogs while appreciating the great world we live in through hiking, kayaking, and traveling. I’ve been blessed with some truly incredible dogs, and I’m excited to help you find yours.