Jan Magnuson

Jan Magnuson, a native of Burien/Des Moines/Normandy Park, WA, has been active in the animal industry since 1975, and is the owner/trainer of SUNSTAR All-Breed Dog Training. She has assisted thousands of people and dogs throughout the years by instructing Basic Obedience/Good Manners group classes and doing individual dog training evaluations/consultations, and she is also an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. She raises, trains, and shows Best-In-Show and High-In-Trial Champion dogs that include Weimaraners, Papillon, and Japanese Chin under the SUNSTAR kennel name.She retired from the Des Moines, WA Police Department in June 2019 after 30 years of service as the Master Animal Care and Control Officer.She currently has the Weimaraner Willow- UKC Best-In-Show and High-In-Trial Champion/Altered Grand Champion Sunstar Willow of OwyheeStar, CGC, TKN, UROI, UAGI, TDI, the Papillon Daisy- Davinci's Black Eyed Susan of Sunstar, CGC, TKN, TDI, and the Japanese Chin Violet- UKC Champion Sunstar Violet of Gumshuz, CGC, TKN.Jan has owned a pet supply, dog training, and grooming shop- she is also a dog groomer- and has managed a boarding, training, and grooming show kennel. She has worked with veterinarians, other dog trainers and behaviorists, U.S. Customs narcotic detection canine officers, and Port of Seattle Police explosive detection canine officers. She has worked and trained dogs in Rally Obedience, Advanced Obedience, Conformation, Agility, Tracking, Herding, Personal Protection, Schutzhund/Police K9, and Therapy Dog certification.She has shown in AKC, ARBA, and UKC dog shows, breeds that include Weimaraners, American Bulldogs, Akitas, Rottweilers, St. Bernards, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherd Dogs, Flatcoated Retrievers, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Papillon, and Japanese Chin.Jan has attained on her dogs:29 Obedience/Performance titles6 Therapy Dog certifications14 Champion titles/One Altered Grand Champion title8 Best-In-Show awards8 Reserve Best-In-Show awards6 Altered Best-In-Show awards14 Altered Reserve Best-In-Show awardsOne High-In-Trial awardShe attended the first year of the Washington State Animal Control Officer Academy, and then became the Assistant Director and an instructor. She began her role as Director of the Academy in 2000, and continued that for 11 years. She has instructed classes for Police and Animal Control Officers, and was the liaison with the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center for Animal Care and Control training.Jan attended the Des Moines Reserve Police Officer Academy, and has received the following additional training:Animal cruelty investigationsDefensive tactics and restraint, weapons retention,take-downs and ground fightingStick Baton, Bite Stick, Taser CED, OC Spray, and FirearmsAnimal legend drugs and chemical captureWestern riding and horsemanshipAnimal and human first aid and CPR, and human AEDOfficer safety and survival- physical and emotionalOfficer Peer support, Critical Incident Stress Management,Individual/Group Crisis Intervention, LE Suicide Prevention,and Compassion FatigueAnimal emergency medical care and euthanasiaAnimal disaster preparednessIdentification, capture, handling and care of house pets,livestock, reptiles, birds, exotics, and wildlifeAnimal viruses, vaccines and zoonotic diseasesDog breeding, genetics, and puppy managementAnimal nutrition and holistic careDog and horse breed ID, physiology, structure and movementProblem dog behavior modificationVicious and dangerous dog behavior, capture and handlingDog tracking techniques and scent discriminationAnimal transportation and air shippingConformation, Obedience and Agility show dog handlingDog breed-specific medical disordersHerding techniques and instinct certificationPet and show dog groomingService and Assistance dog identification and handlingLaw enforcement instructor developmentShe is past president of the Washington Animal Control Association. She is an active member of the Rotary Club of Des Moines and Normandy Park, the Des Moines Police Foundation, Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce, and she volunteers at the Auburn Valley Humane Society. She was a member of the Des Moines Police Guild and was a certified Peer Counselor on the Peer Support Team for the Des Moines Police Department.Jan has instructed animal handling/officer safety classes to Police Officers, Fire Fighters, and Code Enforcement Officers, has made training videos used by police departments, and has been on interview boards for hiring Police/Animal Control Officers. She has been certified in First Aid and CPR (for humans and dogs) and AED (for humans), animal cruelty investigations, horse condition scoring, legend drugs and chemical capture, animal euthanasia, defensive tactics, OC spray, Taser CED, stick baton, bite stick, and firearms.She has done volunteer work taking pets to schools, day cares, and youth centers, taking certified Therapy Dogs to hospitals, assisted living, memory care, and retirement facilities, giving presentations to civic, community, and professional groups, judging obedience matches and evaluating CGC tests, and assisting at veterinary hospitals. She has written pet care articles that have been published in magazines, newsletters, and online, has had media and online articles written about her, and has been on television several times with her trained dogs.Jan was the City of Des Moines Employee of the Year in 1991, she received the Des Moines Police Exemplary Performance Award in 2000, she was awarded the title of Master Animal Control Officer in March 2006, and she received the Wet Nose Award for being an animal champion from the Auburn Valley Humane Society in 2018.Jan's affection and caring attitude for animals and people are evident in all aspects of her professional and personal life, and she is happiest with her pets by her side!