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
Lisa Yasenchak
Lisa is an avid learner and has attended Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior for Dog Trainer Foundations, Puppy Start Right, And Shelter Training & Enrichment. She is also an AKC Evaluator. She has attended Clicker Expo learning from the best national trainers and continues to expand her education.
Lisa has spent years giving her time to local shelters and has a soft spot for fearful dogs. It was her own dog, Ned, who pivoted her onto the path of dog training. Ned was about to be euthanized for fear aggression when Lisa adopted him and worked tirelessly to help modify his behavior. Ned lives happily with Lisa and her husband and even provides his own therapy visits to family members with dementia.
Her passion now lies in prevention and helping puppies and young dogs off to a healthy, confident start in life.
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.
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