ABOUT OUR TRAINERS
Meet The Off Leash K9 Team
Cassie
Cassie started her dog training career in 2010 as a foster and rehabilitative home for rescue dogs through Southeast German Shepherd Rescue. Through fostering, she gained a unique understanding of fearful and fear aggressive dogs. Off Leash K9 Training offered a way to reach these dogs when other training methods failed to build much needed confidence. After seeing the results first hand, Cassie became an owner and trainer with the organization in 2013. In 2014, Cassie brought this unique training style to back to Minnesota. She is also the owner of Copper Pines Boarding and Mid-Minnesota K9, a nonprofit SAR and first responder therapy dog organization.
Lindsay
Lindsay, an East Coast transplant, joined the Off Leash K9 Minnesota team to combine her Communications degree with her love of dogs. She is the one behind the scenes from social media, our professional problem solver, setting up everyone’s yearly continuing education, coordinating schedules, and ensuring your family gets placed in the perfect program while receiving unparalleled care and updates throughout your training journey. Her passion is to keep dogs with their families and develop them into their highest potential. In her spare time, she continues her education with her German Shorthaired Pointer, Belgian Malinois, Dutch Shepherd, and American Bulldog.
Don
Don is a dog Trainer and Training Instructor who started his career as a military working dog handler in the Marine Corps from 2007-2016. When Don transitioned to the civilian sector, he completed his Trainer and Instructor certification through American K9 Interdiction. After graduation he started his path to working with canines, from drug and explosive interdiction to tracking humans, as well as protection, apprehension work to house pets. Don is also a certified professional decoy and has helped provide real world training to police departments and to the United States military.
Abie
Abie’s passion for training started when she got her two huskies Loki and Nallah. Originally, her eagerness to learn more and help dogs in need got her involved in rescue. She then began working with Adopt a Husky, MAD (Malinois and Dutch Shepherd Rescue), and Minnesota Wolfdogs. She has a passion for working with northern breeds and timid/nervous dogs. Abie has a background in education and is always continuing to learn and grow as a trainer. Currently she is extending her education by working towards her certification in canine nutrition. In her spare time you can find her outside with her animals – whether it is hanging out with the goats and chickens, or bikejoring and hiking with her huskies. They have hiked 68 parks and 200+ miles together!
keaton
Over the last five years, Keaton has focused on developing advanced skills in service dog development, therapy dog preparation, and advanced obedience. He has raised multiple successful service dogs that continue to actively assist their handlers both at home and in public settings. In addition to the service dogs he has raised, Keaton has helped dozens of handlers successfully train their own dogs for reliable service work. Beyond companion and service training, Keaton is an active competitor in the Protection Sports Association. He values the sport for the way it showcases a dog’s ability to demonstrate both power in drive and precision in control. When he isn’t training or competing, Keaton enjoys volunteering with his therapy dog and spending time outdoors hiking with his dogs.
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