All About Shaun

UK9BG Club Member Spotlight : Shaun Thankachen

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Showtime Shaun Thankachen’s remarkable journey began in the canine world at the early age of 10 years old, this is when he caught his first dog.

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Growing up in a household where his father, Stan Thankachen bred, trained, and worked with personal protection dogs under Ultimate K9 Bodyguards, Shaun developed a natural ability to read and work with dogs.

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His passion for catching and training dogs grew over the years as he gained valuable experience and insight under the guidance of some of the best mentors in the field, whom he is eternally grateful to. These individuals include Stan Thankachen, Kelly Readman, Tony Pallotta, Jeff Riccio, Jonathan Katz, and Sean Siggins.

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With over 18 years of experience, Shaun has utilized his knowledge and has trained canines in diverse disciplines. Ranging from pet obedience to personal protection and his personal favourite; competitive sports such as PSA (Protection Sports Association) and French Ring.

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Beyond his accomplishments in his canine career, Shaun is a multi faceted individual with many talents. He is an award-winning Tattoo Artist specializing in Realism, he owns the successful Premium Tattoo & Barber shop in Calgary, Alberta called Ethereal Conjunction. His unparalleled attention to detail and creativity are evident in both his art and in his work with dogs, demonstrating a rare combination, showcasing his precision, passion, dedication and creativity across multiple disciplines.

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Shaun’s background as a lifelong Martial Artist has seen him achieve a Shodan in GoJu Ryu Karate (1st Degree Black Belt) and he is a World Champion in Muay Thai and Kickboxing. These disciplines have instilled in him a strong sense of respect, drive, determination, focus, perseverance and the tenacity to define and perfect his art. These qualities he values very much and has seamlessly integrated them into his craft and it shows in his approach to decoying and training. These qualities have made him a respected figure in the sport of PSA.

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Currently, Shaun serves as Director of the UK9BG PSA CLUB in Chestermere, Alberta, where he leads as the Head Decoy and Training Instructor. His dedication to PSA stems from his appreciation for the unique skill set required to succeed in the sport: precise technique, deep canine knowledge, athleticism, and a strong human-dog bond.

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Shaun is extremely honoured and proud to be a ROK9 sponsored Decoy for 6 years now. He only swears by and wears a ROK9 Bitesuit when decoying. Juan Carlos Rodriguez the creator and owner of ROK9 has worked closely with Shaun to design the Ultimate Bitesuit!

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Through all the years, Shaun remains one of the most humble individuals you’d ever meet! He is always eager to learn, and is committed to perfecting his craft as a decoy, trainer and handler.

His mastery as a decoy is unparalleled and he is always learning and honing his skills. Shaun has had the honour of being a certified PSA Decoy for 9 yrs and has earned the rank of a Senior PSA Decoy. He has had the privilege of being a Regional Select Decoy and earned the prestigious honor of being selected as a multiple time National Select Decoy.

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His influence extends globally, having served as a Senior Decoy at PSA trials in Vietnam and India—an experience he calls one of his proudest! He says it was his absolute honour and is heart fully grateful for the experience and ability to share his passion and knowledge to help the decoys and the sport grow internationally.

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Above all, Shaun’s ultimate mission is to elevate the sport of PSA in Canada and beyond, fostering its growth while inspiring the next generation of handlers and decoys. He loves teaching and helping people find a passion in PSA.

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With his expertise, unshakable dedication and the phenomenal partnership he shares with dogs, Shaun Thankachen is paving the way for a legacy of excellence in the world of canine training and competition.

As a handler, Shaun’s accomplishments are nothing short of extraordinary, with his legendary dog Vato who is an extremely challenging and highly driven dog. Together they have accomplished the prestigious PSA 3 title and are the first-ever team in Canada to achieve this milestone! This monumental achievement is a testament to Shaun’s dedication, skill, and unyielding commitment to excellence.

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Shaun is now focused on his next star, Patron, a 2.5-year-old Belgian Malinois with world-class potential. Patron is the offspring of Vato(PSA3) x Chola (1st leg of the PSA3) and has inherited the drive, intelligence and temperament to succeed at the highest levels. Under Shaun’s guidance, this promising young dog is poised to make a profound impact in the sport of PSA.