Meet the Team
Chip Ingersoll
Chip Ingersoll is a Professional Dog Trainer & Canine Behavior Consultant, as well as being the Owner/Operator of Alpha-Dog Pet Centers, LLC located in Amherst, Ohio. Chip is a life-long resident of Amherst, Ohio and loves being able to have his business serve his hometown! Chip’s professional background is in Education. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Kent State University, and a Master of Education Degree from Trident University. He has taught at both the elementary and junior high school levels, and until very recently still taught middle-school science for an online virtual school. Chip is a graduate of the Obedience Trainer Program from K9-University (Online) in Tennessee, and has completed studies in Canine Behavior Consultation through the Canine Behavior Specialist Network. Chip is currently working on completing additional training and certification in Canine Behavior Modification, as well as Canine Resistance Training (CRT).
Chip has participated in numerous workshops, training events, and immersive shadowing/mentorship programs for the "Training Between The Ears" (TBTE) system of training and canine behavior work, under the mentorship of nationally acclaimed trainer, Mark McCabe. Chip is currently working toward completing his certification in the TBTE system. Chip is a Professional Member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), as well as the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP). Chip is also certified a Pet First-Aid & CPR Instructor through PetTech’s “PetSaver” program. Chip currently has three dogs and two cats… all of whom are rescues!!! All three of his dogs are certified Therapy Dogs, and along with other family members they visit schools, hospitals, and nursing homes. In his free time, Chip enjoys playing with his dogs, baseball, movies, and martial arts. He is a 3rd Degree Black Belt (Sandan) and is certified as an Instructor in Chinese Kenpo Karate, which he taught for many years prior to opening Alpha-Dog Pet Center in 2013.
Kerry Skowronsky
Kerry Skowronsky is the Certified Pet Massage Therapist here at Alpha-Dog Pet Center. She is the Owner/Operator of Equiflexion Small Animal & Horse Massage, which operates as the massage therapy contractor INSIDE of Alpha-Dog Pet Center, here in Amherst. Kerry has been performing Therapeutic Massage on animals since 2007. Kerry attended The Ohio State University, having graduated in 1998 with a degree in Equine Science. Kerry owns nine horses, one of which is a competitive race horse. She had been doing “rub downs” on her own horses for many years, but in 2007 went back to school and completed her certification in Equine (horse) Massage. Being an avid dog-lover and proud owner of several dogs, she decided to expand her knowledge base into Massage Therapy for dogs and cats, as well. In 2014, she completed her certification in Small Animal (canine & feline) Massage. In her free time, she enjoys riding her horses (she has 9 of them) and spending time at the race track with her Thoroughbred race horse. She also spends quality time with her two German Shepherd Dogs, as well as several cats. She looks forward to working with your pet, and talking with you about the many benefits of Canine Massage Therapy.
Alex, the Therapy Dog
Alexandria (“Alex”) Ingersoll is an 80 lb. Pitbull-Mix, who was rescued by Chip & Cherie in 2012, at the age of approximately 6-years-old. Alex is the co-owner of Alpha-Dog Pet Center along with Chip Ingersoll, and currently serves as Alpha-Dog Pet Center’s “Chief of Barketing” and “Director of Pawblic Relations”. Alex completed basic obedience classes, and was awarded her AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Title in October 2012, and her Advanced Canine Good Citizen (CGCA) Title, also called the AKC Community Canine, in 2014. Alex is a Certified Therapy Dog, having been trained and certified in 2013. She is also R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dog)-certified to work with school age students at schools and libraries. Outside of her Barketing duties with Alpha-Dog, Alex volunteers time at local hospitals, nursing homes, and schools as a Therapy Dog and R.E.A.D. Dog for the benefit of others. Currently, Alex attends an elementary school in Amherst one afternoon each week, to work with 3rd and 4th grade students in several classrooms. Alex loves her job, and loves people. She can’t wait to see you when you stop in!!!
Check her out on Facebook! www.facebook.com/TherapyDogAlex
Bella, the Therapy Dog
Isabella (“Bella”) Ingersoll is a 50 lb. Pitbull/Boxer-Mix, who was rescued by Chip in 2014, at the age of approximately 18-months-old. Bella currently serves as Alpha-Dog Pet Center’s “Customer Service Supervisor” and “Security/Loss-Prevention Specialist”. Don’t let that title fool you… She’s a big pussycat!!! Bella completed basic obedience classes, and was awarded her AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Title in April 2014, and her Advanced Canine Good Citizen (CGCA) Title, also called the AKC Community Canine, later in 2014. Bella is a Certified Therapy Dog, having been trained and certified in September 2014. She is also R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dog)-certified to work with school age students at schools and libraries. Outside of her Customer Service duties with Alpha-Dog, Bella volunteers time at local hospitals, nursing homes, and schools as a Therapy Dog and R.E.A.D. Dog for the benefit of others. Currently, Bella attends an elementary school in Amherst one afternoon each week, to work with 3rd and 4th grade students in several classrooms. Bella also serves as Alpha-Dog Pet Center’s representative to the Main Street Amherst organization. Bella loves her job, and loves people. She can’t wait to see you when you stop in!!!
Check her out on Facebook! www.facebook.com/TherapyDogBella
Cora
Location: Alpha-Dog Pet Center - Retail Store
Cora Ingersoll is a 60 lb. American Pitbull Terrier, who was rescued by Chip in November 2016, at the age of approximately 12-months-old. Cora currently serves as Alpha-Dog Pet Center’s “Customer Relations Concierge” and “Special Assistant to the Chief of Barketing”. Cora completed basic obedience classes, and was awarded her AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Title in July 2017. Cora is a Certified Therapy Dog, having been trained and certified in August 2017. She is also R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dog)-certified to work with school age students at schools and libraries. Outside of her Customer Relations duties with Alpha-Dog, Cora volunteers time at local hospitals, nursing homes, and schools as a Therapy Dog and R.E.A.D. Dog for the benefit of others. Currently, Cora attends an elementary school in Amherst one afternoon each week, to work with 3rd and 4th grade students in several classrooms. Cora also serves as one of Alpha-Dog Pet Center’s representatives to the Main Street Amherst organization. Cora loves her job, and loves people. She can’t wait to see you when you stop in!!!
Check her out on Facebook! www.facebook.com/TherapyDogCora
Gramma
Chip’s grandmother, Doris Ruminsky (aka “Grams”), is everyone’s favorite grandmother! She volunteers here at Alpha-Dog Pet Center as the official “hugger”. For many years, Doris was a fixture in the Amherst business community. She and her late-husband, Paul, owned “Parke Camera”, a small retail camera store and photo processing shop in historic downtown Amherst, for over 25-years before finally closing Parke Camera and retiring in 1999. But like any good business woman, retirement is a four-letter-word!!! I hope that I’m still getting out of bed in the morning when I’m 80, but at 95-years-young, Gramma loves to get out and GO, which includes stopping by to spend time here at Alpha-Dog, where she helps us with odd jobs, visits with our customers (and their humans), and has a warm hug and a smile for everyone she meets!
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