Southwest Training Center

The Southwest Region of Canine Companions was founded in 1986. We serve Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Southern California, Southern Nevada and Hawaii. The Southwest Regional Training Center is named the Dean, Gerda and Trixie Koontz Campus after our campus benefactors: bestselling author Dean Koontz, his wife and their late Golden Retriever adopted from Canine Companions after being retired from service.

The Dean, Gerda and Trixie Koontz Campus is located in Oceanside, California. We invite you to explore our volunteer opportunities, make a donation or attend an event. Presentations are also available for your group by Canine Companions representatives. Our August monthly public tour will be held on Thursday, August 29 at 10 a.m. The tour will also include a screening of our award-winning animated short film, Andy: A Dog’s Tale!  If you are interested in attending a tour, please RSVP to Carrie Linden at 760-901-4300 or clinden@canine.org. For groups larger than 10 people, please contact Gwen Seah to make arrangements.

CELEBRATE NATIONAL SERVICE DOG MONTH!

September is National Service Dog Month, a time to honor the hard work and life-changing impact service dogs make on people with disabilities every day. Together, let’s celebrate, meet adorable pups in training and learn more about Canine Companions!

Thursday, August 29
10:00 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Canine Companions at Dean, Gerda and Trixie Koontz Campus 
124 Rancho del Oro Drive, Oceanside, CA 

​​​​​​Join us for an exclusive, first-time public screening of the animated short film, “Andy: A Dog’s Tale,” highlighting the journey of a Canine Companions puppy. 

Plus, meet real-life future service dogs, learn more about service dog etiquette, and look forward to other fun surprises!

Southwest Region Staff:
Piero Berlonghi, Director of Philanthropy | Kim Danker, Director of Philanthropy |Vicky Williams, Office Manager | Carrie Linden, Philanthropy Assistant | Gwen Seah, Volunteer Coordinator | Lauren Marshall, Community Events Coordinator | Sarah Zetlmeisl, Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator | Karen Noble, Grants Specialist

Shelley Dickinson, Program Director | Chuck Dickinson, Training Manager | Stephanie Yocum, Puppy Program Manager | Kerri de Jager, Client Services Manager | Kate Incremona, Graduate Services Manager | Madeleine Cullen, Kennel Supervisor | Julia Sanchez, Puppy Program Assistant | Grace Hardy, Program Field Representative | Lindsay Taylor, Senior Instructor |  Sarah Nigoghossian, Senior Instructor | Aimee Schildt, Apprentice Instructor | Morgan Galovic, Apprentice Instructor | Ashley Wilt, Apprentice Instructor | Anika Schenkel, Apprentice Instructor| Katie Lake, Instructor Assistant | Kerry Wallerius, Instructor Assistant | Sheryl Ishizaki, Program Assistant | Jennifer Hof, Campus Caretaker | Keerah Caldwell, Kennel Technician | Zyla Guthrie, Kennel Technician | Abigale Vandeven, Kennel Technician

Southwest Region Board of Directors:
Nick Kemp, President | Dr. Susan Ryan, Vice President | Leslie Hennessy, Ph.D. | Sondra Thiederman, Ph.D | Barb Beier | Alison Gilmore | Jay Orlandi | Cynthia Yankovich | Jennifer Halstead | Craig Kirk | Melayne Yocum