STAFF MEMBERS

MEET THE TRAINERS

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Sean Pendleton (Owner/Trainer)

Sean is the owner and founder of Guardian-K9, LLC, located at 3856 N Indianapolis Rd, Columbus, Indiana.

From a young age Sean found an interest in communicating with dogs through the use of different training techniques. What started out as an interest grew quickly into a hobby and in mid 2014 became the start of a career.

From 2008 – 2010, Sean was a dedicated Law Enforcement Officer with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (IN) and from 2010 - 2015 with the Edinburgh Police Department (IN). It was during this time, Sean became interested in training Police Service Dogs (PSD’s).  Sean started training with the best trainers and handlers in Indiana from organizations such as the North American Police Work Dog Association (NAPWDA), American Working Dogs (AWD), Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and a multitude of other police agencies across central and southern Indiana.

Sean understood that the wisdom from those he surrounded himself with, as well as the information from attending training seminars and classes, could be used across all dog training platforms. Sean used these various techniques to train his first K9 partner Endo to detect narcotics, track down missing individuals, apprehend suspects and locate evidence. It’s those influences that have shaped Sean into the trainer he is today.

From this new found knowledge, drive and determination Sean started his training company Guardian-K9, LLC. What started out as a humble 1 person mobile obedience training company, has now grown to employ several people, with a 10,300 sq. ft. training, doggie daycare, and boarding facility in just 2 short years.

In addition to running Guardian-K9, Sean has instructed for several Search & Rescue teams from states such as Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky and California, as well as trained hundreds of dog owners how to communicate better with their dog.
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Madison Monroe-Soderstrom (Trainer)

From birth I have been surrounded by dogs, starting with our family’s Rottweilers and Australian Shepherds, to my grandfather’s Border Collies, to other family members’ and friends’ various other dogs. I recall making crude agility equipment out of things in the yard and around the house to run through with my dog as a child. When my family got a new puppy when I was 14, I wanted to be the one to take her to puppy and obedience classes. This was my first interaction with dog training on a professional level. I love the dynamic of the class and absorbed all the information I could. 

When I got older, I started fostering dogs through Columbus’ local rescue, Community Animal Rescue Effort or CARE. In two years of active fostering before working at Guardian K9 I fostered 12 dogs ranging in size/breed and adopt ability. This is where my love of dogs transformed from just loving and caring about them to truly wanting to work with them on a training level. I have continued to foster at a more casual pace now. From the young adult dog that was scared of everything to the deaf and blind puppies, I have taken on foster dogs that are harder to adopt because of my passion for training. 

When I saw Guardian K9 was hiring, I jumped at the opportunity. I had gone to the open house not even a year prior and recalled how wonderful the facility was. I also recall watching Sean work with his dogs at the CARE Doggie Olympics fundraiser and knew I wanted to learn from him. I was initially hired on as a daycare attendant and then transitioned into training. I had a slow transition starting with Train and Play and Lodge and Learns to Private Training and Group Obedience Classes. Now in addition to those things, I teach Agility, Tricks, Therapy Classes and assist Sean with police dogs from time to time.. 

I train and compete in Agility with my English Shepherd mix, Red, and my Australian Shepherd, Ember. I have also started Rally, an obedience sport, with Red and Ember.