Meet the Team

Lindsey King

Foundation Obedience Instructor, Foundation Agility Instructor, CGC Evaluator, Trick-Dog Evaluator, Board & Train Instructor

Lindsey King started her dog training journey at the age of 15, attending classes and training with her first canine companion. Fast forward some years and Lindsey found herself taking agility classes at Bell Creek Agility and Obedience (BCAO) with her beloved Grizzly, an adopted mixed breed dog. Together the team earned Canine Good Citizen, Trick Dog, Excellent Agility Jumper, and Excellent Agility titles with the American Kennel Club (AKC). Sadly, Grizzly crossed over the rainbow bridge in December 2023.

After participating in classes at BCAO, Lindsey King developed a desire to learn more about the world of dog training and was excited to accept an assistant trainer position in 2020. She quickly worked her way into a lead instructor position and teaches STAR Puppy, Basic Obedience, and both Agility Foundation and Handling classes. As an instructor and AKC Evaluator, Lindsey has helped countless numbers of dogs and their humans transform into successful teams and she finds a great deal of satisfaction from working together with her students to help them build strong relationships with their four-legged companions.

While Agility is the sport that Lindsey is most familiar with, she has challenged herself by delving into and learning a variety of other dog sports and activities with her young dog Viper, an Australian Shepherd that is excelling in Agility, Scent Work, Rally, and Obedience. The pair have also recently entered the AKC Conformation world and are enjoying the new challenge. In addition to Viper, Lindsey shares her heart and home with Rue, a young Labrador-mix that she adopted in 2021 and who her daughter is training for Agility, and Boomer, an 11-year-old Cocker Spaniel mix that is the ultimate couch potato. She has since added a Chinese Crested named Tease and a Xoloitzcuintli named Mamba.

Beyond the world of training dogs, Lindsey and her husband are small business owners and proud parents to four active kids. She loves spending time with her family and can be found cheering for them on the sidelines of their soccer games or gymnastics competitions when she isn't teaching classes.

Jane Knight

Scent Work Instructor, AKC Scent Work Judge

Jane's family has always had dogs and she enjoyed "training" them as a child. She went to college to be a veterinarian and when Chemistry class got in the way of that dream, she switched to psychology with an emphasis in behavior.

During her brief stint in the military in 1985, she got her first dog, a very smart German Shepherd who needed a job. She did a lot of reading and worked with a group to help teach him. He became the first search and rescue (SAR) dog on Kodiak. The experience taught her a lot about how a dog's nose works, odor, air currents, and most importantly to "TRUST THE DOG!" A K9 officer also saw his potential and while he was never certified, he was trained in drug detection.

People saw how well her dog was trained and asked her to help them, so she became the first obedience instructor and canine behavioral consultant on Kodiak. Later, another SAR moved to the island and they founded Kodiak Canine Training together. When her business partner went off to vet school in 1996, she moved to Chugiak and started teaching for Obedience Training Club of Chugiak, as well as started her own consulting business, Pawsitively Dogs.

She as well as her students have earned a slew of titles on their dogs in Conformation, Obedience, Rally, Tracking, Herding, Nose Work, Scent Work (including advanced levels), and some have even become therapy dogs. Her dog Logic was the first dog in Alaska to earn the Scent Work Detective title! She is extremely proud of not only her dogs, but her students and their dogs. She loves training for performance events as she thinks it is a true test of teamwork and how well we communicate with our dogs. She loves seeing her students achieve a balanced relationship with their dogs, no matter what venue they choose to pursue.

She has worked with all different groups of dogs and many, many different breeds. She has worked with rock-solid dogs, fearful dogs, and reactive dogs. Through experience, she has found there is no cookie-cutter method for teaching. There may be foundation exercises that each dog will learn, but each dog learns differently and she loves the challenge of figuring out what works best for each dog.

Liesel Zanto

AKC Scent Work Judge, Scent Work Instructor, Foundation Agility Assistant

Liesel's journey in dog sports began at Bell Creek with her mixed breed rescue, Magnum. Seeking to build trust and strengthen their partnership, they enrolled in agility training. While Agility 1 presented initial challenges, a breakthrough in the final class sparked Magnum's enthusiasm for the sport. Through more than five years of dedicated training and competition, their teamwork flourished, culminating in Magnum earning his Agility Championship title. Magnum also demonstrated exceptional talent in AKC Scent Work, quickly achieving his overall Master Scent Work title. Now retired from competitive dog sports, Magnum enjoys hiking and maintaining an active lifestyle.

Liesel's second dog, Minnie, is a Catahoula Leopard Dog originally intended for agility competition. After undergoing double TPLO surgery early in her career, Minnie's competitive path shifted. To keep her engaged during recovery, Liesel introduced her to Scent Work—making Minnie her first dedicated Scent Work partner. Minnie excelled in the discipline, earning her overall Master Scent Work title, and the team is currently working toward their Detective title. Minnie has also proven herself in Barn Hunt, earning several RAT Champion titles. Following her recovery, Minnie returned to agility competition and now competes at the Master level. The team additionally competes in Rally and is pursuing their Rally Championship title.

Liesel's newest family member is Mavra, another Catahoula Leopard Dog. With exceptional drive and eagerness to work, Mavra is poised to make her mark in the dog sports community.

From student to instructor and now a Provisional Judge for AKC Scent Work, Liesel is committed to continuous learning and passionate about teaching. She finds great joy in watching handler-dog teams develop their skills and deepen their partnerships, providing enthusiastic support and encouragement to all students.

Ruth Lewis

Foundation Obedience Instructor, AKC Fit Dog Instructor, CGC Evaluator, Trick-Dog Evaluator, Fetch Instructor & Evaluator, Treibball Instructor

Ruth first got hooked on dog training when she was 16 and rescued her first puppy. Several rescue dogs later, her love of working with dogs had not changed. Working with people and their dogs to create happy and healthy relationships is what keeps her engaged in dog obedience more than 30 years later. She has trained dogs as pets, therapy dogs, and to run in agility. She uses a variety of games to influence dog responses and perceptions of their environment. She believes training should be fun for both the dog and handler. When she is not teaching at Bell Creek, she is at home having fun with her pack of three dogs, two teenagers, and one husband.

Lisa Holt

Foundation Obedience Assistant, Foundation Agility Assistant, Boarding

Lisa's journey with Bell Creek began when she and her Labrador, Gidget, joined our agility classes. Her enthusiasm for learning and her positive, can-do spirit quickly made her a valued part of our community. Lisa now assists with foundation classes and also offers limited in-home boarding. At home, she shares her life with a Labrador, a Welsh Corgi, and two Chinese Cresteds—each with their own personalities, but all sharing Lisa's passion for learning. We're grateful to have her as part of the Bell Creek family!

Lindsey Story

Head Groomer, Day Training Instructor, Foundation Obedience Instructor

Lindsey Story brings 16 years of canine professional experience to Bell Creek Agility & Obedience. Her career began at age 16 working with professional retriever trainers, followed by five years at a hunting dog boarding kennel starting at 17. Throughout her career, Lindsey has worked in every aspect of the canine professional industry, developing a comprehensive understanding of dog behavior, care, and training.

Lindsey has continued to train her dogs for competitive sports, finding joy in working them across multiple venues and disciplines. This diverse training approach allows her to bring varied perspectives and techniques to her instruction. Since 2017, she has also specialized as a professional groomer, focusing on natural, clean styling that enhances each dog's appearance while maintaining breed-appropriate looks. She particularly excels in grooming gundogs and sporting breeds, bringing both technical skill and genuine passion to her work.