Matthew Faccinto, BS
Training Director & Chief ManagerMatthew founded ThunderHawk Canine in March of 2006
Matthew is currently assisting the Tennessee counties of Putnam, Jackson, Dekalb, Overton & Fentress in narcotics detection and apprehension. Within the last year he has placed dogs on all of these departments as well as the city of Monterey, and completed a "retrain" for the Smithville City K9. Contact Matt directly for more information regarding dogs available or programs to help your department.
Matthew Faccinto served in the Navy from 1993-1999. From there, he attended Hamilton University and graduated with a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Matt began formally working with dogs in 2002, both training and decoying for others. He began training police dogs for narcotics and apprehension shortly thereafter. Matt's accomplishments include titling multiple dogs in protection sport and certifying many dogs to work the streets as Police K9. Matt's own dog, Fonzy, has been requested by local PD to assist in drug raids and searches. Matt has also become very well established as a local expert in the field of canine behavior and works extensively with "Bite Free Putnam County" in Cookeville, TN and spends many hours assisting the local shelters in behavior assessment and recondition training.
Bachelor's of Science - Hamilton University, Evanston, WY
Major- Mechanical Engineering
MidWest Region Assistant Director - Protection Sports Association (PSA)
Reserve Deputy - Jackson County Sheriff Department
Certified Decoy - Protection Sports Association (PSA)
Professional Member - National Tactical Police Dog Association (NTPDA)
Founding Board Member - Bite Free Putnam County
AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator - American Kennel Club
Christie Meyer, BS, CPDT
Clinical Behavior Consultant, Certified Police K9 TrainerChristie joined the ThunderHawk Canine team in March of 2008
Currently, Christie is giving educational in-services to veterinary staff about animal behavior in the veterinary setting. She presented at the 2006-2008 Michigan Veterinary Conferences and began teaching agility at Camp Dogwood in Chicago, IL in May of 2007. Also very exciting, Christie was extensively interviewed for her knowledge of canine behavior and the Dutch Shepherd breed and was heavily quoted in the June 2006 issue of Dog Fancy.
Christie Meyer graduated from Michigan State University's College of Natural Science with a Bachelor's in Zoology and a Concentration in Animal Behavior and Neurobiology. After graduating, Christie attended North State Canine Academy in Sanford, North Carolina where she received her Master Trainer's Certification in Professional Pet Obedience and Behavior Modification. While at North State, Christie also gained experience in personal protection, narcotics and Schutzhund training. Christie worked with Kern Road Veterinary Clinic in Fowlerville, MI from May of 1997 to March 2008. She also spent the summer of 2002 running an obedience and Police K9 kennel in Maryland where she was the primary handler for pet dogs and imported police dogs. Since acquiring her first competition dog in 1999, Christie has titled in Obedience and Protection and is currently also competing in agility. Her diversified training experience, coupled with a strong veterinary technical assistance background, makes her well suited to address your pet's every need.
- Master Training Certification- North State Canine Academy, Sanford, NC
- Bachelor's of Science - Michigan State
University, East Lansing, Michigan
Major- Zoology, Concentration- Animal Behavior and Neurobiology - Certified Pet Dog Trainer - Association of Pet Dog Training (APDT)
- Associate Member - International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC)
- President/Founder - North American Dutch Shepherd Rescue, Inc
- Executive Director - Livingston County Veterinary Medical Association (LCVMA)
- Professional Member - National Tactical Police Dog Association (NTPDA
- Associate Member - International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC
- Demonstrator - Michigan Veterinary Conference 2008, Lansing, MI
- Demonstrator - Michigan Veterinary Conference 2007, Lansing, MI
- Lecturer - Michigan Veterinary Conference 2006, Lansing, MI
- Lecturer - Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital, Sept. 2004- January 2008, Howell, MI
- Instructor - Veterinary In-services regarding animal behavior of patients, safety techniques, and creating behavior programs in the veterinary hospital.
- Instructor - Agility sessions at Camp Dogwood, May 2007 Attended- International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants Conference 2007, Cleveland, OH
- Attended- Michigan Veterinary Medical Association,
Dr. Karen Overall 2007, Lansing, MI
Attended- Canine Health Seminar. Dr. Jean Dodds 2006, New Lenox, IL
Attended- Midwest Veterinary Conference 2006, Columbus, OH
Attended- Western Veterinary Conference 2005, Las Vegas, NV
Attended- Midwest Veterinary Conference 2004, Columbus, OH
Attended- Midwest Veterinary Conference 2003, Columbus, OH
Attended- Midwest Veterinary Conference 2001, Columbus, OH
Brass
Willow, PSA1
**March 23, 2008- 2nd Place, PSA2, Protection Sports Assoc., (Cookeville, TN)
**July 8, 2007- Competitor, PSA2, Protection Sports Assoc., Bourbonnais, IL
**July 7, 2007- Competitor, PSA2, Protection Sports Assoc., Bourbonnais, IL
**September 3, 2006- 1st Place, PSA2, Protection Sports Assoc., Midwest Regional (MN)
**May 15, 2004- TC Title Earned, Protection Sports Association (Grand Ledge, MI)
**May 16, 2004- PSA1 Title Earned, Protection Sports Association (Grand Ledge,MI)
**May 16, 2004- 1st Place, PSA1 Novice title earned, Protection Sports Association (MI)
**May 16, 2004- High Protection, PSA1 Novice, Protection Sports Association (MI)
**May 16, 2004- High Obedience, PSA1 Novice, Protection Sports Association (MI)
**May 16, 2004- High Owner Trained, Protection Sports Association (Grand Ledge, MI)
**May 16, 2004- High in Trial, Protection Sports Association (Grand Ledge, MI)
Dante, PSA1
**March 17, 2000- AKC Canine Good Citizen (Brooksville, FL)
**March 17, 2000- Certified Therapy Dog, Therapy Dogs International (Brooksville, FL)
**September 23 2001- Competitor, Dog Sports Open, Beginner Division (Lansing, MI)
**September 24, 2001- Competitor, Dog Sports Open, Intermediate Division (Lansing, MI)
**March 31, 2001- 2nd Place K9 Pro Sports, Personal Protection Division (Pasadena, MD)
**April 1, 2001- Competitor, K9 Pro Sports, Personal Protection Division (Pasadena, MD)
**June 9, 2001- 1st Place K9 Pro Sports, Personal Protection Division (Lansing, MI)
**August 11, 2001- 2nd Place Dog Sports Open, Beginner Division (Lansing, MI)
**August 12, 2001- Competitor, Dog Sports Open, Intermediate Division (Lansing, MI)
**February 2, 2002- TC Title Earned, Protection Sports Association (Mayaka City, FL)
**February 2, 2002- PSA1 Title Earned, Protection Sports Association (Mayaka City, FL)
**February 2, 2002- 4th Place PSA 1 Novice, Protection Sports Association ( FL)
**February 3, 2002- Competitor, PSA1 Novice, Protection Sports Association (FL)
**May 18, 2002- Competitor, PSA 1 Novice, Protection sports Association (PA)
