K9 Academy

2023 was a very sad year for us as we lost our precious Dee Tzacos

She wasn't just the office administrator and PA but our right hand too.

- MEET THE TEAM -

DEREK MEYER

DIRECTOR

Derek is a retired US pilot and an aeronautical engineer and biker, who found his true passion in life working with dogs and shooting IPSC. He is the Academy director and in addition to working with the dogs he is also responsible for all the boring management stuff as he has excellent attention to detail. Derek loves all animals but has an amazing ability to communicate with dogs and to really draw the best out of them. He continually challenges himself with new designs for the hydro and step down facility, environmental enrichment for the dog gardens and mobility for the paralysed patients. Derek's favorite sport is IPSC shooting and he loves sharing his love of weapons, shooting and advanced driving with all his Xtreme Academy students. Derek is owned by his tracker called “Harley” who has an amazing nose and an desire to work which is a good thing as he really loves his food so needs to work off the extra kg’s. Dereks new love of his life is Suzi Q a Malinois that was born at "K9" when we were fostering the pregnant mom.

MOIRA MEYER

DipCABT: Companion Animal Behaviourist

Moira has a background of working with security dogs and is a qualified civil detective and reaction officer. Her love of animals and people and has led her to further her passion for helping each person to develop their relationship with their dog. In addition to being qualified as a trainer by both Canine Culture (McKaynine Training) and by Hills as a Puppy Trainer, she also passed her Centre of Applied Pet Ethology CO1 with distinctions and in 2022 she graduated with a COAPE Diploma in Animal Behaviour which she upgraded to a COAPE MHERA Practitioner during 2023. She is registered with CABTi, ICAN, and SABCAP. Her particular love is to work with problem dogs that would otherwise be euthanized. Moira and Derek collectively own 10 dogs (mostly rescues) ranging from German Shepherds to Malinois to Harley a golden retriever x brittany water spaniel, a real mix breed 100% dog plus a Daschund and a Maltese and 3 cats. Moira and Derek are a match made in heaven as they both love dogs and eat, sleep and dream of ways to improve training and care for all dogs. “K9” Academy is home to several foster dogs in addition to the “family” of dogs.