Experienced

15+ years. Thousands of dogs in various environments – group classes,
board-and-train, In-home, animal shelter (SCRAPS), prison dog training program (Geiger Corrections)

Lisa is a professional member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, #62528 and is among the highest rated in the Greater Spokane area with 15+ years of experience.

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Meet Lisa

Hello, I’m Lisa and I’ve been working with dogs professionally for over 15 years. Prior to becoming a professional dog trainer, I spent many years playing in the mountains with a rag tag team of sled dogs; all Siberian Huskies, several of them rescued. The name of the business – Northern Tails Dog Training – is a nod to that part of my journey and the curly tails of the Northern Breed dogs, which I saw a lot of from the back of my sled.

In 2004 I became certified through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers and held that certification through June of 2019. Over the years, I have studied with some of the most respected trainers in the world – all of whom are dedicated to positive reinforcement, science-based training methodology.

When  I am not with dogs; hiking, working or otherwise, I can be found cooking, gardening, hiking or immersed in music, having taken up voice, guitar and piano late in life.

In addition to working with thousands of dogs in group classes, private training and board and train programs, my experience includes:

  • Trainer and Behavior Specialist at SCRAPS (Spokane Regional Protection Services) I held this position for a total of five years, over a ten-year period.
  • Training Director for F.I.D.O., which was the prison dog training program at Geiger Corrections Center in Spokane. As the Director of Training, I was responsible for developing the teaching and training curriculum and establishing selection criteria for the dog. Unfortunately, the program came to an abrupt end after 18 months when Geiger ended its contract with the Bureau of Prisons to house Federal Inmates.
  • Self-published author of “Recipe for a Calm Dog.” The book is out of print now, because I keep telling myself I am going to write an updated version. Ha! We will see.

I share my home with two canine friends and teaching partners:

  • Dharma, a Belgian Sheepdog who has helped countless insecure dogs learn how to feel safe in the world. And for the puppies, how to respect boundaries. There are no words to adequately convey how special she is and what a blessing she is to this earth and her canine inhabitants. UPDATE 2019: Dharma earned her wings this Winter. She is flying with the angels, but I can’t bring myself to remove her from this page…I am sure she is watching over me still. She will be missed until I take my last breath..
  • Quinn, a Shiloh Shepherd. Quinn is grounded, solid and steady. He is gifted in his work with reactive dogs, because he stays calm in the midst of most storms and other dogs take their cues from him. Quinn is gentle and affectionate with humans and lights up with puppy wiggles every time he sees a child.

Both of these dogs are part of my beating heart. I love them more than words could possibly express and am genuinely honored to have them in my life.