Victoria Rhodes

Director of Wild Blue Dog Camp and Founder of
Wild Blue Dogs-canine cancer charity 501(c)3.

Nicole DiAngelo

Assistant Camp Director and Public Relations, Social Media and Marketing for Wild Blue Dogs-canine cancer charity 501(c)3.

Michael Shikashio

Michael Shikashio, CDBC, is the past president of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), and provides private consultations working exclusively with dog aggression cases through his business AggressiveDog.com. Michael is fully certified through the IAABC and is a full member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT).

He is sought after for his expert opinion by numerous media outlets, including the New York Times, New York Post, Baltimore Sun, WebMD, Women’s Health Magazine, Real Simple Magazine, SiriusXM Radio, The Chronicle of the Dog, and Steve Dale’s Pet World.

Michael is a featured speaker at conferences, universities, and seminars around the world, and offers a variety of workshops, webinars, and online courses on the topic of canine aggression, including the Aggression in Dogs Master Course.

Click on the logo to visit the site.

Terry Simons

• Internationally Recognized Agility Handler, Trainer, Coach and Seminar Presenter

• National Agility Champion – 2017

• Multi Dogs and Titles including Regional and National Championships in AKC, USDAA, NADAC and AAC in Canada

• Fox Network Sports Analyst

• Celebrity Judge for Hallmark Channels “American Rescue Dog Show”

• Founder of CLEAR - Canine Lymphoma Education Awareness Research - a 501(c)3 Canine Cancer Foundation

• Award Winning Canine Cancer Documentary Producer

  • My Friend: Changing the Journey

    • Best Documentary - Los Angeles Movie Awards

    • Best Educational Documentary - Bare Bones International Film and Music Festival

  • A Reason To Change

    • Best Music Video Los Angeles Film Awards

  • My Friend: Standing Strong

    • Best Documentary Featurette – Los Angeles Film Awards

    • Best Documentary Feature – New York Film Awards

    • Honorable Mention: Documentary Featurette – Festigious International Film Festival

      Click on the logos to visit the site.

Laura Nativo

CPDT-KA, KPA CTP

• Founder of Nativo Pet Company

• Certified Professional Dog Trainer

• Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner

• Fear-Free Certified Veterinary Professional

• International Speaker at Animal Training & Veterinary Conferences

• TV Host of the new dog training series, Dog Masters

• National Spokesperson for Embrace Pet Insurance

• Resident Pet Expert of Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family for 5 years

• Celebrity Dog Mom to Penelope Supafly & Delilah Jane Sassafras, stars of A Dog & Pony Show movie

  Click on the logo to visit the site.

Yo Armendariz, KPA CTP, CBATI

Owner, Operator of Canine Learning Academy & Professional Certified Dog Trainer

Yo Armendariz KPA CTP is the founder of Canine Learning Academy, and is dedicated to positive dog training and owner education. She’s a KPA Certified Training Partner, and is a proud Fear-Free Certified Professional. She’s an AKC CGC Evaluator, a Certified Behavior Adjustment Training Instructor CBATI, and a Certified Service Dog Trainer.

Patient Teacher & Passionate Positive Reinforcement Advocate Yo is known for her ability to break down complex skills into easy steps, and for developing practical techniques that give her students a sense of achievement and success throughout the dog training process. She’s passionate about bringing humane, science-based training solutions to her community. She has a soft spot for Doodles and other misunderstood dog breeds.

Click on the logo to visit the site.

Julie Fryman, KPA CTP, CBATI

Professional Certified  Dog Trainer

Julie is a KPA Certified Training Partner and has her Bachelors of Science from the University of Texas in Austin. She moved to California after working overseas as a scientist and teacher with the US Peace Corps.

Her background in scientific research and natural abilities with animals began her career in shelters and rescues where she worked with neonatal, feral, and fearful animals. 

Animal Welfare Specialist & Passionate Learner

Julie has experience caring for a wide range of animals and believes that a holistic, positive approach to medical and behavioral issues is necessary for all breeds and species. She maintains her commitment to continuing education through accredited animal science agencies and is an avid reader of animal welfare research worldwide.

Julie’s best friend and training partner, Opal Blossom, is also a Karen Pryor graduate and helps to socialize our school puppies with large friendly dogs.

Suzanne Leroy

CPDT-KA, CNWI, CTDI

AKC Scent Work Judge, AKC Conformation Judge, AKC Farm Dog Judge, AKC Trick Dog and Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Certified Nose Work Instructor (NACSW), Certified Trick Dog Trainer (DMWYD). 

ABOUT ME: My love of training began with my horse that I adopted off the racetrack and trained for hunter/jumper competition. After college I got a job training birds at Busch Gardens. I then took a dramatic turn and spent 30 years working in the motion picture industry. During that time, I got a dog and started competing in agility. Then 2 dogs and added herding. Then well, I added more dogs and more sports. Yes, I can be called a dog addict.  

Lately I’ve been judging a lot of scent work trials for AKC on weekends and working as a professional dog trainer for service and medical alert dogs, rescue dogs for home placement, as well as competition and companion dogs on weekdays. 

I try and fit in time to train my own dogs (haha).  My dogs have appeared in TV, movies, advertising, magazines, calendars and dog food packaging, showing off their talents.  They’ve also earned numerous high-ranking awards and titles.  In the meantime, I received my own award; I was honored to receive AKC Sportsman of the Year Award in 2018 and 2019. 

Click on the logo to visit the site.

Christine Young

• CPDT-KA Certified Professional Dog Trainer

• Canine Enrichment Expert

• Recall Training for all levels

• Parkour Enthusiast

• Passion for Puppy Training

  Click on the logo to visit the site.

Lynda Piercy

Class Instructor:

• Basic Obedience: 1991 to present

• Puppy Classes: 1991 to Present

• Rally Obedience: 2004 to present

• Intro Agility: 2016 - Present

• Intro to Barn Hunt: 2017 to Present

• Canine Good Citizen/Trick Test Evaluater (AKC): 2012 to Present

• Coached Flyball Team: 1998 - 2017

• Chico Dog Fanciers Public Education Coordinator:  1991 - 2004

• Chico Dog Fanciers Class Instructor for Basic Obedience, Puppy and Flyball
  classes:  1991 - 2004

• Owner of Wannabe Run Boston Terrier Rescue: 1992 - 2019

  Click on the logo to visit the site.

Moira Hechenleitner

DVM, CSAT

Dr. Moira Hechenleitner graduated from Mayor University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2007, in Santiago, Chile. She is a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT), with a postgraduate in Animal-Assisted Therapy. Dr. Hechenleitner is a founding board member of the Chilean Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT Chile), and has worked as a canine behavior consultant for 11 years offering consultation services to pet owners, teaching courses to dog trainers,  and giving seminars internationally.

She currently resides in Mystic, Connecticut and helps dogs and their families from all over the world overcome separation anxiety.

Click on the logo to visit the site.

Sandra Balacek (Sandy)

CPR/First Aid Certified, Wilderness First Aid, CPR on Pets/Mouth to Snout

Hike Leader: Guides the hike, educating along the way. Knows the route well and has hiking experience. Willing to share knowledge and expertise about the Tahoe Basin.

Hike leader who enjoys the opportunity to interact with the other hikers and to lead an activity where everyone is up-beat, friendly and enjoying their day in the woods.

6 years of experience working as a volunteer for the USFS as a Ski with a Ranger, teaching the 5th grade classes snowshoeing and hiking in the summer.

Has completed five Geology Courses of the Sierra Mountain Range and the Tahoe Basin.

15 years’ experience leading hikes with dogs. It is my mission to empower hikers and everyone who loves the outdoors.

Scott Pack

Lure Course Instructor

AKC Judge: Coursing Ability Test, Lure Coursing Test, Lure Coursing Trial

Long term AKC/ASFA operator/equipment manager.
Operated for Greyhound National Coursing Specially

Course designer, Lure trial/CAT

Click on the logo to visit the site.

Chef Sharon

Several years ago my 13 year old Boxer Rottweiler (BoxerRotti) Hoochie had a seizure while on our way home from the dog park. Days later, Hoochie was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. She was given 60 days to live. I consulted with an Oncologist and Dr. Anne Reed, a Holistic Vet, who had treated one of my other dogs.

Dr. Reed recommended treatment that included a fresh food diet with an infusion of Chinese Herbs. I followed Dr. Reed’s instructions to the letter. I fed Hoochie homemade fresh food meals with the Chinese Herbs along with her regular kibble every 4 hours of every day. For 9 amazing months we went for walks together. For 9 glorious months I loved my best friend. Despite the 60 day diagnosis, Hoochie and I had a miraculous extra 9 months where she was active, playful and happy.

I became passionate about sharing the amazing health benefits of fresh food with every pet. I contacted Dr. Reed who was excited to partner with me on this project. In 2016 we began working on a line of pet food supplements with benefits. Based in Traditional Chinese Veterinarian Medicine (TCVM) we’ve created combinations of fresh food that truly nourish the bodies of our pets, companions, and best friends.

At 5 Element Food Therapy our motto is “Feed What They Need – Love Them Longer” and we are deeply committed to helping pet owners do just that.

Click on the logo to visit the site.