Chris Lantzer, BA, CPDT-KA
Chris is the owner of Woof Wise Dog Training. Her goal is to help dogs stay in their homes and help people and dogs live happily together! She would like everyone to experience the same joyous bond she treasures with her dogs developed through training. Chris is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer–Knowledge Assessed through CCPDT with over 15 years experience. She has studied under America’s best behaviorists and trainers including Patricia McConnell, Jean Donaldson, Pat Miller, Kathy Sdao, Sophia Yin DVM, among others. Chris is a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and an American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine Good Citizen Evaluator.
A graduate of the University of Akron with a bachelor’s degree in English she left a career in Human Resources to be able to spend more time with her dog, Pumpkin, who had separation anxiety. Pumpkin, an adorably awesome orange and white herding mix rescue was one of her best teachers. He taught her much about play biting, resource guarding, separation anxiety but more importantly lessons of loyalty, forgiveness, perseverance, courage, kindness and love. Pumpkin was a well mannered pet with several obedience titles and an impressive list of tricks—including a hot dog retrieve!
Chris currently shares her life with her amazingly patient husband and adult rescued Australian Cattle Dog she calls Winny, who is as charming as she is smart. Winny is rounding out her real life, experiential education teaching her about living with a fearful and reactive dog and how trust and adult dog relationships are developed. Within her first 6 months of adoption Winny earned 2 trick titles and her first CWAGS obedience title and is continuing on. There is so much more to learn—always! Continuing education units are not only required to maintain her CPDT certification but are relished and always exceeded.
The Woof Wise Team
Tina Geffert, CCDT, CPDT-KA
Tina’s volunteer work as a docent at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is what inspired her to pursue her training certification. After watching how zookeepers applied the principles of positive reinforcement to set some very large, strong, and wild animals up for success when doing animal husbandry, she thought, “We can certainly do this with dogs too!”
Tina actively volunteers at a community dog shelter. She mentored with Woof Wise Dog Training and has been teaching there since 2015. Tina is a graduate of the CATCH Canine Training Academy, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer- Knowledge Assessed through CCPDT, a member to the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. Her dearly departed dog Toby, a Siberian Husky, taught her much and assisted her with her studies.
Alisa Gerasimov
Alisa Gerasimov is an honor graduate of the Animal Behavior College’s Dog Training Program and AKC Evaluator. Alisa avidly pursues continuing education and professional development by attending APDT seminars and keeping current on research and training in this evolving field.
Alisa grew up in Ukraine, where she spent years socializing feral dogs and successfully teaching them to safely coexist and even enjoy humans. She speaks fluent Ukrainian and Russian. Alisa also attended various dog shows and competitions with her own five dogs, before moving to the US in 2014. Currently, Alisa shares a home with her husband and her 3 training assistants: a pug Simba and two rescued pug mixes Honey and Floki.
Alisa’s goal is to minimize the language barrier between humans and canines, using only humane training techniques and unconditional love.
Leah Hendricks
Leah has worked in the veterinary field since 2013. She is a registered veterinary technician (RVT) working on a behavior specialization. She has worked alongside board certified veterinary behaviorists and technician specialists where she learned a lot about animal behavior and training.
Leah has huge heart for senior dogs and has one of her own, a 14 year old Chihuahua named Cookie. She also has a beagle mix named Lemon, who was found on the streets of Cleveland and came with a lot of anxiety and behavior issues. Lemon inspired her to pursue behavior and continues to make Leah a better pet parent and trainer every day.
Leah loves to get pups started out on the proper path to become social, confident dogs teaching group manners classes. She is an AKC Evaluator. Leah’s passions are senior dogs and cooperative care training. She enjoys helping pets receive the medical care that is essential to their wellbeing.
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