KRIS BUTLER

• Owns, manages, dog trainer for American Dog Obedience Center , LLC, since 1979.

• · A nationally recognized dog trainer, specializing in programs that improve the quality of people's lives through interactions with trained dogs. More than 2500 dogs have stayed at American Dog Obedience Center received Kris Butler's unique brand of hands-on dog training.

• A long history of success in the world's most respected competitive dog sporting venues! Click here for a complete list.

• Author a successful book,Therapy Dogs Today and a book/DVD, Therapy Dogs: Compassionate Modalities.

• Kris has attended hundreds of hours of dog training and behavior seminars, studying a broad range of topics, methods, and philosophies from the world's leading professionals.

• Kris served as an adjunct faculty member in University of Denver's Graduate School of Social Work. From 2006 - 2008, she worked in development and served as instructor of DU's online Animals and Human Health certificate program.

• Developed goal-directed animal-enhanced rehabilitation programs at Integris Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Hospital in Oklahoma City , Southwestern Medical Center Rehabilitation Unit in Lawton , and trained therapists who developed a goal-directed program at The Rehab Unit at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City .

• 1995 – 2004 provided weekly contract services to Integris Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Hospital in Oklahoma City , handling her skilled therapy dogs during individual treatment sessions, working with occupations, physical, speech, psych, and recreational therapists in meeting specific patient goals.

• During 2002 developed and implemented a comprehensive volunteer selection and training process for Integris Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Hospital.

• In 1995, founded Petworks In Progress Foundation, a non-profit 501-c-3 organization for volunteer therapy animal handlers.

• Developed an animal-enhanced experiential program at an alternative high school in Moore, OK, working with her trained dogs and a licensed family therapist to meet adjudicated students' goals in communication and social skills. Transitioned the program to include volunteer animal/handler teams.

• Developed a goal-directed animal-enhanced experiential program for an elementary school in Norman OK, which included her trained dog, a special education teacher and Kris, interacting for three semesters with children identified as LD. A separate experiential program at this school that included Kris and her trained dogs targeted children identified as at-risk in a ten-week Pet-Assisted Social Skills group.

• Introduced animal-enhanced experiential learning at another elementary school, Norman OK, working for one year with her own trained dog and a special education teacher to meet goals of children identified as ED.

• At least 4 public school systems in Oklahoma have had teachers who have included their own trained dogs in educational environments after attending Kris's Reaching People Through Dogs programs for educators.

• Beginning in 1997, provided professional consulting services, delivered training seminars, conducted site assessments, trained animal evaluators, and conducted animal evaluations in Wyoming, Texas, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Arkansas, Ohio, New York, and Washington, as well as in Oklahoma.

• Licensed evaluator, evaluator instructor, team instructor, and site assessor for Delta Society, 1994 - 2007. She has served as a paid instructor and consultant on several Delta Society projects throughout the USA .

• Awarded Delta Society's prestigious Therapy Dog of the Year Honor, with golden retriever, Partner, in 1995.

• Member Therapy Dogs Incorporated from early 1990's to 2008.

• Member Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT).

DENNIS BUTLER

• Former Guide Dogs for the Blind trainer/instructor (license current)
• A long history of success in the world's most respected competitive venues - including obedience, agility, hunt test performance events, and QAA and All Age placements in AKC field trials. Click here for a complete list.
• AKC Field Trial judge (resigned because of professional status)
• Retired in 2007 from practicing as certified counselor (of people).

Dennis and his Labrador Retriever, Key, at Sooner Retriever Club's Spring, 2006 Field Trial in Purcell, Oklahoma, after winning the Qualifying Event. Photo by Roger Byrd.