AWESOME DAWGS DOG TRAINING - Key Persons


ALYSSA EBERSOLE

Job Titles:
  • Trainer
Alyssa has been a dog trainer for about 3 years, and was certified in 2019 as a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner. She started her business Pawz 4 Training LLC in 2019 as a private in home dog trainer, and works at Awesome Dawgs since April 2021 as a dog trainer.

CHERYL RENNINGER

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Instructor With International Bloodhound Training Institute
Cheryl has a lifelong appreciation of dogs and their amazing ability to learn and adapt to co-existing with humans. She recently completed Pat Miller's Peaceable Paws Canine Behavior and Training Academy. She has attended workshops and seminars presented by dog training and behavior experts, such as Ian Dunbar, Michael Shikashio & Grisha Stewart. Cheryl is an assistant instructor with International Bloodhound Training Institute for the state of Pennsylvania. Her current rescue dogs, Mya and Kylie, lead her to Awesome Dawgs where they attended all levels of manners classes and she was introduced to tracking/trailing. Cheryl has been teaching and training canines in tracking and trailing for many years. She is active with Middle Creek Search and Rescue and attained Level 1 Scent Discriminant Trailing Certification with her dog Kylie.

DONNA STAIVECKI

Donna has been training her dogs to compete in agility for over 20 years. She has trained 9 of her own dogs and has taught private lessons. Six of her dogs have competed nationally making the podium multiple times and have earned over 30 Agility Championship titles. Donna just loves living life to the fullest with her dogs. Taking daily walks, traveling, training anything (most recently disc) or just cuddling on the couch her dogs are a big part of her world. The rest of her world consists of her husband, John, and her 2 children, Koby and Kelsey, who both attend college.

KATHY WEISS-SLEMMER

Kathy is a graduate of the Canine Training & Management program at Kutztown University. She began her dog training career with Awesome Dawgs in December of 2013. Kathy retired from her day job as an Insurance Professional in 2019 and moved to the Eastern Shore. She decided that life was not for her so she moved back to Berks County in April of 2022 and rejoined the Awesome Dawgs training staff. Kathy and her husband Lenny currently live in Muhlenberg Twp. with their rescue Pug Maxey.

MATT REPKO

Matt is a graduate of Alvernia University with a degree in Computer Information Systems. In his non-canine "day job," Matt is an Information Technology professional. His most recent career roles have involved managing, training and mentoring technical engineers. Much to Matt's surprise, he greatly enjoys this type of work and has transferred this technical approach to dog training. He graduated from the Animal Behavior College and mentored with Mary Jo Carabello. Matt has shared his adult life with 11 wonderful Australian Shepherds (our current pack is six dogs). and is an active competitor in the world of Canine Disc. He has been fortunate enough to qualify for the World Championships 10 years in a row and has had several top 10 finishes including a personal best finish of 3rd with his first competitive disc dog Rocky. Matt has taught several clinics specific to disc and has been fortunate to have learned from some of the best disc dog players in the world.

STEVE ROW

Job Titles:
  • ABCDT
Steve is a graduate of the Animal Behavior College, Maryland University, and a retired Army 1st Sergeant. He has attended workshops with leaders in the field of dog training and behavior including: Dr. Ian Dunbar, Leslie McDevitt, Patricia McConnell, Steve White, and Kevin Kocker. Steve is an Instructor for the International Bloodhound Training Institute for the state of Pennsylvania. He is also a Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. Steve is trained in tracking/training and is currently active in his local Search and Rescue team and the locale law-enforcement with his Labradoodle Jaxon which they are "Trailing" Level 1 certified. Steve has held the AKC "TD" Tracking Dog certification and the AKC "SAR-W" Wilderness title and the "Man Trailing" level 1 certification through the Pennsylvania Police Canine Association. Steve also participates in group training as well as individual training with Awesome Dawgs.