ABOUT OUR TRAINERS

Meet The Off Leash K9 Team

Chris Darhower – Owner

Chris is the Owner of Harrisburg Off-Leash K9 Training.

From a young age, Chris worked on horse farms and trained horses until he answered the call for the military. After 9 years in the Army including a deployment to Iraq, Chris became a municipal law enforcement officer in the state of Pennsylvania and transitioned to K9 during his tenor there. Chris and his partner, K9 Pedro were certified by the National Police Work Dog Association in basic obedience, handler protection, narcotics detection, suspect apprehension, building and article searches, and tracking. While their favorite activity was foot patrol, Chris and Pedro also participated in community events, raising drug awareness and demonstrating Pedro’s awesome skillset. While training, Chris was able to work with multiple dogs of varying breeds and ages and their handlers in basic obedience and K9-related skills. Chris also attended a K9 Medic course and works with rescue animals.

Chris has eight dogs at home, all of whom were rescued. He calls them his “Muttley Crew” and they range from 10lb miniature dachshunds to a huge St Bernard named “Barlow”. Chris lives with his family in Newville, PA. Chris is also an avid fisherman and loves the outdoors and nature. Chris recently obtained his instructor certification in Pet First Aid and CPR through PetTech and founded a non-profit called “Cumberland Valley Animal Assistance Program” (www.cvaap.org) which feeds local pets.

Chris believes in the quote by author Dean Koontz, “Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one, is a life diminished.” He says, “I treat dogs like I treat my daughter. I respect them. I admire them for their own unique personalities and differences. It reignites my passion to train every time I see that light bulb come on and they master a skill. The pride you see come over them and the happiness on their owner’s faces. That’s what this job is all about.”

Courtney Cavanaugh – Lead Trainer

Courtney is the Lead Trainer of Harrisburg Off-Leash K9 Training.

Courtney Cavanaugh is a passionate and dedicated dog trainer at Off Leash K9 Training Harrisburg, where she has been transforming the lives of dogs and their owners for over five years. Courtney’s love for animals led her to leave a career in nursing to pursue her true calling in dog training. Her impressive ability to connect with and train dogs is only matched by her deep compassion for them.

Courtney is a proud dog mom to four adorable pups, three of which are rescues with behavioral issues. This personal experience has given her a unique understanding and appreciation for the challenges that come with rehabilitating and training dogs with special needs. Residing in Carlisle, PA, Courtney has created a loving and supportive home for her pack of mutts.

In addition to her work at OLK9, Courtney is an active member of her community, serving as both an EMT and firefighter. Her dedication to helping others extends to the animal world as well, as she co-founded and currently serves on the Board of the Cumberland Valley Animal Assistance Program. This local non-profit organization provides pet food to residents in need throughout South Central Pennsylvania, ensuring that no pet goes hungry in their time of need.

Cavanaugh’s unwavering commitment to her dogs, her clients, and her community sets her apart as an exceptional dog trainer and a valued member of Off Leash K9 Training Harrisburg.

 

Chris Darhower
Chris Darhower
Courtney Cavanaugh


(717) 970-9777

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About Off Leash K9 Training
Dog Trainers Who Are Recognized Around The World!

Nick White is the Owner and Founder of Off Leash K9 Training.  Nick is a former US Marine and former US Secret Service. He currently has over 130+ dog training locations throughout the United States.

Nick is globally recognized as being one of the top dog trainers in the world.  He has 2 official world records in off leash obedience, named on Wikipedia as one of the top 20 dog trainers in the world, recently named top 10 trainer in the world by bestdogtrainers.org, has been featured in many magazines and shows, and he is regularly requested by the top celebrities and athletes! He has been called upon by people such as actor Ryan Reynolds, WWE’s John Cena, MLB All Star Max Scherzer, UFC World Champion Jon “Bones” Jones, and many more!

You can visit our YouTube Channel and watch over 1500+ before/after videos of Nick and his team’s work!  Off Leash K9 Training has more documented videos than any dog training business in the entire world!

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