Meet Dr. Wayne Jensen

Wayne Jensen grew up with sporting dogs such as Brittany Spaniels and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, and even did some duck hunting with retrievers. So, as a freshman in veterinary school, he acquired his very own Labrador Retriever and enjoyed retriever training as a welcome distraction from his rigorous studies. Duchess and eventually one of her puppies kept Wayne company during veterinary school and his subsequent internship, residency, and post-doctoral studies.

Dr. Jensen completed his veterinary degree and earned a PhD from the Department of Anatomic Pathology studying retroviruses at Colorado State University. His resume boasts achievements in clinical practice, industry, and academia. He also completed his MBA at Colorado State University where he now serves as Professor and Head of the Department of Clinical Sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

With his career and family established, Dr. Jensen was able to devote more time and attention to retriever training. He decided to compete with his next Labrador Retriever, a boy named Jake. The pair enjoyed success at AKC Hunt Tests. So much so, that a fellow competitor suggested they give AKC Field Trials a try. Hunt tests are judged pass/fail, but field trial participants compete against each other for placements. Dr. Jensen and Jake earned a Judge’s Award of Merit at a field trial and he was hooked! He has been running competitive field trials with his various Labrador Retrievers ever since.

Dr. Jensen and his wife, also a veterinarian, have occasionally bred their dogs in search of the right prospect for field trials – a dog with sound health and a competitive edge. They have also branched out adding a Border Collie and a Flat-Coated Retriever named Blue to their household. Blue was bred by none other than AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) Board Vice Chairman and Scientific Review Committee Chairman, Dr. Mary O. Smith. Dr. Jensen is pleased with this young dog’s progress and looking forward to competing with a new breed at his side.

Dr. Jensen learned of CHF during his residency and post-doctoral studies. He knew former CHF CEO, Dr. Diane Brown, during their respective residencies at Colorado State University and through other non-profit work. Dr. Jensen was an obvious fit for CHF’s Board of Directors and has supported the Foundation in that role for the past 5 years. He knows that CHF is important and unique because it is the only organization that funds health research directly for the benefit of dogs. “There are still a number of canine diseases for which we do not have early diagnostic tests or adequate treatments,” Jensen says. “To make an impact on the dogs we love, we have to fund research that is specific to them. No one else is doing it. Dog owners and dog lovers must step up to support this research.”

Thank you, Dr. Jensen, for your passion, knowledge, and dedication to advancing the health of all dogs!