Lisa Balderstone

I am so excited and honored to offer Agility classes at Camp. My classes are fun! Dogs love them. People love them. And, it is my desire to ignite your fire for the sport that drives my passion. I’ve been enthusiastic about agility since my first experience as a Dogwood Camper back in 2005. Today, there is nothing more rewarding to me than hearing a Camper say they started taking agility classes because of their experience with me at Dogwood! For the past eight years, I have been specializing in beginner’s agility classes; initially, as an assistant instructor under one of the absolute best Agility Coaches in the Chicago-area and for the past three years under my own label: A Devoted Companion. I share my life with my best friend and husband of more than 33 years, Loren. Together, we have four active dogs, one sweet cat and five feisty chickens. I actively compete in agility with Kiss the Skye (Griffin) MX MXJ CGC. Recently, I retired MACH I Ain’t No Saint (Louie) CDX MXB MJB. I look forward to our time together at Camp. If you’d like one-on-one training, you can find me on the agility field… or the dining hall.

847-370-4679
[email protected]
www.adevotedcompaniondogtraining.org

Debbie Bickford

Debbie has been helping people train their dogs in Chicago since 1999. She is an honors graduate of the Academy for Dog Trainers headed by world-renowned trainer & behavior specialist, Jean Donaldson. She received her CTC (certification in training and behavior counseling) from the Academy in 2000. Debbie teaches a wide variety of classes ranging from puppy to advanced, agility to tricks. She is proud that for each of the last five years that the publication – ‘Chicagoland Tails’ held their ‘favorites’ contest, their readers voted her as one of their ‘favorite’ trainers. Debbie is a proud member of the APDT, the Association of Animal Behavior Professionals, the Pet Professional Guild, and the National Association of Treibball Enthusiasts. She has trained past clients dogs and her own dogs in the sports of agility, flyball, canine disc, canine freestyle, rally obedience, nose work, weight pulling, and Treibball. Her rescue dog Ludo is training in many sports, has acted in commercials, and makes a great demo dog in her classes. Debbie is excited to be the first and currently only trainer in Chicago to become a Victoria Stillwell Positively Dog Training – licensed trainer, a team of trainers handpicked by Victoria who use only the most up-to-date, humane, effective, reward based methods. And in her spare time, Debbie likes to hike, camp, garden, and hang out with her dog Ludo.
312-498-DOGS(3647)
[email protected]
www.DebbiesDogs.net

Inga From, CDBC, CPDT-KSA, was a national recipient of the Association of Professional Dog Trainer’s Premier Shelter Staff Award several years ago.  She runs two very different training and behavior businesses.  Positive Gun Dogs of Minnesota which includes shed dogs & positive gun dog training as well as Hippie Dog which offers, holistic themed behavior help.  Inga has a background in law enforcement and is a former Texas game warden. Mix that up with being a Reiki Master among other things and you have a little mix of an outdoor woman with a hippie soul. 

 Danielle Etzel

Danielle has been training dogs professionally for 6 years, and competing at the worlds level in k9 disc for two years, with another year or two prior at a hobby/novice level. Her training methodology is based in positive reinforcement, marker/clicker training, proper foundations, safety, and engagement as the ground level for all training, including sports. She has managed a puppy day school, and taught classes in impulse control, focus skills, basic obedience, rally, nosework, agility, dock diving, and disc.  She raised a Service Dog from 8 weeks of age, covering all public access for an organization. He grew up to be paired with and trained for a deaf woman and is currently working in Florida.  Danielle moved to Missouri just a year ago to be closer to disc opportunities for competition/travel/training. She is a certified judge for UpDog Challenge and tries to host a few competitions a year. She is a multi-year world qualifier with numerous dogs in numerous disc organizations.  Her favorite accomplishment was qualifying with her dog Patton in 2016 to compete in St. Louis at the Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge, which aired on national television directly prior to this year’s Super Bowl. She is the relief trainer at Purina Farms for show performances. Danielle owns three dogs, a 3 year old intact male German Shepherd who is her “main” competition dog, a 4 year old neutered male Border Collie and an 11 week old French Bulldog.

Gary Gantert

Gary Gantert has been a professional photographer in the Chicago area since 1983. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Rochester Institute of Technology in Professional Photography. He loves to photograph dogs, has always had one for a subject and companion.

Gary Gantert
www.gantertphoto.com

Carey Green

Carey has been involved in dog sledding and dog weight pulling for the past 14 years. His first weight puller was a Siberian husky named Czar, Since then he has trained and worked with 5 other dogs and taken them to the national championships. Weight pulling and dog sledding are 2 dog sports that go hand and paw with Carey. The weight pulling and dog sledding people in Dupage county know Carey as a hard worker with the people and the dogs. He has devoted 14 years of a many cold Saturday mornings to the training of dog sledding and weight pulling. Carey started and maintained a group of dog lovers called the Green Valley Dog Drivers. Carey is a judge for the IWPA (International Weight Pulling Association). When not with his dogs he is running a distribution company he owns called Alkay Industries Inc. selling Nut’s and Bolts and industrial supplies. Carey was brought into Dogwood last year by Kathleen Sanderson. After his first time, he was hooked. This is just what he need to relax and enjoy all the things he loves about camping and dogs. The campers and their dogs are the best part of Camp Dogwood.
[email protected]

Jessica Ingles

Jessica is an Evaluator for American Kennel Club’s (AKC) Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certification, AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Evaluator, and a Full Member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT). Jessica has experience working at both an animal emergency center and an animal rehabilitation center (physical therapy for dogs), but she eventually found her way to teaching others how to train their dogs. Over a span of 4 years, over 800 families and their dogs from all walks of life attended group classes and private lessons seeking help to be the best dog families they could be. Each family walked away with a deeper bond and understanding of how their dogs think and learn.

Jessica’s passion for dogs shines through in her training style and she brings a level of enthusiasm that is contagious. Her training style is fun and interactive because “dog training” is as much about training the dog as it is about training the dog’s family so that everyone is effectively communicating and having a good time. While training others, Jessica continues to compete with two of her own dogs (Thai Ridgeback, Sunee, and Bulldog, Pugsly) who have earned numerous titles in both Obedience and Rally. Pugsly is also the only bulldog to attend the March 2013 Rally National Competition in Tulsa, Oklahoma placing 6th (198/200 points) out of 89 dogs (all breed) in the class.

Lisa Kluslow

Dr. Lisa Kluslow graduated from the University of Wisconsin Veterinary School in 2001 after going back to school after working for 6 years in habitat restoration (mostly prairie and wetlands). After several years of practicing conventional veterinary medicine, she realized that she would be able to better serve her patients by learning some of the integrative modalities. Dr. Kluslow focused her energy pursuing additional education in the holistic veterinary alternatives including: natural nutrition and supplementation, acupuncture, massage, veterinary spinal manipulation therapy (a.k.a. chiropractic in human medicine), canine physical rehabilitation and essential oil therapy. She has taken certification classes in acupuncture, physical rehabilitation and spinal manipulation (chiro), as well as additional training in natural nutrition, massage and reiki. Dr. Lisa currently works at the Silver Spring Animal Wellness Center (Milwaukee, WI). She is the current chairperson of the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association’s Animal Welfare Committee. Dr. Lisa started as a Camp Dogwood camper with her beloved Bridgette (RIP), the Great Dane, eventually she moved on to become the Winter Camp vet, and now we are so thrilled to have her as our year-round camp vet.

In her free time, Dr. Kluslow gives presentations on the holistic alternatives to different animal related groups. She also spends as much time as possible enjoying the outdoors with her family, friends, husband Jeff and Grace their beautiful German Short Hair Pointer.

Lisa Kluslow, DVM
(414) 228-7655
[email protected]

Amy McManaway

Amy McManaway was raised on a farm in N. Illinois. She is the last of eight siblings, most with back or neck injuries. They were her inspiration to seek out alternatives to help them with their pain. Amy began her massage education in 1993. She continues her education today. Throughout life, animals have surrounded her. Her respect and appreciation for animals created in her a more loving and compassionate relationship for healthy, disabled or injured
mammals.

847-754-5270
[email protected]
www.knotsoutofyou.com

Renny Mills

Pets * People * Portraits… Renny Mills has been working in Chicago for the past two decades. She volunteers her time and helps out with many organizations like German Shorthair Pointer Rescue, Chicago Canine Rescue, Inspiration Cafe, Boys & Girls Club of Chicago & also she donates portraits to many organizations. Renny’s approach is artistic and nurturing which leads to a very conducive studio environment, for it is not the image that is captured but rather the… “Portrait of a Soul… the upturned lip, the sparkle in their eye, the loving glance as perfectly tilt their head. I reach for the camera and the moment is lost. There will be other moments. I utilize the lens, not to enhance the image, rather to magnify the soul. For this is the essence, this is my companion. Find the Camp Dogwood photos after camp at: http://rennymillsphotography.zenfolio.com.
312-243-0716
[email protected]

Patti Muraczewski

Patti is a certified trainer through the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and the Animal Behavioral College. She has been an instructor for dog behavior and obedience for over 30 years. Patti has also worked in animal control and animal welfare. She has her own business, “For Pet Sake Dog Training” in Mukwonago, Wisconsin. Patti shows in obedience, flyball, freestyle and agility. Her Bichons have been in the top “10” in the country for Bichons competing in these areas. She and her fun loving Bichon, Kirby, LOVE dog camp!
262-363-4529
[email protected]
www.forpetssake.cc

Marcus Newman

Bio to come!

Karen Okura

As an inaugural Camp Dogwood is so happy to have Karen O. back to camp. We have missed her. In addition to being an extraordinary Good Dog Bone reader at meals, she brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to camp.

In Karen’s words –

I worked in the private sector of animal welfare for thirty years. I gained an enormous amount of experience and knowledge during that time. I also found my passion in work — helping people help their companion animals.
I currently instruct group dog training classes and offer in-home private consultation to dog and cat guardians. I love doing this. Love it. I enjoy the connection to people. Yes, I am one of those “animal people” types who actually likes the person in the human-animal relationship, as much as the animal! For me, seeing “the connection” happen and then develop between an animal and its person is what my passion is all about. It’s what feeds me. It motivates me to reach for more, to continue learning, to never stagnate.
I know how lucky I am to do what I love. Every training class, every consultation, every time I am able to interact with people and their companion animals, I am as excited as the first time.

Heather Schneider

Bio to come!

Julie Thompson

Julie Thompson has been a massage therapist for seven years. This is her fifth year with Camp Dogwood. Julie has established Peaceful Planet Wellness, a massage based practice in Chicago, and also works for the Cortiva Institue of Massage Therapy in admissions. She believes that therapeutic massage should be effective, affordable, and accessible to everyone.

Julie Thompson, LMT, NCTMB
[email protected]

John Wentz

John has always preferred to help others train their dogs, rather than just take the dog and train it for them. He’s a believer that he can help the dog better if he works closely with the owner, helping them work as a team. He’ll step in when needed, but also step back whenever he can so you can train your own dog. He is available for lessons most days of the week. You can call or email John about private lessons. He’ll let his students work some of his own dogs so they can get the feel of a trained dog. This helps you find that “Feel” in your own dog. Camp Dogwood is thrilled to be working with John close to our Lake Delton facility. His Big Yello Boots farm is picturesque and a fun place to experience, virtually on top of the Cascade Ski Mountain, where he not only makes the snow in the winter for skiers, but his sheep graze there during the summer months to keep the grounds in order.

608.697.3681
[email protected]
www.bigyellowboots.net