EXPERIENCE

2008-2012
 Owner & Master Canine Trainer: Focus Dog Training, LLC and Walkenstrutt Protection Dogs
1997-2010 Founder and Instructor: Professional training school; 1-year program (6 hrs/day x 4 days/week)
1992-2002 Owner: Walkenstrutt German Shepherds; 2 kennel facilities (Florissant, CO and Amsterdam, Netherlands)

  • Imported & bred German shepherd dogs
  • Trained dogs for personal protection and police canine units
1994-1998 Owner: Blue Hills Boarding Kennels (Longmont, CO)

  • 100-run facility
  • Puppy kindergarten classes and training for family / service dogs

 

COMMUNITY SERVICE

1998-2011 Teller County Regional Animal Shelter (TCRAS)

  • Evaluated canine intakes
  • Developed specialized training for high-risk dogs and those with low adoption potential
1992-2002 Walkenstrutt German Shepherds:

  • Operated a targeted program that donated 2 fully-trained police canines to underfunded U.S. law enforcement departments
  • Non-profit demonstrations for DARE programs
1994-1998 Blue Hills Boarding Kennels and Walkenstrutt German Shepherds:

  • Expert witness for Boulder and Gunnison county court cases in relation to dog bite injuries
  • Non-profit board and trains for clients of the Boulder County Battered Women’s Shelter
  • Voluntary consultant for Longmont Humane Society via grant-funded community-based program (intake evaluations, community lectures on assessment/house-breaking/general obedience, employee skills development (aggressive dogs, dog fights, canine socialization)

 

OFFICIAL SCHOOLING & CERTIFICATIONS

NATTS-certified Master Canine Trainer Colorado Career Academy; 600 clock hours = 4 months of full-time training
NATTS-certified Master K9 Instructor Colorado Career Academy; 1,200 clock hours = 7.5 additional months of full-time training
Narcotic Canine Trainer & Narcotic Detection K9 handler (Vehicles, buildings, and open areas) N.C.T. 8 week work-study program; Camelot Training Facility
Tracking and Cadaver Dog trainer/handler Donovan Training Academy; 1,300 clock hours

 

PERSONAL

Rick lives in Colorado Springs with his wife, Candace, his 3 children, a son-in-law, one grandchild, and two dogs, Tango and Duchess.