Meet the Team

Crystal Clear Canine Academy

Meet Our Certified Training Team

At Crystal Clear Canine Academy in River Falls, WI, our team is made up of certified, compassionate trainers who are deeply committed to helping dogs and their humans thrive together. With decades of combined experience and a shared belief in clear communication, we tailor every training plan to the individual dog—because no two dogs (or families) are the same. Since 2011, our family-operated, woman-owned academy has focused on building trust, understanding, and real-life skills that strengthen the bond between you and your dog long after training ends. Have questions? Contact us to learn more about our trainers and our training approach.

Crystal Close

Certified Canine Training & Behavior Specialist

Aggression Specialist

AKC CGC Evaluator #96988

Head Trainer, Founder & CEO

Dog Pro Mentor

Originally from the small town of Bruce, Wisconsin, Crystal grew up on a farm in the country, with animals as siblings. She developed a love for dog training through 4-H at the age of 13 and always knew she wanted a career working with dogs.

After spending several years in college on the path to becoming a veterinarian, Crystal chose to pursue the behavioral side of dogs rather than the medical. She is a graduate of the prestigious Triple Crown Academy outside of Austin, Texas (now known as Starmark Academy), where she studied under some of the best trainers in the country. The academy holds its professional dog training students to an exceptionally high standard, with extensive coursework and hands-on practical requirements.

Following graduation, Crystal was offered an apprenticeship and became a member of the academy’s training department. Her responsibilities included conducting group classes, private lessons, and training dogs in the in-kennel board-and-train program at the world’s largest training and behavior facility. She was later hired to write the curriculum for two comprehensive distance education programs for Triple Crown Academy and served as the Distance Education Instructor while remaining an active member of the training department.

As her role shifted primarily toward instructing future professional trainers, Crystal felt drawn back to working directly with dog owners and their dogs. In 2009, she returned to River Falls, WI, and began working with The Canine Coach, the largest professional dog training company in the Twin Cities. In 2011, she branched out on her own and founded Crystal Clear Canine Training. After nine years of working exclusively with dogs and their owners, she opened Crystal Clear Canine Academy in 2018 as a space where both dog owners and dog professionals could come together to learn.

As an industry leader and canine behavior expert, Crystal works with dog owners and trainers from around the world, focusing on improved facilitation and program design so trainers and their clients can work together more effectively—especially when behavior modification is the goal. She believes in fostering a safe, collaborative environment where dog owners and dog professionals can learn as a collective team for the greater good of the dogs we all love.

Her true passion lies in analyzing canine behavior and serving as a facilitator to clarify communication between dogs and humans.

Alayna Perez

Certified Professional Dog Trainer

CCCDT-KSA

Alayna's passion for dogs has been a lifelong journey. After growing up surrounded by animals, especially dogs, she turned that passion into a career by working in dog daycares and animal shelters beginning in 2019. In 2021, she expanded her expertise into professional dog training and has been helping dogs and their families build stronger relationships ever since.

As a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CCCDT-KSA), Alayna completed her certification through The Canine Coach in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is passionate about continuing her education and providing practical, relationship-focused training that helps both dogs and their people succeed.

When she's not training, Alayna enjoys fishing, volunteering at animal shelters, and spending time with family. With roots in both Wisconsin and Minnesota, she appreciates the sense of community found in both states and brings that same warmth and dedication to every family she works with.

Summer Witzel

Assistant Trainer

Summer has been passionate about animals for as long as she can remember. She grew up on a hobby farm, where caring for a wide variety of animals was part of her everyday life, and this early exposure shaped her lifelong commitment to animal care and welfare. She was actively involved in 4-H for eight years, gaining valuable hands-on experience working with horses and developing strong skills in animal handling, responsibility, and management.

She currently shares her life with three dogs—Sandy, Bandit, and Willow (two doodles and a Golden Retriever)—as well as her cat, Phillip. Having both dogs and a cat allows her to work confidently with multiple species and better understand the unique needs and personalities of each animal. She has a special passion for working with dogs of all breeds, ages, and temperaments, and her personal experience as a pet owner helps her build strong, trusting relationships with both animals and their owners.

Originally from Germantown, Wisconsin, located about 30 minutes north of Milwaukee, Summer now attends the University of Wisconsin–River Falls. She is pursuing a degree in Animal Science with an equine minor and an agricultural business minor. After completing her degree, she plans to pursue her veterinary technician certification and hopes to one day open her own animal-focused business. Summer is committed to continued learning and to providing compassionate, knowledgeable, and reliable care for every animal she works with.