Waltzing Paws LLC, led by Elicia Calhoun, has been assisting individuals in achieving agility success for over 35 years. Elicia combines the sport of dog agility with personal development practices to offer impactful coaching to her clients.

Her approach is rooted in relationship-based training, bolstered by an engineering background, and utilizes positive and consistent methods. Elicia holds certifications as a Dog Agility Trainer, Owner, and Peak Performance Coach, and her training equipment includes clickers, toys, and dog agility gear.

Elicia's extensive experience as a 3-time World Champion, 6-time National Champion, and multiple Regional Champion sets her apart. She, along with her dogs, has competed in 22 National and over 25 International Teams representing the United States, participating in over 12 International Finals. This international exposure gives her coaching clients a significant advantage in expediting their success.

Elicia Calhoun serves clients worldwide, and her coaching philosophy focuses on developing exceptional handler and dog communication. In addition to her accomplishments in the field, she is a renowned lecturer, professional agility instructor, and author. Her expertise and achievements in the dog agility arena have established her as a world-class national and international trainer.

David Michael Sanders

David Michael Sanders was born October 25th, 1973, in Cincinnati Ohio. He spent the first six months of his life in a state-run children’s home. After being adopted, his new father committed suicide when he was only two years old. He went to live with his grandmother Mamie and grandfather Pa while his mother worked. One morning, while Mamie was walking David through the mall, they came across a pet store. A Pit Bull/Boxer puppy was jumping up and down in the window; David’s eyes lit up like never before as he begged his grandmother to keep him. They took him home that day. Mamie named the dog “Mike” after St. Anthony because he was so angelic. The two were inseparable. David would go downstairs with Pa and help prepare Mike’s meals and go outside with Mamie to help clean up after him in the yard.

When David was six years old, his mother remarried and moved to a rural community outside of Cincinnati. He was absolutely devastated leaving his best friend and grandparents. David fell into a deep depression. He became extremely violent and quick to anger. He was getting in trouble in school, fighting and bullying his classmates. Exhausting punishment, his parents decided to take a drive up to Hamilton Ohio, and take a look at some puppies. When they returned, a Welsh corgi was in the back seat. David was absolutely elated, he couldn’t wait to go out in the back yard and run around with his new little friend.
Micky was a Cocker Spaniel that spent his entire life chained to a dog house in the neighbor’s back yard. The winters in Cincinnati were freezing. David’s parents could not stand to see the dog suffering, so they asked the neighbor if they could take him. The neighbor obliged without hesitation. Micky spent the rest of his years in the Sanders’ loving home with his new companion Teddy the Welsh Corgi.

When Micky passed away, David’s parents joined a Greyhound rescue organization; they took in a female puppy who was going to be euthanized because she had a club foot and could not race. Her name was Brasil. Over the course of the next ten years came Penny, Gayla, Tara, and Pistol Pete. These dogs came from the track; unfortunately with that came maltreatment. David helped his parents nurture them back to health and learned the art of rehabilitation through patience, love, and understanding. It was during these years, David also learned of the extent to which dogs can be abused and exploited and how every individual can make a difference in their lives.

After high school, David enrolled at the University of Cincinnati. He was struggling with what he wanted to do with his life. After a year at UC, he decided to move to Arizona to start a new life. He got a job as an artist at a graphics company and taught himself how to play the drums. From 1994 to 2009, David became a professional musician versed in Latin, Jazz, Rock, Reggae, Rap, Hip-Hop, Blue Grass, Blues, and Country. He toured all over the United States, playing thousands of shows. He shared the stage with Brian McKnight, The Manhattan Transfer, Vince Welnick of (The Tubes and The Grateful Dead), John Fishman of (Phish), Buddy Strong of (Usher), Jessi Colter (Waylon Jennings Wife), Mac 10 (Westside Connection), B Real (Cyprus Hill), Rusted Root, Paul Wall and Cara Jackson (Miss Black Arizona 1999).

In 2009, David became ill from the years of hard living as a musician. He decided it was time to make a change in his life. He enrolled at The Animal Behavior College and decided to follow his true calling, working with dogs. He came to realize how important education was and decided to enroll in ASU’s transfer program at Rio Salado College.

Training Philosophy

David believes it is the intrinsic bond of trust, clear and consistent direction, combined with the reward he/she loves the most that gets a dog to perform. He has trained hundreds of dogs with tremendous success from incessant marking Maltese’s to 150lb male aggressive Mastiffs. He has used every technique available to him to make sure everything has been done to educate his clients and successfully train their dog's.
The Zen K9 philosophy is based on Buddhism. The vast interconnectedness of affluent energy is the very fabric of relationships between man and beast, as well as our environment. Everything is connected; therefore, if we expect to change the behavior of our beloved companions, we too must change.

Services

Zen K9 offers dog-puppy training courses - school programs to meet your dog’s and your needs. Upon request, if personalized training programs are in need, we will create a unique program. Please see below for pricing information.
Boarding & Day School Packages
We offer dog-puppy training courses - school programs to meet your dog’s and your needs. Upon request, if personalized training programs are in need, we will create a unique program. Please see below for pricing information.
Zen K9 Training Boarding & Daycare
Now Enrolling!
Zen K9 Boarding & Day School
We offer dog-puppy training courses – school programs to meet your dog’s and your needs. Upon request, if personalized training programs are in need, we will create a unique program. Below we highlight our standard dog training courses and what is included.
All Boarding & Day School Courses Include Daily Pics & Videos, one private lesson per week (sixty minutes in length), with owner and/or family, at your convenience.
Private Lesson Credits (PLC’s) can be used during or after the course is completed. PLC’s are good for up to 1 year.
PLCs are paramount for a successful transition back home. This is all about training the human. If we want our dog’s behavior to change, we must change our behavior.

Dog Boarding School & Day Training Rates
Daily: $125/day
1 Week: $800 – Savings of $75
2 Weeks: $1,60 – Savings of $100
3 Weeks: $2,500 – Savings of $125
4 Weeks $3,600 – Savings of $150
5 Weeks $4,300 – Savings of $325
6 Weeks $4,800 – Savings of $825

Available Dog or Puppy Training Courses
Three Week Course:
Adult Dogs (6mo+) $2100
Basic Training * Socialization * Games
(Puppies 10wks-5months (+$25 a day)

Thirty Day Course:
Adult Dogs ONLY (6mo+) $2900
AKC’s Canine Good Citizen CGC Prep.
ESA & Therapy Dog (optional)
*No puppies unless he/she is a genius!

Five Week Rehabilitation $3400
Basic Training * Socialization *Behavior Modification * Aggression * Fear * Over/Under Weight Management

Six Week Puppy Montessori $4800
*Potty Training * Intro to Basics * *Socialization * Desensitization * Fireworks, Thunderstorms, Textures, Grooming, Intro to Safe Dogs, People, Environments, etc.) Field Trips
*Free Private Lessons!

*In Home Private Lessons $120
*Private Lesson Pack
(X5) for $500

Boarding School (this is an update to currently listed prices on this page):
$750 1 Week
$1400 2 Weeks
$1900 3 Weeks
$2400 30 Days

Mentorship Program
Learn to Become a Professional
Nationally Certified Dog Trainer
$4800-$6000
60-90 Days
*All Boarding School Programs
Include 1 Private Lesson per week
* All Private Lessons 60-90min
* Multiple Dog Discounts

Certifications

David is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, nationally certified through The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), and owner of Zen K9, LLC Obedience & Boarding.

Specializations

Obedience training, puppy training, behavior modification, aggression, fear, over/under weight management, socialization, desensitization, emotional support dogs, therapy dogs, AKC’s Canine Good Citizen CGC Prep.

Training Methods

Positive reinforcement based.

Customer Reviews

“Excellent Work”
Emily is an 11 month old Irish wolfhound and can be a lot to handle if you don’t know what you’re doing. David totally knows what he’s doing and I never worried for a second. His place is set up perfectly and his communication is excellent. Emily came home happy and not overly stressed. I know she got all the attention she wanted.
Thank you, David, for all the excellent work you do and for being available to host even challenging puppies!
- Jim S.

“So Pleased!”
We were so pleased with David and how he put our minds at ease when we left Daisy for 6 days. We were afraid that she wasn’t going to get along with the other dogs and David not only had her playing with all the other dogs he had her rooming with one! He sent pictures of her playing and she looked like she was actually smiling! I am so happy to have found someone who will care for Daisy when we need to leave town.
-Dena A.

“David Really Gets It”
David and his team are amazing! David really gets it and his “dog vibe” is palpable. The fact that he is so clearly in control makes it easy for my 15 month old Irish wolfhound to relax in the unfamiliar surroundings. And that lets me relax and enjoy my vacation! My dog comes home far less stressed and without a bunch of new bad manners. Great communication and quick responses, you guys rule! Thank you so much.
-Jim S.