American K9 Country

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, AKC Obedience Judge & Rally-O Judge,  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
"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 2008 Seminars
February 18- "Attitude is Everything"-Ottowa, Ontario Canada {FMI:Darwin}
April 4 & 5-Winter Kick-Start Workshop @ AK9C
April 19 & 20-Polishing Open & Utility Workshop @ Ak9C
April 26 & 27-Attitude is Everything"-Syosset, NY {FMI: Lynn}
June 20 to 22- Novice Camp @ AK9C
July 25 to 27- Open/Utility Camp @ AK9C
August 15 to 17- OTCH Camp @ AK9C
August 22 to 24- SUPER CAMP-Julie Daniels & Celeste Meade~
                            Agility & Obedience "FUN"damentals camps-
                                July 12 & 13- "Attitude is Everything" Seminar-Orlando, FL
July 19 & 20- "Attitude is Everything" Seminar-Lynchburg, Va {FMI: Judy}

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.

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.

Ken Fairchild

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 – MACH10, 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 6^th 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 3^rd 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 1^st places)
• over 320 qualifiers at USDAA Masters & Tournament classes (many 1^st places)

Teak – MACH, ADCH (USDAA Agility Dog Champion)

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

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

• 1996 USDAA Grand Prix Finalist

Cue! – NA

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

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

In 1986, Maureen McLatchy, began showing her Gordon Setter, Tess,  in conformation, obedience and hunt tests. Tess was the "spark" that began Maureen's love of the show ring. From this love was the start of Pinebirch Gordon Setters. In 1999 Maureen attended her first agility class and became hooked on the sport. In 2000, Maureen's dog Raven became the #1 Gordon Setter in the US for the Novice, Open & Excellent Agility classes. Maureen's dogs are always successful in all three venues (Obedience, Conformation & Agility) and have earned multiple High in Trials in Obedience and numerous specialty wins.  Maureen has put over 50 AKC obedience titles on numerous dogs, whose breeds include Gordon Setters, Irish Setters, English Cocker Spaniels, Papillons and Pointers. To date, her four dogs have earned 35 AKC agility titles with over 100 placements, and in 2004 Molly qualified for the AKC Nationals. Currently, she shares her life with four Gordons from 1 to 11 years of age, all descendants of Tess. Her newest super star, Jake, is not only lightenting fast but super accurate as well.  Maureen currently teaches our evening Introduction to Agility Classes. 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!

Betty Lewis

Betty is an approved AKC judge of Great Danes, Doberman Pinschers and Jr. Showmanship, and is in the process of applying for Whippets & Rhodesian Ridgebacks. Betty is also the author of a popular book on talking with animals telepathically called Animals Speak! She has been involved with Great Danes for over 34 years and Whippets for 8. During that time, she has competed and titled multiple dogs in conformation, obedience, tracking, freestyle (dancing with dogs), lure coursing, racing and pet facilitated therapy. All Betty's dogs have been owner handled! She currently lives with Great Danes Ch Waccabuc's Gnome de Plume, TD, CGC (Druid) and Ch Maitau's Grape Dame at Waccabuc, CGC (Raisin) and Whippets Ch Merci Isle Celestial Light, SC, FCh, CGC ( Halo) and Waccabuc's Two K Points of Light, JC, TD (Shimmer).

Betty does several types of energy healing including Therapeutic Touch, EFT,Reiki, TTEAM, Flower Essences and refers to a number of holistic professionals especially in the areas of homeopathy, acupuncture and chiropractic. pawsreflect@earthlink.net
Betty teaches our Thursday night drop-in handling class.