About Partners Dogs
28 Years. 70,000+ Dogs. One Mission.
When you bring your dog to Partners Dog School, you are coming to the largest and highest-rated dog facility in the Southwest. Whether you want to stop problem behaviors, improve your dog's manners, take a few classes, socialize your dog in daycare, or just get a bit of exercise in agility, we have a number of programs to suit all of your interests and goals.
Family owned since 1997
Partners Dog School is a family-owned training school with campuses in Scottsdale and Cave Creek. Founder Leighton Oosthuisen still lives on the original Cave Creek property, and the same family holds the standard at both locations. We built this place to do what a lot of trainers will not: take the difficult dogs, work the behavior other people gave up on, and teach the owner right alongside the dog. That is the whole idea here. Training changes both ends of the leash, and the calm, confident life you want with your dog starts with a plan built around the dog in front of us.
Our story
How It All Started
Leighton Oosthuisen started training dogs at age 10 in South Africa. By his early twenties he was a K9 handler working bomb, drug, and Search and Rescue dogs, and competing at the highest levels of French Ring, Schutzhund, Agility, and Dock Diving.
In 1992 he emigrated to the United States. Five years later he bought an old racehorse training facility in Cave Creek called Lone Tree Ranch, and Partners Dog Training School was born. The Lone Tree still stands on the main training field today.
One trainer who took the dogs nobody else would has grown into Arizona's largest and highest-rated dog training school: two campuses, a team of 50+ professionals, and more than 70,000 dogs whose families got their normal life back. The mission has not changed.
We still take the dogs nobody else will, because training changes both ends of the leash.Leighton Oosthuisen, Founder
Our journey
The Partners Story, Year by Year
Five decades, two countries, and tens of thousands of dogs. Here is how Partners became the school it is today.
1973 · A passion begins. At ten years old, Leighton Oosthuisen starts training dogs in South Africa. The childhood obsession becomes a lifelong calling.
The K9 years · Apprentice to head trainer. Leighton rises from apprentice to head trainer at a professional school while working as a K9 handler on bomb, narcotics, and Search and Rescue dogs, and competing in French Ring, Agility, Dock Diving, and Schutzhund.
1992 · A new country. Leighton emigrates to the United States, bringing decades of behavior work and competitive sport experience with him.
1997 · Lone Tree Ranch. He buys an old racehorse training facility in Cave Creek and founds Partners Dog School. The iconic Lone Tree still stands on the main field. From day one the mission is set: train the dog and the owner together.
A field built for the desert. Partners opens a purpose-built Cave Creek facility with large indoor training areas, zoned air conditioning, and a 15,000 square foot training field made for the Arizona heat.
DaySchool arrives. A full-scale DaySchool program opens with 12,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor play, 10-to-1 dog-to-staff ratios, and structured positive play. It quickly becomes the most popular program.
Luxury boarding. Boarding is rebuilt around luxury suites, tiled floors, and industry-leading cleaning, setting a new standard for overnight care in Arizona.
Scottsdale opens. A second campus opens in Scottsdale, a 23,000 square foot resort and training school. The team grows past 50 trainers and staff.
2022 · 25 years and Partners University. On its 25th anniversary, Partners launches Partners University so owners can learn the methodology that has shaped tens of thousands of dogs.
Today · Still taking the hard cases. The Partners Dogs Foundation supports rescue rehabilitation and access for families who need it, while the school keeps doing what it has since 1997: taking the dogs nobody else will.
What we believe
Our Training Philosophy
We are balanced, tool-agnostic trainers. Treats, markers, slip leads, prong collars, e-collars, place work, whatever earns the best result for the dog and the strongest relationship for the owner. Tools do not cause harm. People do. Our job is knowing which tool fits which dog, and when.
Every session is built around where a behavior sits in our four-stage approach:
- Teaching: introducing the concept
- Reinforcing: building consistency
- Proofing: holding up under real distractions
- Maintenance: keeping it for life
The real philosophy is simple. Training changes both ends of the leash. We do not just train your dog, we teach you, because the relationship between the two of you is what makes it last.
Meet our founders
Leighton Oosthuisen
Training Director and Founder
Leighton started training dogs in South Africa in 1973, at age 10. A former K9 handler who worked bomb, drug, and Search and Rescue dogs, he has competed and titled at the highest levels of French Ring, Schutzhund, Agility, and Dock Diving. With more than 50 years at the end of a leash and 30+ years specializing in behavior modification, his balanced, personalized approach is the foundation of every Partners program.
He still lives on the Cave Creek property with his family, which is why an owner is on site overnight for every boarding guest. Away from the training field he is a World Champion target pistol shooter who has represented the USA at three World Pistol Championships.
"Give me the dog other people gave up on, and give the family a real plan. That is where the good work starts."
Christopher Oosthuisen
Chief Operating Officer
Christopher oversees operations across both campuses, Partners Dogs University, and the Partners Dogs Foundation. In more than a decade at Partners he has worked with well over 10,000 dogs across behavior modification, confidence building, protection, and competition agility and obedience. His focus: make sure every family leaves with the tools, confidence, and daily habits to keep progressing long after the program ends.
Like his father, Christopher competes for the USA in target pistol shooting, ranking in the top 50 in the world, and he trains and competes in French Ring.
"My goal is to inspire every family to make training a daily part of life with their dog."
Scottsdale campus
Meet Our Scottsdale Leaders
Hannah KochmanHead Trainer and Location ManagerHannah specializes in anxious, insecure, and quirky dogs, guiding thousands of them from Pre-School Puppy through advanced behavior modification and snake avoidance.
AKC CGC Evaluator · Pet CPR + First Aid · Partners Dogs UniversityView Profile
Nicole ColasaccoDaySchool ManagerNicole runs the Scottsdale DaySchool floor and teaches Pre-School Puppy and foundation manners, turning big daycare energy into calm, polite habits that carry home.
Partners Dogs University · Pet CPR + First Aid · Dog GurusView Profile
Emma BadoniBoarding ManagerEmma runs Scottsdale boarding so every overnight guest keeps their structure, enrichment, and training momentum while you are away.
K9 Nutrition · Pet CPR + First Aid · Partners Dogs UniversityView Profile
Chase LarsonTeam Success ManagerChase coaches both ends of the leash, taking reactive and hard-to-place dogs and building the structure that turns them into calm, trustworthy companions.
Partners Dogs University · Pet CPR + First Aid · Dog GurusView Profile
Cave Creek campus
Meet Our Cave Creek Leaders
Megan FiedlerHead Trainer and Location ManagerMegan runs the Cave Creek campus and takes on most of its behavior modification cases, from misunderstood rescues to the dogs other trainers turn away.
AKC CGC Evaluator · IACP Professional Member · Pet CPR + First AidView Profile
Monica JensenBoarding and DaySchool ManagerMonica builds confidence in growing puppies through socialization done right, and teaches Pre-School Puppy and Zoomers Agility.
Partners Dogs University · Pet CPR + First Aid · Dog GurusView Profile
Noa Holt-ShannonTeam Success ManagerNoa coaches trainers, pet parents, and dogs alike, from first puppies to intense behavior cases, so results hold long after class ends.
CGC Evaluator · Pet CPR + First Aid · Partners Dogs UniversityView Profile
Beyond training
Our Commitment to the Community
Partners Dogs has always been more than a business. We are part of the fabric of the Scottsdale and Cave Creek communities, and we take that seriously.
Our trainers pursue continuing education year round, attending conferences, earning certifications, and staying current with the evolving science of canine behavior. We partner with local rescue organizations to rehabilitate dogs that might otherwise be unadoptable, and we work to keep professional training within reach for families across the Valley.
Better-trained dogs make better communities. Fewer surrenders, fewer bites, and more families actually enjoying their dogs instead of struggling with them. That is the world we are building, one dog at a time.
See it for yourself
The Next Chapter Is Your Dog's Story
Walk either campus, watch training in action, and meet the trainers you just read about. Walk-ins are welcome during office hours, or start with a free call and we will map the right program before you ever visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long has Partners Dog School been in business?
Partners Dog School was founded in 1997, which means we have been training dogs in the Scottsdale and Cave Creek area for over 28 years. In that time we have trained more than 70,000 dogs across every breed, temperament, and behavior challenge you can imagine. What started as a single trainer with a passion for working with dogs other trainers wouldn't take has grown into Arizona's largest and highest-rated dog training operation with two state-of-the-art facilities. Our longevity speaks for itself, families trust us because we have the track record to back up every promise we make.
What training methods do you use?
We are balanced trainers and we are tool-agnostic. We do not subscribe to any single ideology, we subscribe to outcomes for the dog and the family. Treats, markers, leash pressure, place training, slip leads, prong collars, e-collars, bark collars: we use whatever fits the dog in front of us and improves the relationship long-term. After 28 years and 70,000+ dogs trained, we have learned that limiting ourselves by equipment limits the outcome. Tools do not cause harm or pain, people do. The trainer's understanding, timing, and pairing are what make a tool safe and effective. Our staff attend conferences, pursue certifications, and constantly refine their craft. If you would like to walk through how we would approach your dog, schedule a free consultation.
Are your trainers certified?
Yes. Our trainers pursue ongoing certifications and continuing education year-round. More importantly, every trainer at Partners has been mentored internally through thousands of real-world cases, from basic puppy manners to severe aggression. We believe that certifications matter, but hands-on experience under expert mentorship is what truly makes a great trainer. Our head trainers have each worked with thousands of dogs individually, and many of our team members have been with Partners for five or more years. You can meet our team to learn more about each trainer's background and specialties.
Do you work with all breeds and sizes?
Absolutely. We work with every breed, size, and temperament, from eight-pound Chihuahuas to 150-pound Cane Corsos and everything in between. We also work with dogs of all ages, from young puppies in Pre-School Puppy to senior dogs who need a refresher or a behavior adjustment. At Partners, we factor in your dog's breed tendencies, personality, age, and history to develop a training plan tailored specifically to them. No two dogs get the same cookie-cutter approach because no two dogs are the same.
What makes Partners different from other trainers?
Three things set us apart: depth of experience, comprehensive follow-through, and genuine honesty. With over 70,000 dogs trained, there is virtually no behavioral scenario we have not seen and successfully addressed. But training your dog is only half the job, every program includes extensive owner education through private lessons and group classes so the results actually last when your dog goes home. And we will always be straight with you about what your dog needs, even if it means recommending a different program than the one you called about. We would rather match you with the right solution than sell you the wrong one. That integrity is why 50+ veterinary practices across the Phoenix metro area refer families to us.