Founder and Training Director, Leighton Oosthuisen, emigrated from South Africa to the USA in 1992. While in South Africa, Leighton served Law Enforcement, Search & Rescue, and in the military working dog unit, specializing in Explosive and Narcotic detection K9’s. He started training dogs in 1973 at a mere 10 years old and in 1986 he joined a pet training school as an apprentice, going on to become an Instructor and later, the Head Trainer.
In December 1997, Leighton purchased an old race horse facility, named Lone Tree Ranch, and founded Partners Dog Training School. (The “lone tree” still exists on the main training field). This laid the foundation for what was to become one of the biggest dog training schools in the USA.
He met his first client, a Great Dane puppy, in a park near Paradise Valley Mall, and by word of mouth Leighton built a following of dedicated loyal customers, most of which are still with him to this day.
His goal was the same then as it is now, “Training Good Dogs to be Great”, and as they say…the rest is history.
