Mike Pinksten, the proprietor and Training Director of Olympia Kennels, has been solving the training needs of pet owners and dog sport competitors for 30 years.

With over twenty-five thousand dogs trained, Mike’s experience is second to none. Among his students is everyone from first-time puppy parents to the owners of adult dogs deemed “untrainable” by others. Mike is also an excellent teacher of humans, and can help even the most frustrated or confused dog owner to gain understanding of the training process in a meaningful way. Because Mike has spent years working with such a great number of dogs, rare or “difficult” breeds are neither rare nor difficult to him!

In the sport of Schutzhund, Mike is internationally recognized and has successfully competed with his dogs in Europe and North America. His extensive travel has enabled him to work with many of the world's top trainers, and breeders.

The German Shepherd Dog Club of Germany (Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde) has awarded Mike their highest rating: Certified Schutzhund Teaching Decoy. He has been certified four times by four different German LEHR helpers and has traveled to Germany eighteen times to participate in trials and training activities with some of the world’s best Schutzhund trainers and instructors.