Canine Academy, Inc.

"Your dog's best friend!"

Colleen Hitchcock 
Colleen is the owner and one of the trainers at Canine Academy. She graduated from the National K9 School of Dog Trainers and is a certified professional trainer, as well as an accredited Canine Good Citizen instructor, and a Certified Dog Trainer through the IACP. Colleen has attended seminars at Cornell University on Canine Behavior.


Colleen is a member of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) and National K9 Dog Trainers Association. Colleen was a 4-H group leader. Colleen owns three pitbulls and 3 border collies.  She competes in agility and has competed in                                                                                obedience. Her dogs have been feature in both Front                                                                    and Finish as well as Borderlines magazine. Colleen                                                                    enjoys fostering dogs, training them, and helping                                                                          them find their forever homes.

 

Alex de Foucault 

Alex has been a trainer at Canine Academy since 2008. She began her career with us after attending basic obedience classes here with her own dog. She was hooked and has never left!


Alex owns four German shepherds, Felon, Freki, Joker and Luke as well as a black Lab named Kyle. She trains and competes in IPO, AKC obedience and rally, dock diving and UKC conformation, NACSW nosewok and more. She was a puppy raiser for Guiding Eyes for the Blind for many years and raised seven successful guide dogs.

Alex is a professional member of the                                                                                              International Association of Canine Professionals an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, member of the Schutzhund club of Buffalo, and a member of Upstate Kennel Club. She continues to learn through various seminars and workshops and takes  classes from other trainers every chance she gets.

 
Gretchen Buckles 

Gretchen has been with us since 2006. She brings lots of wisdom and enthusiasm to class. She is a TDI evaluator as well as active member of TDI with her dog Kunik.

   

Gretchen owns a Border terrier named Krouton, a French Bulldog named Quasi and a Siberian Husky named Kunik. She enjoys training all three in Rally, Obedience and  scent work. She makes weekly therapy visits to various locations as well with both Kunik and Krouton. 

                                                                              Gretchen thoroughly enjoys helping people                                                                                    communicate effectively with their canine                                                                                      counterparts. Her dedication and devotion to                                                                                dogs and their owners is a valued component                                                                                of our Canine Academy team.


 

Michelle Hamilton

Michelle began at Canine Academy in 2004, working with her miniature poodle under Colleen’s instruction through the 4H program. Since then, Michelle has competed in obedience, rally obedience, agility and nosework. She currently owns a standard poodle. 

In 2014 she began interning at Canine Academy through Canisuis College. We recognized her skill and devotion to training animals and added her to our team in 2015 after her graduation from the Animal Behavior, Ecology and Conservation program. 


Michelle is an associate member of the IACP and                                                                         is also a CGC evaluator. 


 
 

Lisa Eagler 


Lisa teaches the beginner and advanced agility classes.  Her focus is on teamwork and having fun in agility. Lisa guides you and your dog whether you are there just for fun or if you are going to compete. 

She owns numerous border collies and has multiple titles with her three border collies, Lilly, Echo, and Grace. 

Cindy Drust

Cindy began with us as a client, training her own German Shepherd, Shadow,  five years ago. She returned recently when she acquired her new caviler puppy, Scout. We quickly realized that she had the passion and work ethic we look for!  Cindy is responsible for a lot of behind the scenes things that help keep Canine Academy running smoothly! She also assists with our daycare dogs.