Meet Our Instructors

Jeff Abel

Over the course of 20+ years as an agility instructor, Jeff has worked with a wide range of dog and handler teams from beginners though accomplished international competitors. He recognizes that each team learns at their own unique pace regardless of the class level. Jeff's cornerstone for teaching is detail and consistency, resulting in teams with better confidence and understanding. He often pushes students beyond their comfort zone to help expand their limits and redefine their own personal goals. Jeff is able to improve team communication while reinforcing speed - all while centering their experience on fun and laughter. From teams just entering their first agility competition, to teams in the Excellent or Masters classes, or those focusing on improving their international handling abilities, Jeff skillfully uses a myriad of tools learned from top national and international instructors to help his students achieve their personal best.

Jeff has owned dogs that include the historic 5-time AKC Invitational MACH 2 and USDAA Master Agility Dog Tipo (Spanish Water Dog); MACH and USDAA ADCH Snafu (Border Collie), a semi-finalist at the 2015 USDAA Cynosport World Games. Both dogs have had many impressive rankings and wins and are multiple AKC Nationals qualifiers.

His recent competitive partner is AKC MX, MXJ and USDAA MAD Fray. She has competed at the AWC International Tryouts and the AKC European Open Tryouts with impressive showings. In 2019, she was a UKI National Championship Finalist.

He also owns his upcoming agility partner Hookah.

Jeanie Burton

Jeanie began her agility journey at Kruisin' Kanines over 20 years ago with a Rhodesian Ridgeback and a rescued Pit Bull mix. Since then Jeanie has gone on to be an instructor for a variety of agility classes and is Kruisin' Kanines Training Director. She shares a wealth of knowledge learned over the years from national and international instructors. One of her interests is the early shaping of subtle behaviors so they mature into fast dependable habits. She is also interested in fast and reliable obstacle performances and international handling. And while her calm demeanor might belie her competitive spirit, she is a master at creating drive while maintaining focus. A self-described "student of the game," her own students welcome her creativity and dedication to excellence that helps them succeed in the sport. 
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Jeanie has a soft spot for rescues. She has worked with and through a variety of rescue behaviors. She works to modify and reshape them in an effort to achieve confidence, enthusiasm, and ultimately build successful teams. 

Jeanie's current competition dogs include MACH4 ADCH River, a rescued Border Collie. River has qualified for AKC Nationals annually since the age of two. River and Jeanie made the Finals at AKC Nationals in 2014 and placed an impressive 5th in the 24" class. Her young Border Collie WiFi is now embarking on his agility career and shows tremendous promise.*

Barb Doering

Barbara’s interest in dog sports was sparked 30 years ago when she attended obedience class with her first dog. She has been teaching obedience for 20 years and is an AKC obedience judge as well as a member of the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors. 

Barbara’s agility career began in 2008. She has earned multiple Master Agility Championships with her Rottweilers. She is enthusiastic about introducing others to the dog sports she loves, and recognizes the importance of strong foundation skills.   

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Linda Goldman

With more than 38 years as a Health & Physical Education teacher (primarily high school), Linda has an established history of success in teaching individual and group sports while developing a wide range of casual and goal-minded athletes.  When the agility bug bit her in 1999, she found a way to marry her enthusiasm for sports with her love for dogs.  Linda's background in teaching combined with her understanding, enthusiasm, and thoughtfulness (not to mention success!) in agility, makes for students who progress with confidence, heart, and humor.

​Linda's current competition dogs include two young Border Collies, Wynne and Troo. Both dogs are not only well-known for their speed and love of the game, but for their versatility - they work on Linda and husband Rob's farm and are proficient in nosework and herding.  
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Alexa KaraouLIS

Alexa is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA, CCUI, CGC Evaluator) and has been working with dogs and in dog sports and training for more than 15 years. She has participated in agility, flyball, freestyle, and nosework/scentwork.

One of her most notable talents is working with dogs that have difficulty coping in stressful environments. Often when a dog becomes stressed, the ability to cope diminishes and this results in a dog that barks uncontrollably, cannot sit still, pay attention, or behaves wildly. Alexa had the opportunity to work and train with Leslie McDevitt, the author of “Control Unleashed: Creating a Focused and Confident Dog,” a book that addresses this stress-related behavior.

​Alexa’s teaching methods are positive and patient, and her gift of working with dogs also extends to the people who own and love these dogs.

Caroline Lebel

Coming soon.

Rosemary McQuate

Bringing a great deal of knowledge from her 15+ years in agility, Rosemary's interests include the deconstruction of handling challenges into smaller components designed for success. This approach as an instructor not only provides students with the best possible avenue for trouble shooting, it helps students develop their own problem solving skills - an attribute students covet as they embark on their own agility journey. With a focus on positional cues, proper start line procedures, and handling techniques, students find the passionate support and guidance they need as they progress to sequencing and beyond.

Rosemary has a keen eye for details. She pays particular attention to problem solving and strengthening skills necessary to avoid issues, as well as efficient obstacle performance. She is equally focused on developing and maintaining strong relationships between the dog and human handler, in an effort to optimize enthusiastic performances from the team.

​Rosemary's current agility dogs include MACH4 Dai, a top Welsh Springer Spaniel that has qualified for the AKC Invitationals for 5 straight years, Australian Shepherd MACH Belle, rescued Border Collie MACH Jakie, and youngster Joey, an Australian Shepherd already competing in the AKC Masters classes. 

Sarah Westcott

A Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KSA), Sarah launched Doggie Academy, Inc. in New York City in 2007 and founded the Brooklyn Dog Training Center in 2011. Sarah recently relocated to Pennsylvania and though she still sees her NYC clients, she is excited to bring her expertise to Bucks County.

Sarah has worked as a Therapy Dog Trainer for The Good Dog Foundation, a Behavior Counselor at a multi-location Manhattan dog care facility, a Behavior Foster for rescue groups like the ASPCA, and she has been an agility instructor at Camp Gone to the Dogs since 2012. In 2019, Sarah & Kate Naito published their book "Play Your Way to Good Manners: Getting the Best Behavior from Your Dog through Sports, Games, and Tricks" - it was named the 2019 Best Book in Training or Sports by the Dog Writers Association of America. Sarah also works as an on-set animal handler for film, television, and photo shoots. Her dogs have been seen on Law & Order, The Hunt with John Walsh, Blacklist: Redemption, a commercial on Animal Planet that aired during the 2018 Puppy Bowl, and several episodes of Seven Seconds on Netflix.

As a full-service dog trainer and behavior counselor, Sarah draws from her extensive toolbox to craft a unique lesson plan for each student based on their needs and goals. She believes that training should be fun for both dog and human so the journey is just as rewarding as the results.

She enjoys training & competing with her dogs in a variety of dog sports. Sarah and her late Labrador Retriever/Redbone Coonhound cross, Hank, were honored to be among the competitors at the first Master’s Agility Championship at Westminster and were thrilled to win the 24″ Excellent Standard class. In 2017 Hank was ranked third in the country in WCRL Rally Obedience for Rally Level 3. Sarah is now competing with her Border Collie Fever MX AXJ OF DN CGC TKA MAD BID SSB (Speedoggie Going To Need More Cowbell) and training her puppy Riddle TKN (Speedoggie What The Dormouse Said) in agility foundation skills. Riddle is Fever’s niece, but she is a very different dog. Sarah is having to change up her training routines for this little spitfire! Riddle is also littermates to Jeff Abel’s Hookah.
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Contact Kruisin' Kanines Training Director, Jeanie Burton, for more information on group classes and private instruction.
*Jeanie Burton photo from Steve Surfman.
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