Partners Dog Training

Where GOOD dogs
LEARN to be GREAT

480 . 595 . 6700
Cave . Creek . AZ

OUR STAFF
A note from Leighton: Everyone knows staff are what make any business a success. At a behavioral dog school, however, staff are the school. They need to be professional but motivated and happy. Dogs are our lives, and creating a better life for them is the single most important aspect of why we do this. We at Partners are like a family. Most of us have been friends for years. We are one big family! Most of us spend more time with each other, than we do with our families. Most of us arrive early in the morning, and don't leave until after dark. When you meet us, please know this is our life, and we take great pride in what we do. We believe in being motivated, happy and enjoying what we do. We don't like drama or confrontation. While this is our career, every one of us does this for the love of dogs, not for the money. Finally, we love the fact you place your trust in us. Be patient, and believe me when I say we will love your dog the way you love them.
Leighton Oosthuisen (Training Director) Monika Walec (Head Trainer) Kalina Dedek (Office Manager) Debbie Evenson (Public Relations) Faith Cannon (Sr Instructor) Cooper Moorhead Leslie Gannon Cindy Block Stefanie Heske Loni Tyler Kiki Cavuoto Talia Roessner Leo Oosthuisen Elizabeth McKinley Oosthuisen Nancy Zeiher Stephanie Zeiher Jacqueline Oosthuisen Chad Hunter Christopher Oosthuisen Alison Hunter Lois Rustin Betsie Gilpin Cindy Hogan Jennifer Vasily Melissa McLoughlan Larry Witherbee
		Leighton Oosthuisen
		Leighton is the TRAINING DIRECTOR of Partners Dog Training. Leighton is responsible for the overall school. For him working with dogs is a labor of love, and something he has dreamed about since a child. Leighton has been in the animal industry for about 25 years, and has worked with or supervised more than 27,000 dogs. He has also worked in the construction and property development field. His favorite pastime is photography, specifically dogs and people. His goal in live is to improve the lives of those around him. leighton@animaltraining.com Back to Top
		Monika Walec
		Monika is the HEAD TRAINER with Partners. Monika joined Partners in 1998 when we were still working out of another kennel. In 1998 when we moved to our new property, where we still are today, Monika became an Instructor. In 2007 she was promoted to Head Trainer, a position that carries with it managing all kennel operations, daily training functions, dealing withaggresive dogs, training operations, evaluating behaviors, devising training programs, and overseeing classes. Monika has also worked in the bomb dog field, and has extensive experience in the protection dog arena. She loves modeling, photography and trying to create the perfect protection dog. monika@animaltraining.com Back to Top
		Kalina Dedek
		Kalina is the Office Manager at Partners Dog Training. She joined Partners Dog Training in 1999, and worked her way up from assistant to managing all office operations. Her responsibilities include all office functions, scheduling, client service and keeping everything on schedule. She is a fanatical dog lover, and puts her Great Dane, Lycos (our logo) before everything in her life, including friends and family. kalina@animaltraining.com Back to Top
		Debbie Evenson Brooks
		Debbie worked with Leighton in 2002, producing and marketing the talk show, Partners Pet Talk on KCTK radio. Debbie became a client in 2003 and sent five personal dogs to Partners for training before deciding to join as an employee. In 2006 she joined Partners as the Public Relations and Marketing Manager. Responsibilities include all promotions, liaison with vets. Debbie travels around the state doing public education with animal rescues, vet offices and breeders. Debbie loves photography, modeling and spending time with her beautiful children and Paps. debbie@animaltraining.com Back to Top
		Faith Cannon
		Faith joined Partners in 2003, and has a grooming and vet tech background. She is a Senior Instructor, and also teaches obedience classes. She has four dogs, all of which are rescues. Faith is a wonderful person, with only one vice, her love for rescuing every creature she can get her hands on. To date countless dogs, cats and critters have all passed though her home looking for a better life. Back to Top
		Cooper Moorhead
		Cooper is an Instructor with Partners Dog Training. He is a former client, who decided to join Partners after training with his Dad at the school in 2005. Cooper teaches behavioral obedience, and also does private lessons. He is also a decoy in protection training, and enjoys working with his Belgian Malinois in ringsport. Cooper is a great guy, with a real gentle side, who loves to build and ride bikes. Back to Top
		Leslie Gannon
		Leslie is an Instructor with Partners Dog Training. She joined Partners after sending her six dogs to training camp. She has a medical background and a business management degree, and participates in agility and protection. Leslie gave up a senior career position at a major hospital to follow her dream of working with dogs. Weekends may find her doing martial arts, hiking her dogs or playing paintball - and yes, she is good at that too. Back to Top
		Cindy Block
		Cindy joined Partners in 2007 as a training consultant. She comes from a corporate background, and has a Belgian Malinois called Kayla. She has a wonderfully soft personality, and loves talking to people about their dogs and their needs. Back to Top
		Stefanie Heske
		Steffy is an Instructor with Partners Dog Training. Steffi joined Partners in 2007 and is the life-of-the-party. She has two Spaniels who she adores more than anything. She teaches obedience, and assists with protection training classes. Her smile is infectious, and her work ethic insane. If she cannot find something to clean, she gets bored. Back to Top
		Loni Tyler
		Loni is a Senior Instructor with Partners. She joined Partners in 2004, and comes from a breeding and retail background. She teaches behavioral obedience and agility, and participates in protection. She has two German Shepherds, one a new puppy she is training to be a personal defense dog. Loni has a wild personality, with enough energy to fill an ocean. She loves puppies, people and teaching, and is a friend to anyone that loves animals. Back to Top
		Kiki Cavuoto
		Kiki is an Instructor with Partners Dog Training. She is a former client, and also a veterinary technician with an extensive background in the animal veterinary field. In 2001 she joined Leighton and assisted with resident training and snake proofing. She currently has two dogs, two horses, snakes and over the years numerous other critters. Kiki has an extremely energetic personality and never stops talking, whether it is teaching, helping others or telling people what they need to know. (Even when they don't want to hear it) Everyone that knows her values her friendship and caring about their precious pets. Back to Top
		Talia Roessner
		Talia is an Instructor with Partners Dog Training. She joined Partners as an assistant in 2003, while her mom, Anita (now an advanced agility trainer) was doing basic obedience. In 2006 Talia joined Partners and became an instructor. She currently teaches obedience and agility, and also competes in agility trials. Talia is also now involved in teaching her dog personal protection training. She has a great character and loves to keep everyone happy and motivated with her jokes and comments. Back to Top
		Leo Oosthuisen
		Leo is Leighton's Dad, and looks after the whole training facility. He helped build our wonderful new training facility, and makes sure that all the kennels, systems and other areas are properly maintained. He is the proud papa of a German Shepherd pup, and has helped Leighton for the past xxx years to become who he is today. Back to Top
		Elizabeth McKinley Oosthuisen
		Elizabeth is Leighton's step mom, and looks after the mounds of paperwork he has to deal with daily. She is a great help in allowing him to focus on what he enjoys (dogs) and reducing the time he has to spend pushing a pen around his desk. Back to Top
Nancy doesn't like photos - sorry!		Nancy Zeiher
		Nancy is a Senior Instructor with Partners Dog Training. She and Leighton used to train together in Search & Rescue, and in 1998 she joined him as a professional trainer when the new facility was built. Nancy has extensive experience in teaching, and over the past 20 years has taught hundreds of classes. She has also been very involved with animal rescue, specifically German Shepherds. She is an awesome instructor, and famous for inventing wonderful ways to teach an old dog new tricks. Her students are always amazed at how much they learn in a short time together. Back to Top
		Stephanie Zeiher
		Stephanie is an Instructor with Partners Dog Training. She joined Partners as an assistant in 2001, and in 2004 became an Instructor. She teaches Obedience and Puppy Classes, and has also an extensive background in search & rescue and rehabilitating rescues. Stephany and her mom, Nancy, have been a part of Partners for many years, and are like a family to Leighton. Back to Top
		Jacqueline Oosthuisen
		Jacqui is an Instructor with Partners Dog Training. Jacqui along with Leighton founded Partners after moving to the U.S. in 1989. While no longer married to Leighton, she is still a part of the school she loved for so many years, running snake proofing and working with clients. Jacqui is a much loved member of the team and has an uncanny ability to remember people and dogs from years ago.
		Chad Hunter
		Chad is an Instructor with Partners Dog Training He joined Partners in 1998 as an assistant, and in 2004 became an Instructor. Chad is an obedience and agility instructor, and has competed in agility trials with his Border Collies. Chad has a very energetic side and lives to ride bikes, trucks and other off road stuff. His love for animals and people is awesome, and he thrives on a challenge. Back to Top
		Christopher Oosthuisen
		Christopher is an assistant trainer with Partners. He is the son of the Training Director, Leighton, and has been around dogs since being born. He has been assisting with teaching classes since the age of 6, and has trained numerous dogs in agility, protection and obedience. He currently has a German Shepherd and a Belgian Malinois. Back to Top
		Alison Hunter
		Alison is a Senior Instructor at Partners Dog Training. She has been training dogs professionally for over 30 years, and is also a very experienced behavioral horse trainer. Alison is a neighbor to Partners and has been a great friend to the school for over 10 years. While she is retired, she still visits and helps out when needed. Her dog Boomer, is an awesome protection dog, and she is currently the proud mama of a chubby bulldog. Back to Top
Lois doesn't like pictures - sorry!		Lois Rustin
		Lois is an Instructor with Partners Dog Training. She has worked with Partners as a consultant for over 12 years, and has an extensive background in the search & rescue field. Before retiring, she was also very involved in law enforcement, and she currently owns two German Shepherds. Back to Top
		Betsie Gilpin
		Betsie is a Instructor with Partners Dog Training. She joined Partners as a client in 1998, and as an Instructor in about 2004. She is an advanced agility instructor, handler and trainer, and competes statewide in agility trials. In her spare time, she is a Psychologist, specializing in working with children. (Actually this is her real career) She is a very soft spoken person, but an amazing friend to dogs. Besty is also a wonderful teacher and loves working with kids. Back to Top
		Cindy Hogan
		Cindy is a Senior Instructor with Partners Dog Training. She was a client of Partners before joining the team in 2003. Cindy currently teaches basic and advanced agility, and competes all over the state. She loves training with clickers and food, and believes in motivating a dog to reach their highest goals. Back to Top
		Jennifer Vasily
		Jennifer is an Instructor with Partners Dog Training. She is a past client, and in 2005 joined Partners as an instructor in agility. Her family commitments have slowed her teaching time available, but Jennifer still participates in agility trials and advanced training. Back to Top
		Melissa McLoughlan
		Melissa is an Instructor with Partners Dog Training. She is a past client with her tough guy, Max, and decided to get to know a little more about training. She has just had a baby boy, but will soon be back to speed and assisting in agility classes. Back to Top
		Larry Witherbee
		Larry is an Assistant Instructor with Partners Dog Training. He was a client and decided he wanted to learn more about training. Larry is the proud papa of a beautiful Mastiff called Zeus, and participates in obedience, agility and protection. Back to Top