Gigi Jones - President/Treasurer - angeluvu@ameritech.net
Mary Ann Coutley - VP/Membership Chairperson - tcoutley2@wi.rr.com
Amy Stern - Secretary/WSF Program Ad Chairperson -
woofsconsin@sternfam.com
Diane Jones - Media/Demo Contact - angeluvu@ameritech.net
Bobby Wasielewski - Photography & Video/WSF Awards Chairperson
Carol Ermis- Member
Charlotte Allmann- Member
Debra Lynch- Member
Elaine Rahn- Member
Jan Nyland- Member
Jill Wanie- Member
Keith Rahn- Member
Linda Warn- Member
Nancy Schaff- Member
Patti Muraczewski- Honorary Member
Rick Coutley- Member
Sandee Stuczynski- Member
Sue Sawicki- Member
Tom Coutley- Member
Biographies
| GIGI JONES AND BANDITT (Lab/Shepherd Mix) Banditt is a rescue dog. At 8 weeks, this abused Lab/Shepherd puppy was thrown out of a car window left to die. This happened right in front of our house and we rescued him. When he was a year old he was attacked by a dog and left him thinking he was doing be attached by all dogs and his owners turned his life around by freestyle. He had a hard start in life but that was not going to stop his owner Gigi to make his new life better. Banditt was introduced to a family whose hearts he stole. His mentor was the family dog Luckey. She took him under her paws and taught what love can do. At For Pet’s Sake, it was learned that a trick class was offered and everyone told us to take him there. He is smart and loves to work. After completing this course, Banditt was advised about a new sport. He was a good candidate for Freestyle or Dancing with your Dog. Mutts are welcomed in this sport but in other venues only pedigrees are allowed. With Gigi’s two left feet and Banditt’s determination this team was on their way to bring smiles to the young and old. About three years ago, out of 8,000 entries, Banditt was chosen to be on the Mutt America Pageant with Regis and Kelly. He became Milwaukee’s Mutt. Flown to New York, stayed at a 5 star hotel, limo rides, and was given the celebrity treatment, Banditt became fourth runner-up but still remains first place in many people’s hearts. Banditt went on to win a title in Musical Freestyle, Heelwork to Music, Handi-Dandi Musical Freestyle and also has achieved his Bronze Bars in Heelwork to Music and Musical Freestyle and has an official title of "Dancing Dog". Banditt and Samantha achieved their pair’s title in March of 2009. In 2007, he became part of a trio together with Wynona and Samantha. They won a gold metal and they were on their way to getting a title. Sadly two weeks later Wynona died. |
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| MARY ANN COUTLEY AND DIVA (Dalmatian) Mary Ann Coutley is the Freestyle Dance Instructor for the last 10 years at For Pet’s Sake Dog Training School in Mukwonago, WI. She has been training dogs for over 35 years, showing her Dalmatians in the breed ring, obedience, agility, flyball and musical freestyle. Her Wynona has titled in Heelwork to Music and Freestyle. She had appearedon TV, channels 4, 6 and 12 and also in several newspaper articles and was well known in Wisconsin for her participation at State Fair, in parades and for doing many demo’s throughout the years at nursing homes, schools, senior homes and hospitals. Wynona’s lastperformance wasat the Pet Expo in Schaumburg, Illinoisthe middle ofMarch 2007 where she received afirst placegold medal and a qualifying scorefor the team event at the age of 12 years. Unfortunately we lost her to cancer onApril 1st, 2007. "TLC’S Dream Chaser - Wynona" is titled in the following: NA, NAJ, AG1, AG2, FD, CGC, TDI, W-FD-FS, W-FD-HTM and also had 11 points towards her Championship for Conformation. Now the New Kid on the block "RICKY" has to follow in her footsteps. Firesprites Traveling Man, "Ricky"was born September 9, 2006. Ricky made his debut at Midnight Magic in Mukwonago, WI when he was 3 months old. This was his first attempt at dancing. He did an intro performance of some freestyle dance moves at 4 months of age at an elementary school play of 101 Dalmatians in January 2007. He has participated in over 30 demonstrations in the past year and a half. With guidance from above from Wynona, he is surely following in her footsteps and we are dedicating everything we do as a team in memory of my special Wynona, a dog that knew how to do just about everything that I showed her and taught me how to have a lot of fun dancing with her. Ricky received his first leg in Musical Freestyle in the spring of 2009 at the Chicagoland Pet Expo. |
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| SANDEE STUCZYNSKI AND MR. ROPER (Mini Aussie) Sandee Stuczynski is currently an obedience instructor at For Pets Sake in Mukwonago and has been for the last 10 years.She has over 20 years of dog training and instruction under her belt!Sandee has 4 dogs Taja (10) she is a black and white border collie CGC-TDI-HIC-and her Fly ball Onyx.You might have seen her Grandson out performing with her at State Fair.Storm (8) is a red merle male border collie and he has his CGC-TDI-HIC-CD-RE and Fly ball FBDCH-FD40K.Roper (5) is a red merle Mini Aussie with which she is currently dancing with.He has his CGC-TDI-HIC Fly ball FM and many different Agility titles.Last, but not least is Ace her year old black and white border collie.He has his CGC and Fly ball FDCHS.Sandee has had Three German Shepherds in the past who she has placed Keena with a UDX within 15 shows, Lakota UD and Charu CDX.She brings with her many years of experience in the show ring and many more with her talent with training dogs.She will be the next up and coming dance team to keep your eyes on! |
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| ELAINE RAHN AND HUNTER () |
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| JAN NYLAND AND FLIP (Golden), TRISTAN (Golden) I've been training dogs for many years in obedience, and have also shown dogs in conformation. I took an agility class with one dog also. It's all fun. I got into the Dance Freestyle with my older dog Flip, who is retired from obedience. He was bored, it is something he can do without jumping, and I thought it would be fun for Flip. Guess what? We are BOTH having fun! I also decided to include my young dog Tristan in it, and he loves it. In the past, I have had many breeds of dogs, and put obedience titles on all of them: A Mixed Breed, 2 Kuvaszok, a Doberman Pinscher, and Golden Retriever. Flip, (Otch Tanbark's Triple Flip UDX7), my older Golden, is 9 years. He has always been such a "Good" dog, never naughty. When he was a puppy, I used to tell him to be naughty once in a while. When he retired from obedience, I was fortunate to see Deb Lynch and her Corgi's doing Canine Freestyle, and I was hooked. I like to choose music for Flip that is dignified and pretty, it suits his temperament. Tristan, my younger Golden, was named by my husband, at my request. He is named for the Wagner Opera Tristan and Isolde. Some days I think his name should be not Tristan, but Tarzan. I think he COULD swing from trees! I never have to tell Tris to be naughty! He is wild, flamboyant, but fun. And very sweet and affectionate. For Tris, I choose bouncy, happy, wild music. |
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| CHARLOTTE ALLMANN AND CINDY LOU (PBGV-Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen) Charlotte has been training dogs most of her life, and currently teaches agility classes, basic obedience and tracking, and is the president and training coordinator for Wisconsin Interstate Search and Recovery K9 Team, a volunteer, professionally trained unit that helps police and emergency services in the event of a missing person or suspected violent crime. Cindy Lou is a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen (puh-tee’ bah-say’ grif-fohn von-day-ohn), a French scent hound. She is a working tracking dog for WISARK9 Team, who enjoys dancing as a way to cut loose and de-stress from the world of working canines, searching for missing people. Cindy Lou is a beginner, and is still learning the basic freestyle moves. She tries to fit her dancing into a very busy schedule of training for agility, obedience, tracking, and Search and Rescue for an emergency call-out when a person goes missing. Her handler, Charlotte Allmann, is not much of a dancer, but Cindy Lou is forgiving of her . . . for now. She enjoys performing and being the center of attention, and is always happy to be meeting new friends, human and canine. |
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| DEBBIE LYNCH AND TINKERBELLE (Pembroke Welsh Corgi) I adopted Tinkerbelle in 2005 when she was 2 years old. Originally from Florida and she was transported to Wisconsin by the corgi rescue. After a year as a pet dog, she "informed" me that she wanted to become a performance dog. Our first performance sport was agility. Next thing I know, she earned her champion title in Teacup Agility. She was the first dog in Wisconsin to get an Agility Championship in TDAA. But she wasn't satisfied with just agility, and in 2007 we attended Dancer's with Woofs' canine freestyle dance camp. We had a blast learning the basics of freestyle dancing. Poor Tinkerbelle, I must admit to occasionally stepping on her feet, but she took to it like a pro. We are just starting to compete, but whether we win or lose, we have fun. In addition to these accomplishments she has also learned to do tricks. We have competed in several trick contests and I discovered that she performs even better in front of an audience than during our practices. What a great little partner she has been. And I love her enthusiasm and joy. When we are practicing or performing, her little stumpy tail goes like a fan. |
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| JILL WANIE & JAX, SPIRIT, RUDY (BORDER COLLIES/NORTH AMERICAN SHEPHERD) (Jax CGC & Spirit CGC - Rescued Border Collie; Rudy CL1 Rescued North American Shepherd (Mini Aussie) I’ve had dogs all my life and involved in dog activities for over 30 years. My parents owned a boarding kennel and we owned three Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers - Maggie, Sadie & Rosie. I showed Maggie in the breed ring and she earned her championship before she was a year old (all owner handled). I also showed Sadie to her championship but it took a little longer. Rosie wasn’t interested in showing. After I got married, my husband and I owned three wonderful Norwich Terriers - Corky, Ernie & Buster. I showed Corky to her breed championship (the other two wanted no part of it). My mom and I also bred a few litters along the way. After watching agility on TV, I thought it looked like so much fun I had to get a Border Collie. We adopted Jax from a rescue group when he was 4 months old. A few years later, we fostered Spirit for the same rescue group and ended up adopting her. I have trained & shown them in agility, obedience, & rally. And, we have been training in freestyle dance on and off for several years now. Jax has had some set backs because he had surgery on both his cruciate ligaments a few years ago and has some arthritis problems, but he’s still my best dancer! Rudy is my little spit fire who is also a rescue dog. Rudy is a North American Shepherd (aka Mini Aussie) with a tail. He is working very hard at agility and freestyle dance. He loves lure coursing and received a herding instinct certification. Don't tell Jax, but Rudy is now my best dancer. We also have a crazy cat named Buttons. And, I owned (owned by, is more appropriate) a wonderful Appaloosa horse named Chief for 15 years that passed away in May of 2008. Currently, I am Vice President of a Border Collie rescue group (CARE4BCS, Inc.) and a member of Dancers With Woofs, Wisconsin Dog Rescue & AWARE, Inc. (Adoption Wellness Advocacy Rescue & Education). |
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| NANCY SCHAFF AND CHARLIE (Golden Retriever) I knew as a very young girl that dogs were always going to be part of my life. I loved every one of them! We lived in an area where we did not have close neighbors, so my parents made sure that I had lots of pets to keep me company, and that must have started my love for dogs. I got started in Free Style Dance in 2005, with our special Golden named Dolly. She would be Charlie's great, great aunt and she was nine years old at the time. Together, we had so much fun learning 'the moves' that when it became Charlie's time, at the early age of three months, there was no doubt that he was going to be a dancer. It was the natural thing to do. Free Style allows you to bond with your dog in a very special way, and it's so much fun to teach him and watch him mature into this beautiful animal. At just 11 months, Charlie is so young and full of energy, that at times he is a real handful. Charlie is our fourth Golden and third puppy. It is my intention to have him become a therapy dog for the sick and elderly. Doing Free Style is the icing on the cake: watching the smiles on the peoples' faces when they see how handsome he is, and the cool dance moves he performs for their entertainment, makes it all worth it. |
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| PATTI MURACZEWSKI & KIRBY (BICHON FRISE) Patti is certified by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and Animal Behavior College. She has been instructing pet owners and their dogs for over 30 years. In addition, Patti has served as an executive director of a humane society for 15 years and has served as a board member for numerous animal welfare organizations. Patti is the founder and President of the Bichon and Little Buddies Rescue and writes a column in the national publication Front and Finish. Patti currently trains and competes with her own dogs in obedience, agility, flyball and freestyle. Her Bichon Frises have been nationally ranked in the top ten for Bichons in agility, obedience and flyball. Snafu, her oldest Bichon, is the most pointed Bichon in North America in the sport of flyball. For Pet’s Sake training school uses reward based training to guide the dog and owner to a higher level of control, communication and enjoyment. |
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| SUE SAWICKI AND GRACIE (PAPILLON) Sue Sawicki and her Papillon, Gracie, have been enjoying canine freestyle for about four years. Gracie studied dance at For Pet’s Sake Dog Training School located in Mukwonago, WI with canine freestyle instructor, Mary Ann Coutley. Gracie has received her AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Title. And has won first place at two performances at the Midnight Magic competition held at For Pet’s Sake Dog Training School. Sue chose canine freestyle not only for the pure joy of working and bonding with Gracie, but it also fulfills her love of dance. Another wonderful benefit is seeing the many smiles on the audience’s faces while they’re watching Gracie perform. And it shows them that small breed dogs can do canine freestyle just like the "Big Guys." Sue and Gracie have performed at nursing homes, senior living residences, pet expos, and other evens. At this point Sue and Gracie perform for the pure enjoyment but competition maybe in their future. |
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