A Lifetime of Dedication to Dogs

Lisa Brooks

Lisa Brooks, owner and founder of Happy Tails Pet Resort, began her journey in the dog industry in the early 1970s as an apprentice to Ilsa Kopetz, a renowned breeder, exhibitor, and importer of top German Shepherds, including several Schutzhund Level III master-titled dogs. Lisa’s gentle confidence and natural affinity with these strong working-class dogs quickly earned Ilsa’s trust, leading her to care for the dogs during Ilsa’s extensive travels.

While honing her expertise, Lisa also embraced her passion for winter outdoor activities, becoming the caregiver and trainer at Lionel Innison’s Siberian Husky kennel on Tasso Lake near Algonquin Park. An avid sled dog enthusiast, Lisa participated in dog sledding for fun, competition, and in the burgeoning sled dog tourism business of the 1970s.

In 1980, Lisa moved to Alberta to apprentice under Elaine Mitchell, a top international All Breed Dog Show handler with over 30 years of experience. Under Elaine’s mentorship, Lisa mastered professional grooming and dog show handling skills. She later bred and showed her own Siberian Huskies under the kennel name ‘Isbok,’ earning over 75 individual Canadian, American, and European champion titles, including two International World Champions and numerous specialty winners.

For over two decades, Lisa excelled as a professional all-breed dog groomer. In 1991, she achieved a groundbreaking milestone by creating the curriculum for Canada’s first government-licensed vocational school for dog grooming, the Alberta Academy of Dog Grooming. After returning to Ontario for a family Christmas in 1995, Lisa felt the pull of her roots and decided it was time to return home and fulfill her childhood dream.

In 1996, Lisa established Happy Tails Pet Resort & Camp in her hometown of Huntsville. As the pioneer of cage-free pet care in Muskoka, Happy Tails continues to be the region’s premier retreat for the “furry elite.” Lisa’s entrepreneurial spirit is rooted in her family legacy—her grandmother, Mary Brooks, built and operated Brooklin Lodge on Peninsula Lake for over 60 years. Inspired by her grandmother’s dedication to creating a classic cottage lifestyle for humans, Lisa has passionately committed herself to providing the same idyllic experience for dogs.

Lisa’s extensive expertise as a professional dog trainer and class instructor has enabled her to help problem dogs learn social skills, re-establish balance through exercise, and embrace positive behavior. Her successful work with breeds like German Shepherds and Jack Russell Terriers is a testament to her innate ability to guide dogs toward happier, more fulfilling lives.

Beyond her work with Happy Tails, Lisa developed Muskoka Woodlands Bush Splash in 1996, an all-natural outdoor skin care product made entirely of edible ingredients. The product was sold through veterinarians and manufactured for 18 years.

In a Globe and Mail feature on small businesses, Lisa reflected on her journey: “I had a fantasy as a child of being surrounded by dozens of dogs. It was my going-to-sleep dream. The dogs would be swimming, running, and playing free, and we would all live together in a big brick house. Now I’ve achieved that dream. This is a place for people who don’t want their fur kids put in cages, filed away, or walked on leashes in small yards. This is truly a resort for dogs, where they can run, play, and swim all day if they want to.”

She adds, “Dogs that have been here before are excited when they arrive; they can’t wait to be with the other dogs and enjoy what cottage dogs have loved for generations. At the end of their stay, they’re happy to see their owners, of course, but people often tell me that as soon as their pet says ‘hello’ and settles into the car, they fall fast asleep—just like a child coming home from camp.”