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American K9 Country

AK9C opened in March of 2003.

It is owned and operated by Celeste Meade and Dottie & Robert Proulx.

AK9C Instructors

ALL instructors here at AK9C are PROVEN professionals in their field!

Celeste Meade

    Not only is Celeste one of the owners but she is the brains behind this amazing facility. Celeste's vision was to create a facility that was inviting  not only owners but pets as well.  AK9C is a facility built by dog trainers for dog trainers. Every  aspect of the facility revolves around convenience along with a cozy home feeling.  This is more than a pet care facility, rather it is both pet and owner's home away from home. Whether it be the beautifully hand painted floors or one of the many murals that cover our walls Celeste poured her heart and soul into making this facility what it is today!
    As a professional dog trainer,  Celeste Meade has had a successful career competing nationally and training dogs for over 20 years. She has achieved numerous titles in obedience, conformation, sheep herding and tracking while earning number one national rankings and  multiple high in trials, championships and numerous coveted "Dog World Awards." Celeste has earned a place in the Bloodhound breeder's Hall of Fame, breeding over 35 champions in only 4 litters.  Celeste is noted for her ability and love of training the most unusual and “so called” non-obedient, difficult breeds. The most well known being the Bloodhound. Her first, "Tucker" (CH. Nimrod Frankie's Tucker UDT, Can CDX) was the first & ONLY bloodhound of all time to receive OTCH points along with multiple High in Trials.

    Yet another one of her Bloodhound partners, "Ryder" (Ch. The Nimrod's Rainbo Ryder CD)had multiple first places, High in Trials and "Sunday's Best" at a Gaines Classic with a score of 199 1/2, being the highest scoring obedience Bloodhound of ALL TIME!
    And then there is "Zoom" the Border Collie CH. OTCH Shoreland's Zoomin in on EWE UDX14 HSas. He has held the highest national rankings in the past, Hoffman System. Here are just a few of Zoom's accomplishments:
  • ******TEN 200's********
  • #1 "First & Foremost" All-Breed Obedience Dog for 2004
  • #2 All Breed for OTCH points 2005
  • #1 Herding Dog at the AKC National Obedience Invitaitional 2005
  • #1 Obedience Border Collie for 2004 & 2005
  • #3 All-Breed Obedience OTCH Points for 2004
  • 100+ High in Trials
  • 100's High Combined's
  • 110 UDX legs
  • Over 2,000 OTCH points to DATE!!!
  • 100's of First Placements
  • Earned his CD in 3 shows with 3 FIRSTS! Dog World and Multiple HIT's
  • Earned his CDX in 3 shows with 3 FIRSTS! Dog World and Multiple HIT's
  • Earned his UD in 3 shows with 3 FIRSTS! Dog World and Multiple HIT's
  • OTCH in 9 SHOWS!!
  • UDX in 11 SHOWS!!
  • RN, RA & RE all firsts in 3 Shows!
  • Earned his conformation Championship with 4 majors in 4 weekends with multiple Best of Breeds!
  • Herding Sheep A Course in 3 trials-all top placements!
  • Placed 13th in the WORLD @ CRUFTS (The World's Largest Dog Show) in Birmingham England in March of 2006
  Celeste takes GREAT pride in her students' success. They are among the most successful obedience competitors in the country with nationally ranked dogs and many have also have earned multiple 200’s, High in Trials, top placements and national wins. Whether she’s outside the ring warming up a student or outside the ring cheering them on, Celeste pours her heart and soul into every dog & handler team.Celeste prides herself in her “Attitude is Everything” way of dog training & Aerobic Handling Techniques.

“Without want-to in the dog, have to will ALWAYS dwindle down attitude in your dog’s performance."
  Celeste’s UPBEAT, motivational method of training combines embracing the distractions NOT correcting them. Celeste believes that the ring should be the most enjoyable place for the dog. It should be fast fun with a series of obstacles with motivational “pick-ups” in between each exercise. So many people forget to train “the in between sequence”  Celeste feels that time in between the exercises is a gift given to you by AKC to motivate, reconnect, reduce stress, regain attention& set-up for the next exercise. She believes in “Pre-Cues”. She teaches how to create drive in the dog along with how to control it. Celeste not only knows how to reduce stress in the dog but she creates confidence in the handler that every dog needs for a proper team partnership. Her methods have proven successful in many breeds including her competitive, fast, upbeat, precise Bloodhounds.
Celeste currently travels all over the country for private coaching, training weekends, seminars & workshops. She instructs our competitive CD, CDX, UD, UDX and OTCH students here at AK9C. She is also available for private lessons and behavioral evaluations.

**For more information on holding your own seminar or Private Lessons with Celeste Please email Amber.

**For a list of Celeste's seminars to be held here @ American K9 Country visit the Calendar Page

LOOK OUT! There's a New Kid on the Block!
BorderBay's Ewe Make Sparks Fly AX, AXJ, XF
"Spark" or as he's known to his family "Puppy-Doo" is Celeste's New Up & coming Star!
Wait to you see this ball of FIRE!!
   

Celeste Meade 2011 Seminars

September 3-5- "Attitude is Everything"- Austin, TX {FMI: Joann}

More to be Announced!




Julie Daniels

Julie Daniels has been training dogs all her life. Julie is that rare top agility competitor who can also teach & inspire at all levels of play. She is an award winning author who is also a two-time national champion in the US and two-time international GOLD medalist on Team USA overseas. .  

  Julie is considered a PIONEER in the sport of Agility! She was one of those tireless early agility enthusiasts who helped get the sport up and running in the United States during the mid-1980's Now that the sport of dog agility has come so far and gets wide TV coverage, Julie also provides expert commentary in front of the camera on many networks including ESPN, Animal Planet, USA Channel, and now also on the new HDTV network World Sport.
   Julie has won many events including ESPN’s Great Outdoor Games and both the Regionals & the Finals of the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge. She has also won both rounds of the USDAA National Steeplechse Championship and the winner-take-all Challenger Round at the AKC National Championships. Julie & Spring (her Border Collie)  won the ISC International class for three years in a row at
Springfield, the largest agility trial in the country. Julie was also on the winning team at the USDAA Dog Agility Masters National Team Tournament in 2003. In 2004, Team USA won the IFCS Championships in Valencia, Spain. Spring & Julie earned 4 trophies and 3 medals at that event, and anchored the Relay Team to clinch the Gold for the USA.  Julie and Spring are also members of Team USA 2002, which earned the Gold in Moscow, Russia.

  Julie has titled and won with all sizes and breeds of dogs including two Rottweilers, a English Springer Spaniel, A Cairn Terrier, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi and two Border Collies. She is the only person to make national finals with a Rottie or with an English Springer Spaniel. For more info on Julie visit her website www.whitemountainagility.com

Julie is the award-winning author of three agility books.  The first one, Enjoying Dog Agility, is now in its 8th printing and available in paperback.  The second book, Jumping From A to Z, co-authored with Chris Zink, DVM, PhD, has improved the jumping technique and confidence of thousands of dogs worldwide.  A collection of some of her many magazine articles is available in her new book The Teacher's Room.  Her new DVD is now available: Agility Fix It- Contacts & Weaves.  Please visit the WMA store for more information on Julie's books and DVD.

Ken Fairchild


Ken Fairchild's love of dogs and passion in dog training began in 1990 with obedience and his involvement in agility soon followed in 1991. Ken takes great pride in being a patient and understanding instructor who can evaluate a dog and handler team, recognize their potential, and then create an individualized program to enhance the agility team's performance. To a lesser extent Ken and his dogs have also participated in tracking, herding, schutzhund, and freestyle. Ken is an agility AKC judge who has trained and trialed four of his own dogs (2 Shiba Inu and 3 Border Collies) to the AKC Excellent and USDAA Masters level. He has also handled several dogs for other agility enthusiasts including; Shelties, Labrador Retrievers, Bull Mastiffs, Malinois, Papillion, Corgi and Cattle dog.


A partial list of Ken's accomplishments (and those of his dogs) includes:

Kiri – MACH3, CD, ADCH, EAC, EGC, EJC, U-AG1 (UKC), ADC (Canadian Agility Dog)

  • The most accomplished Shiba Inu in agility to date
  • Competed in the first AKC Agility trial in August 1994 Houston Astro Hall
  • USDAA Veterans Grand Prix 2001 National Champion and 2000 Runner-up
  • Retired at age 13 1/2 , and qualified for every AKC and USDAA National Championship from 1994 – 2003
  • Highest ranked MACH Shiba Inu 3 years (then retired)

Echo – MACH14, USDAA LAA Silver, ADCH, ADC (Canadian Agility Dog)

  • USDAA Grand Prix Finalist (4 times)
  • USDAA Performance Grand Prix Finalist (2 times)
  • USDAA Steeplechase Finalist (2 times)
  • USDAA Team Tournament Championship – 2003 National Champions & 2004 6th place
  • AKC Nationals Finalist (4 times)
  • 2006 AKC Agility Invitational (top 5 dogs from each breed)
  • AKC World Team Tryouts (4 times – winning classes in 2001 & 2003)
  • Front & Finish Standings (#1 ranked Herding Dog in AKC Excellent STD in 2006, #1 ranked All Breeds in AKC Excellent JWW in 2006)
  • 2004 Great Outdoor Games (GOG) Super Weave Challenge Champion
  • 2005 Great Outdoor Games (GOG) Super Weave Challenge 3rd place
  • 2004 Purina Outdoor Challenge Champions (Team West)
  • 2000 Paws-Z-Tracks/Investors Group Challenge Champion
  • over 600 qualifiers at AKC Excellent STD/JWW (many 1st places)
  • over 320 qualifiers at USDAA Masters & Tournament classes (many 1st places)

Teak – MACH, ADCH (USDAA Agility Dog Champion)

  • 2008 AKC National CHAMPION 20" Class
  • 2007, 2008 & 2009 Purina Incredible Dog Challenge (IDC) Finals – 60 Weave Pole Challenge Champion
  • 2007 Purina Incredible Dog Challenge (IDC) Eastern Regional  2nd place Large Dog Agility
  • over 100(+) qualifiers at AKC Excellent STD/JWW classes (many 1st places)
  • over 75 qualifiers at USDAA Masters/Tournament classes (many 1st places)

Rosie – (Shiba Inu, Kiri’s Sister) OA, NAJ, AAD (USDAA Advanced Agility Dog)

  • 1996 USDAA Grand Prix Finalist

Cue! – MACH, AX, AXJ, XF

  • Teak x Beep!, just getting started in her agility career
  • All qualifiers to date 1st places
Kathan Kennedy

Professional trainer Kathan Kennedy has had extensive personal experience training numerous breeds including Portuguese Water Dogs, a  Golden Retriever, Rottweiller, Boxer, and both Miniature and Standards Schnauzers.  She has worked with local theater groups to provide trained dogs for productions of Oliver, Annie, Daddy Warbucks, Gypsy and The  Wizard of Oz. Currently, she is nationally ranked  with her Portuguese Water Dogs Roo and his aunt, Floosie.  She  actively competes and wins in agility, obedience, conformation and water work throughout the country. Kathan is the owner and operator of A Paw Above the Rest, the grooming facility located here at American K9 Country.  Kathan instructs many pet classes including our Basic Pet Program, CGC and our Unleashed class.






Kathy Duffy
Kathy Duffy has been a member of the dog world for over thirty years. She has bred some of the country's top winning Dobermans & Pointers. She has titled over fourteen dogs in conformation, agility, field work, obedience & is an AKC certified CGC Evaluator. Kathy currently teaches the Introduction to Agility classes here at Ak9C. Kathy gives dog & handler a fun, low-pressure exposure to all the agility obstacles. With games, relay races & lots of cookies Kathy's students leave her class truly loving the sport of dog agility. This class gives agility new-comers a great foundation so that they are ready to go on to the next level after 6 short weeks!



Maureen McLatchy

Maureen became bitten by the dog show bug in 1986 with her first Gordon Setter Tess who earned her conformation championship, Utility Dog title and two hunting titles.  Both Tess’ daughter and granddaughter followed in her pawprints earning their CH UD JH titles.  Obedience was the main focus for many years and besides the 13 titles her own dogs earned, Maureen trained and handled over 60 other dogs (Gordon Setters, Irish Setters, Pointers and English Cocker Spaniels) to their AKC obedience titles as well.   In 1999 she discovered the sport of agility and found that the Gordons absolutely loved it.  To date, her dogs have earned over 100 agility titles in AKC and USDAA including four championships.  Both mother and son MACH Molly and MACH2 ADCH Jake have qualified for AKC Nationals numerous times.  Molly, now retired, is the most AKC titled Gordon Setter in the breed's history with 38 titles in agility, obedience, rally and hunting tests.  Along with Molly, Maureen shares her life with Gordon Setter Jake, Beauceron Demi and Papillon Shimmer , all currently competing towards agility championships in AKC . 


Pepe Anastas & Lisa Saari

Ak9C's breed handling instructors, all breed professional handlers, Pepe Anastas and Lisa Saari.   Pepe and Lisa are married and have been working together for many years. Pepe has been showing dogs for more than 25 years, with his foundation in Akitas.  Accumulating a number of Champions, Group wins, Best In Shows and top winning dogs in numerous breeds.  He has worked with other handlers such as Jack Secrest, Greg Strong, and Peter Green in the past.  Lisa is a second generation, self-made handler with 35 years of experience, with her foundation in Cairn Terriers.  Accumulating a number of Champions, Group wins, and top winning dogs, also in numerous breeds. Topping her resume, in 2009, Lisa showed Finnish Spitz, Ch. Pikkinokka Icecaps Finn McCool to become the top-winning dog in breed history, being 1of 6 to win the honor of Best in Show.  Lisa dog2box@yahoo.com and Pepe panastas_98@hotmail.com currently reside in New Ipswich, New Hampshire & are available for private lessons as well our weekly Drop In Handling classes on Mondays & Thursdays at 7pm.





 
 
 

 



 






Ann Tremblay

    Ann Tremblay has been an experienced dog trainer and obedience instructor for over 10 years.  She has earned titles in the obedience, agility, lure coursing and confirmation rings. She is an accredited Canine Good Citizens evaluator and has administered the CGC test for obedience organizations, specialty breed clubs and all breed clubs over the years.
    Erin, Kenwyn's Simply Undeniable, has earned her CD, CDX, UD, UCD , RN, RA & RE obedience titles. She has earned multiple High in Trials and has been nationally ranked, including being the #1 collie in obedience in 2002. She earned her UD in the Fall of 2006 with 3 FIRST placements & one HIGH in TRIAL!!  Ann and Erin have competed in all 4 agility venues and have earned novice jumpers titles with NADAC and ASCA.  Cameron and Argus, two retired racing greyhounds, earned their junior coursing titles in their younger days. In the confirmation ring Ann has shown two of her dogs on their way to their breed championships. Sassy, Ch Kimegan's Simply Impish (Erin's mom) and Dugan, Ch. Ponemah Hills Dugan V Maikai, CD. Dugan was Ann's first multiple title dog with both a breed and obedience title. Dugan was also nationally ranked. The newest member of the pack is Flirt, a Border Collie, who has earned her UD & is on the road to earning an OTCH. Ann teaches all of our pet training classes here at American K9 Country and offers private lessons as well as behavioral consulatations.


Bernadette Bove

Bernadette and her Goldens have been competing in obedience and field events, in the US and Canada, for over 15 years. She has achieved multiple High in Trials, Dog World Awards and a perfect score of 200!! She is currently living with her 3 Goldens, “Spin,” OTCH Sunfire’s All Wound UP, UDX, SH who is competing in Master Hunt tests.  “Skid,” OTCH Sunfire’s Can’t Stop UDX2, also competing in Master Hunt tests. Her newest member of the family is "Riggs"  Sunfire's Rigged and Ready, in training for both field and competition obedience events.

She has been teaching Puppy Kindergarten for 10 years. She loves to train using positive motivation, lots of laughter and praise. She thoroughly enjoys being with all the puppies and their owners. Here at AK9C we are Pleased to have Bernadette Bove as our Puppy K instructor as well as our Competition Obedience Run Thru & Drop In Heeling Class instructor!!