Trainers

 

 

Meet Our Dog Trainers

 

Meet Desiree “Dezi” Engel (AKC, CTDI, AACE, SDJ)

  I am married with two children.  Currently we have 6 dogs, a 13-year-old Papillion “Bitsy” she belongs to my oldest son, then we have Wicked who is a 9-year-old Whippet a trick dog star!  She has earned her Novice, Intermediate & Advanced trick dog Titles. Then we have Zero a 5-year-old Chihuahua, Possum a 5-year-old Italian Grey Hound/Whippet X, Judy (Judge Judy) an estimated 8-Year-Old Chow Chow and Zipper a 1-year-old Belgian Malinois who belongs to my youngest son, Lucas.

  I first became interested in training when I got my Golden Retriever, Sissy.  Training her was so much fun, and is something that we continued right up to the end, at 10 years old, she learned her last trick…  SPEAK!

  I have been working with dogs professionally since 2005.

  I attended Animal Behavior College in 2006/2007.

  I worked as a volunteer at Oregon Humane Society, where I was able to work with a wide range of dogs with many different issues and talents.  I was even able to work with a 10-year-old blind and deaf dog.  With this dog we had to come up with touch commands to train her, after she learned some basic commands, she was then adopted after having been in the shelter for over a year!

  I have been with Pup-A-Razzi for 11 years now and 4 years ago, I bought it!

  I have worked with many dogs over the years, and I love it!  My goal is for all dog owners to discover the fun and bonding that training your dog brings.

  I really enjoy having the whole family get in on the training.  It is a great way for the kids and their dogs to learn together and it gives everyone a great sense of accomplishment while staying on the same page with training.

AKC Evaluator ♥ Certified Trick Dog Instructor ♥ Animal Actor Certified Evaluator ♥ Stunt Dog Judge

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Meet Lucas (AKC Evaluator), Manager, Day Trainer, Class Instructor.

  I have been a “Dog” person since I was very young, 3 years old in fact when I took my first dog (Golden Retriever), Sissy through a training class.  At 11 years old, we got Wicked, my mom and I trained her to be a trick dog and basic obedience, and that is when I knew that I wanted to be a dog trainer.  I started helping my mom at Pup-A-Razzi at 11 Years old and here I am now, manager, running the Day Training/Boot Camp program, teaching classes, and doing private lessons.  I now own a Belgian Malinois, Zipper who I am teaching the Sport IGP which consists of Tracking, Obedience, and Protection.  I especially like working with reactive/aggressive dogs, and seeing them gain the confidence and trust to come out of that head space, being happier and healthier companions. 

AKC Evaluator ♥

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Meet Sara (AKC Evaluator) Day Trainer, Class Instructor

  I am a passionate animal lover and an even more passionate Dog trainer. I’ve always had the skill to understand, work, and train dogs ever since I was a wee young child. When my dad got his first big dog, a GSD named Raja, I fell in love with it for the first time. When time came to choose a career, I had no thought that a dog trainer could be a successful career so I jumped into the service industry. In 2020 I needed a career change and I wanted to step out and pursue my passions. I am starting at the bottom with high and clear skies ahead and have loved every day of it. Following my passions and pursuing dog training led me to Jinxx, my pup. She is a 1 yr. old Brazilian working bred ADBA registered American Pitbull Terrier. She is my first dog and the best pupper ever! We are dabbling in a lot of different sports, but Confirmation and Protection is our main focus. She also has multiple cat siblings that rule her house and she thinks she’s half cat.

  My goals as a trainer are to help teach owners how to create strong bonds and confident dogs. I am a balanced based trainer and looking to specialize in working with aggressive dogs.

AKC Evaluator ♥

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 Meet Rob, Day Trainer

  Hello there! I am Rob Russell. I am a native Oregonian and avid dog lover.  I grew up having dogs in my home for most of my life.  I have been professionally working with dogs for the last 2 years, running Day care groups and most recently as a Day Trainer.

  My passion is to work with dogs in obedience and behavior training.  I know personally how frustrating and difficult it can be to have a beautiful and loving pet that lacks proper obedience training and socialization.  That is why I became a trainer, to help owners and their dogs avoid the same experience.

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Meet McKenna, Day Trainer, and Class Instructor

  I run in a pack of four dogs, three of which are training to become service dogs. My primary pup is Betsy Blue Eyes, a one-year-old Mini American Shepherd. I also have experience trick training parrots, rats, mice, betta fish, a gecko, and cats. Because I have experience training a variety of species, I have been able to find many different methods for teaching and correcting behavior. My focus is on using the psychology behind dog behavior to help fix emotional issues and bad habits while also reinforcing appropriate reactions and forming good manners.

  My interest in dogs first peaked when my older sister taught our family’s Rottweiler to lick when she was angry instead of bite, but my first true experience of training happened when I was fourteen. I got a Golden Retriever with severe anxiety and reactivity issues and became obsessed with learning how to help him see the world in a more positive light. I always focus on finding the balance between having the best-behaved dog and having the happiest dog. I want training to be fun for the owner and the pup!

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Louise Sivak – Agility 

I’ve been running agility with my dogs for 8 years and teaching agility for 4 years. I love the sport because it’s
about developing teamwork, strengthening connection with our dogs, and always learning new skills and
improving our handling. My current family is a 1 year old Australian Cattle Dog, Kestrel, and a 5 year old
Border Collie, Hedwig. With Hedwig and my best boy Tristan, I’ve run in CPE, USDAA, AKC, and UKI agility.
Most breeds and dogs, if reasonably fit, can do agility and have lots of fun working with their Handlers, You!
I’ve worked with many breeds from Yorkies to Belgian Tervurens. I love helping teams develop even closer
relationships, and build skills and confidence through agility

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Meet Lea

Hello! I’m Lea. I am a former CPDT/PPD trainer of 13+ years, with a Bio/Animal Behavior background (Mills College ‘09, UofO ‘12) and three rowdy White Swiss Shepherds! You can usually catch me teaching Training Basics or Puppy Preschool but I also frequently attend classes myself with my dogs Cloud and Ghost. I specialize in basic obedience, first time dog owners, and focused walking, as well as reactivity and public access training.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Lucy Bitz – Agility and Conformation Instructor

Lucy is the owner of a pack of Standard Schnauzers and Affenpinschers (monkey-like terriers) who all love showing in both the conformation and agility ring.  She has taken a crash-course in the world of showing and training dogs for the last six years and has a background in teaching both middle school and group exercise classes. She found her calling later in life although she should have recognized this calling when as a young child she used gather up all the dogs in the neighborhood and “play” doggie day care in the back yard. During these years she also rescued her first dog who was never allowed to attend her day care program and instead had spent his entire life tied to a stake.

Lucy has been showing in the conformation ring for many years and also in the agility ring while earning five titles in 12 months!

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Carrol Haines – Musical Freestyle

Carrol is a retired Engineering Technician.  Currently there are four small dogs sharing their lives with her.  She got into dog sports when she adopted her very active and yippy Terrier Mix, Katie, who desperately needed a job.  Carrol and her dogs have competed in Obedience, Rally Obedience, Agility, and Canine Musical Freestyle.  She has recently added Nose Work to the list of dog activities.  You have probably seen her over the past five years putting on musical freestyle demos with her pack, various friends from her freestyle clubs, and some of her students.  Her three dancing dogs, Katie, Breezee, and Tobi, have competed in Oregon, Washington,  and Canada and hold intermediate and advanced titles in Canine Musical Freestyle and Heelwork to Music.  She is a board member of the Dogs Gone Dancin’ Club in Oregon and holds membership in the Emerald City K9 Freestyle Dancers and Paws 2 Dance clubs as well as the World Canine Freestyle Organization.  Carrol teaches beginning and intermediate freestyle classes at Pup-A-Razzi! See musical freestyle or the Dog Training Class Sign-up Form.