The owners & staff of AK9C are dedicated animal professionals. Like you, they were in search of a facility that could provide the quality care & service that would meet the high standard of excellence they wanted for their own pets. In March of 2003, American K9 Country was born as the brain child of Celeste Meade Maurer! As a fully family owned business, AK9C is owned by Celeste, her daughter Amber, & her sister and brother in-law Dottie and Robert Proulx!
American K9 Country is the LARGEST all-inclusive pet care facility & show event center in the country, boasting an indoor facility that is over 32,000 sq feet situated on over 32 acres of land. It was created by animal people FOR animal people. We have dedicated ourselves to offer only the best in specialized dog training, canine sport events, grooming, boarding, canine rehab & daycare services as well as educational seminars for the professional and non-professional dog owner.
Our philosophy is simple: We offer the same care to your pets as we would our very own. Come tour our beautiful facility & see for your self the attention to every comfort we provide for pets & their people.
Not only is Celeste one of the owners but she is the brains behind this amazing facility. Celeste’s vision was to create a facility that was inviting not only owners but pets as well. AK9C is a facility built by dog trainers for dog trainers. Every aspect of the facility revolves around convenience along with a cozy home feeling. This is more than a pet care facility; rather it is both pet and owner’s home away from home. Whether it is the beautifully hand-painted floors or one of the many murals that cover our walls, Celeste & friends poured their hearts and souls into making this facility what it is today!
As a professional dog trainer, Celeste Meade has had a successful career competing nationally and training dogs for over 30 years. She has achieved numerous titles in Conformation, Sheep Herding and Tracking while earning numerous #1 national rankings in Obedience, She personally has earned TWELVE perfect “200” Obedience scores, over 100 High in Trials, over 20 Conformation Championships and numerous coveted “Dog World Awards.” Beyond her personal accomplishments, by far Celeste’s greatest pride in her obedience students’ successes. As a group, her students have earned over Thirty perfect “200’s”, over 500 High In Trials, multiple Obedience Trial Championships and are among the most successful obedience competitors in the country with nationally ranked dogs. Whether she’s outside the ring warming up a student or outside the ring cheering them on, Celeste pours her heart and soul into every dog & handler team. Celeste prides herself in her “Attitude is Everything” way of dog training & Aerobic Handling Techniques.
If you’ve ever been to AK9C then you’ve more than likely seen Amber running around the facility like a small tornado with a border collie following along behind her. Whether it’s teaching classes, updating our website, scheduling events, sorting through payroll or even cleaning the bathrooms, Amber is the linchpin for this facility. After attending Colorado State University and the University of New Hampshire majoring both in Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Amber received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Pre-Veterinary Medicine in 2003. As a PCSA Certified Advanced Pet Care Technician Level II & Certified Red Cross Pet First Aid Technician and with over 5 years experience as a veterinary surgical technician, Amber brings medical perspective to the
AK9C crew. Once destined for Veterinary School, Amber put her plans of attending Tufts on hold to manage this great facility.
After over 30 years of riding, training & showing show-jumpers, Amber has hung up her spurs for Dog Sports! Over the last 20 years, Amber has titled multiple dogs in Conformation, Obedience, Sheep Herding, Rally & Agility. As one of the country’s Top Agility
Competitors, Amber now travels the world showing & teaching the sport of Dog Agility. As a Five-Time World Team member, Amber shares her vast knowledge of the sport with her students as well as being featured in numerous dog sport documentaries. For a full list of Amber & her dogs’ accomplishments please click here
Dot & Bob have been in the competitive dog world for over 30 years. Bob has been an avid AKC show exhibitor/handler and owned and managed Ivy Hollow Kennels with his wife Dottie from 1980-1996. He is recognized for producing top winning Champion Alaskan Malamutes in breed & performance events. Bob has competed in dog sledding events and has designed & built wheel-rig sleds for off-season sledding. Bob has illustrated his lifelong dedication and love for responsible dog ownership & care through his dealings with local breed rescue organizations. As a member of Yankee Alaskan Malamute Club, Bob has acted as Vice-President and Co-Hospitality Chairman at many AKC shows & events. While Bob keeps the AK9C property humming, Dottie or as she is known to the AK9C crew “Auntie Dot”, keeps the business aspect in check while at the same time giving American K9 Country the warm family feel we all love. They currently reside in the log-home adjacent to the facility and provide extra on-site security. Their newest addition to the family is “Milo” a young energetic Bichon Frise who is currently in training to become a future Agility STAR! Whether Dot is in the cafe cooking the daycare staff breakfast, or whether Bob is outside jump-starting a client’s car, American K9 Country would not be the beautiful, warm family facility that it is without co-owners, Bob & “Auntie Dot.”
