About Us | Waggin' Tails

Our motto: "Love the Difference" has been our formula of care for all pets at our kennel for over 50 years. We will treat your pets as we treat our own. We all have pets and understand your anxiety about leaving your dog(s) and/or cat(s) with us while you are away. By our providing a clean and consistent environment and adding our "Love", we know you will see the "difference".

ABOUT OUR FOUNDER

We would not be who we are today without our amazing founder, Julie Hogan. Julie Hogan, was a personal hero to many who knew her. She inspired the young people who worked for her, those that attended her classes, and the many that met her in the field and the ring.

She loved volunteering for Kennel Clubs and working at Field Trials including the National Championships. Julie gave back to the dog world by volunteering and serving as board members and officers to the Clubs she joined. It was a great honor for her to serve as the President of the English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association, the Parent club of her favorite breed.

In 1972, Julie left her profession as a Kindergarten Teacher to operate a boarding kennel in Manassas (aka Lake Jackson Kennels). Julie started as the only employee and began educating herself, finding loving, hard working staff, and then educating the staff. Over the next 40+ years, not only did the number of employees grow, but Julie and her staff took advantage of the ABKA educational programs, written materials, meetings and seminars that were available at the time. She took the opportunity to attend seminars on training and on-campus seminars from Cornell University and the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Schools in dog care, behavior, and diseases. With each dog that she owned, Julie used every opportunity to educate herself and her staff. Julie’s constant devotion to her business, her employees, her clientele and their pets could be seen in the example she set.

Early in her career of working with her Springers in 1970, Julie competed in Obedience trials and in the Conformation ring. However the Springer’s amazing nose soon got her involved in Tracking Tests. It was here that Julie began to appreciate the dog’s capacity to use their nose. Julie and her friend, Donna cultivated the tracking dog in their English Springer Spaniel and moved forward in teaching others to start and to progress with tracking their dogs. She later used her knowledge of scent detection and applied it to Field Trials and Hunt Tests with her Springers and then much later for K9 Nose Work. Julie loved the English Springer Spaniel, and she strived to breed dogs free of genetic problems. She loved and bred the Springer to do the job they were bred to do and to use their brains! She had great influence across the county in the breeding, training, and the working standards of English Springer Spaniels. Many times Julie and Donna achieved the goal of having a beautiful dog that was structurally sound with superior intelligence in their breeding program. They had some great dogs to show them the way and set high standards for others to follow in their footsteps with an amazing number of National and International titles in Conformation, Therapy Dog, Obedience, Utility, Tracking, Agility, Rally, Hunt Tests and Field Trials. The most important aspect to Julie was producing a dog that would be a good family member.

As many of you know, Julie’s motto at Lake Jackson Kennels was “to love the difference.” We love the difference she made in all of our lives and we will never forget her.

Our Team

Learn more about the people who care for your furry friends!

Owner

Jessica Rockx

Jessica’s first kennel experience came in 1992, when she worked at Lake Jackson Kennels during high school. After starting a family, she returned to the kennel and has worked full time since 1995.

Jessica has experience with every aspect of the business and in 2003, became a partner in Waggin’ Tails Junction. She assisted Julie in the design, transition, and move from Lake Jackson Kennels to Waggin’ Tails Junction in 2004.

Jessica attends canine educational and behavior seminars and participates daily in working with animals in the kennel and with dogs in daycare. She has owned many different sizes and breeds of dogs and has taken them to Obedience and Agility classes.

In her free time Jessica likes to bike outdoors, visit with family, and attend training with her very special Search and Rescue K9 friends!

Daycare Manager

Angie King

With over 30 years of experience in training and competing with her dogs, Angie has found a unique way of connecting with dogs. She has trained her dogs in Conformation, Obedience, Herding, Agility, and K9 NoseWork. She has competed Internationally in Agility. She has achieved over 100 performance titles on her dogs. Angie has taught group Agility classes, Obedience and specializes in teaching Scent Work Classes, as the owner of K9 Bondz.

Angie has managed our Daycare Program since her start here in 2006. Angie’s expansive training knowledge and experiences give her a variety of methods to help owners and dogs. Angie enjoys continuing her education in Canine Cognition, Behavior Modification and Conditioning by attending seminars in person and virtually. In her spare time Angie loves to compete with her Belgian Malinios in various Canine Sports.

Kennel Manager

Nicole McGregor

Nicole started working at Waggin’ Tails Junction in May of 2016 between semesters and during holidays while attaining her Bachelor's degree in Organismal Biology from Christopher Newport University.

After graduating from college in December of 2018, Nicole returned to work full time as the Kennel Manager at Waggin' Tails Junction. Nicole's main job is to make sure the day-to-day operations run smoothly. While she plays a part in all aspects of the company, you will often find her greeting you in the waiting room or answering your phone calls.

She currently lives in Old Town Manassas with her husband along with their adopted dog and cat. In her free time, Nicole enjoys watching movies, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. But most of all, she loves to go on adventures with her rescue dog, Ivy.

Supervisor

Kayla Wieland

Kayla has been with Waggin’ Tails Junction since 2010, working in the Kennel and Daycare.

Kayla showed her first dog, a Siberian Husky when she was seven years old in Conformation and Agility. Kayla has been attending Agility and Obedience classes since before she was seven and has been teaching Agility classes since 2011 in Leesburg and Prince William County. Kayla has competed in the AKC Agility National Championship, the AKC Agility Invitational’s, the Cynosports World Games, and the Westminster Kennel Club Agility Trial.

In addition to her positive training methods and patience, Kayla also enjoys attending seminars for training and animal behavior to consistently further her education.

Kayla lives with her Border Collies and Staffordshire Bull terrier. She enjoys hiking with her dogs and competing in Agility and AKC FAST CAT in her free time.

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Supervisor

Janet Kolakoski

Janet started working for Lake Jackson Kennels in 1978, while in high school. Continuing to work part time at the kennel, she earned her BS in Biology and a MA in New Professional Studies-Education from George Mason University.

Upon graduation, Fairfax County hired her to teach the first Animal Science Class in 1984. She is now retired from Fairfax County, but in the classroom she taught how to care for reptiles, small companion animals, dogs, and cats. She started training her first dog, a German Shepherd, in 1980.

Janet currently works part-time at the kennel, attends seminars and training classes throughout the week with her Springers in Obedience and Agility. Over the years, she has owned many English Springer Spaniels, a Shetland Sheepdog and many cats. As a valuable and long time member of Mattaponi Kennel Club, Janet teaches Agility classes that the club offers through the week. Janet’s exceptional years of animal experience and dog training allows her to help clients and educate them and their dogs. When she's not working part time at the kennel she is competing in Agility and Obedience Trials.

Dog Trainer

Brenna Miguel

Brenna started working at Waggin’ Tails Junction in the spring of 2005. She worked here while she finished high school and college. She attended the University of Mary Washington, where she received her BS in Psychology.

Following graduation in 2010, she attended National K-9 Dog Training School. The school was a six week intensive dog training course, where she became a Certified Professional Trainer (CPT). The training at the school focused on obedience, tracking, scent detection, retrieval, and service dog. She has attended educational seminars; and is also a member of the International Association of Canine Professional (IACP).

After returning from Training School she worked full time, then part time and now as a trainer. Brenna enjoys attending in person and virtual continuing education seminars to expand her training knowledge and experience. As a trainer, she has never-ending passion to help owners and dogs find balance in their home.

She resides in Stafford County, with her husband, children, two English Springer Spaniels and her Dachshund.

Dog Trainer

Kate Brown-Wing, CPDT-KA

Kate has 20+ years of experience with Dog training/education. She is a CCPDT certified trainer, an AKC/CGC evaluator, owner of Look-n-Listen Dog Training and Canine Power Partners, a service dog program. Kate has extensive experience with puppy development and group puppy classes. All of her AKC/CGC classes and Service Dog training are based upon age/skill appropriate foundational of education for a puppy or dog, to develop a positive association with learning, to build the capacity to have impulse control, to attentively learn skills well.

Kate works with puppies (please see her Puppy Head Start Program), family dogs to develop basic skills and manners for greater inclusion into their families life and activities. Kate also works with dogs/owners needing assistance coping with the stresses of life and the behaviors associated with anxieties, fearfulness, sound and related sensory issues as well as dog and leash reactivity. In all cases, her goal is to train and foster the dog to build calm behaviors, so they can enjoy life with their family with ease. One dog at a time, (even in group classes) the goal is for each dog to have a full enriched life, along side of their person or family. Each individual dog is encouraged to find and be themselves… with manners and a cooperative spirit.

Animal Caretaker

Gillian King

Gillian began working at Waggin' Tails Junction in May of 2021. Prior to joining our team, she specialized in child care. She has always had a knack for caring for other people, which made her the perfect candidate for caring for animals.

Since joining us, Gillian has become an integral part of our team. You will often find her snapping pictures of your dogs so you can see how they are doing while in our care. Gillian is an expert dog bather and she also loves to decorate our waiting room for all of the different holidays. Gillian definitely knows how to put a smile on your face!

In her free time, Gillian enjoys spending time with her family and friends, as well as her rescue Pit Bull, Miss Eloise Wigglebottom. Eloise and Gillian have enjoyed taking NoseWork classes together here at Waggin' Tails.

Animal Caretaker

Brittany Vale

Brittany joined our team as a full time employee in the Fall of 2018. She left for a period of time to work with an animal rescue organization and develop her skills as a trainer before returning to work with us in 2023.

Brittany is involved in every aspect of our company and is always willing to fill in where needed. Some days she will be greeting clients in the waiting room, other days she is supervising the daycare playgroup or cleaning kennel enclosures. Brittany also has previous experience as a dog trainer.

Brittany has been an animal lover for her entire life. In her free time, she volunteers at an animal rescue and fosters dogs for them. She currently has a mixed Pit Bull, mixed Lab, two Tibetan Spaniels, and other small critters. She enjoys spending time with her animals, husband, and two sons.

Animal Caretaker

Stephanie Coan

Stephanie started working for Waggin' Tails Junction back in 2007. She has always had a sweet spot for animals and has the most gentle touch with our dogs and cats.

Stephanie plays a huge role in our day-to-day operations. She spends her time diligently cleaning our dogs enclosures. She also is our primary cat caretaker and makes sure our feline friends are comfortable while away from home. She spends an abundance of individual quality time with dogs and cats to ensure they always have plenty of human interaction.

When not at work, she enjoys spending time with her family. She also has a sweet kitty at home, named Kai, that she enjoys caring for.

Animal Caretaker

Nichole Hibbard

Nichole joined our team during the Summer of 2022. She brought with her many years of experience working with dogs in a variety of ways, including managing a breeding program and working as a Veterinary Assistant.

Nichole's love for dogs shines through her work with us. She always takes the time to give each dog the love and attention they deserve. She specializes her care to the individual dogs' needs.

When she isn't at work, she always finds ways to keep busy. She dabbles in gardening, hiking, cooking, crafting and so much more! Nichole also enjoys spending time with her two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Our Team