MORE ABOUT LISA
Passionate About Inspiring Others
I've always been in love with animals. I grew up on a horse farm, working with Thoroughbred race horses and showing my Palomino Quarter Horses all over the East Coast. I started showing my St. Bernard in 4-H when I was 10 years old. My enthusiasm for working with dogs continued to grow throughout my life.
In the year 2000 I became inspired by Karen Pryor and the Clicker Training movement. I started training all of my dogs with a clicker and became very excited about how I could train behaviors so easily and quickly. I also loved that I didn't need to scold my dogs for doing the wrong thing anymore. I could train an alternative behavior that was incompatible with what I didn't like - think of sitting being incompatible with jumping. The way I interacted with all of my animals, dogs, cats, and horses changed dramatically. I developed much closer, loving bonds with them all. They enjoyed being with me and working with me even more than before. The relationship with my pets became magical.
In 2010 I was introduced to the sport of K9 Nose Work®. I started my first Nose Work dog, Kelly, and never looked back. I attended as many seminars and workshops as possible (and still do), and began to compete in Nose Work trials. I was hooked. This was something that my dogs could do without me in the picture (except for holding the leash). Dogs were born to use their noses and when my dogs found out they could be free to use them, they became downright joyous.
I attended my first Georgia Nose Work Camp in 2012, and haven't missed one since! I became a Certified Nose Work Instructor (CNWI) with the National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW), and learned from the three founding members - Ron Gaunt, Amy Herot and Jill Marie O'brien. I am also a NACSW ORT Certifying Official and Judge. I am a Fear Free Certified Trainer and an AKC Scent Work and Performance Scent Dogs judge.
Currently my training/coaching is all geared towards Nose Work/Scent Work. I refer general training and behavior clients to Marge Rogers at www.rewardedbehaviorcontinues.com.
The National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW™) is dedicated to making high quality instructors available to students of the activity and sport of K9 Nose Work through its Certified Nose Work Instructor Program. Certified Nose Work Instructors (CNWI™) are graduates of the instructor certification program and can be identified by use of the acronym, CNWI, following their name. CNWI's operate as independent instructors and are not employed through the NACSW. Each instructor determines how to structure classes to best meet the needs of his or her students.
Only the most passionate, talented, and knowledgeable people become Certified Nose Work Instructors. The certification program teaches candidates the philosophy, concepts, and training methodology for the activity and sport of K9 Nose Work. Graduates of the certification program will have dedicated 1-2 years on average to the study of K9 Nose Work, attending courses and lectures, and logging over 75 hours of training and teaching, before they can apply for certification. All Certified Nose Work Instructors have demonstrated the skills necessary to train a dog and handle it in competition, as well as the ability to teach other dogs and handlers the activity and sport of K9 Nose Work from beginning level to advanced.