Overview

Lisa began training and showing dogs in the early 1990’s. She has titled her dogs in multiple venues including: conformation, obedience, rally, agility, lure coursing, and nose work. Her love of dogs led her to a second career as a licensed veterinary technician with a specialty in canine rehabilitation (CCRP). In a quest to expand her knowledge base Lisa completed the University of Tennessee’s, Certified Canine Fitness Trainer program to earn the “CCFT” certification. She joined the TEAM of Master Trainer Course Instructors and was the Education Program Consultant for the entire CCFT program. During this time, she worked with the TEAM to help strengthen the course curriculum and make the administration of the program flow more smoothly. Lisa owns and operates K9 Fitness Coach, LLC which offers the following services: • K9 Athletic Conditioning • K9 Massage Therapy • Customized Home-Based Fitness Plans • Puppy Start Right Programs • Weight Management Plans • “Silver Muzzle” Exercise Plans • Fitness and Core Strength Group Classes & Seminars Mobile & Video Sessions Available Her classes and seminars aim to teach the significance of injury prevention and stress the importance of foundation exercises and impulse control. She is a firm believer in learning and applying the “basics” whether it be to an exercise program or to a training plan. Her philosophy is, “If you don’t have a strong foundation and walls to support your house, the roof will cave in. The same applies to fitness and dog training.” Lisa has been performing canine massage since 2004 when she graduated from Integrated Touch Therapy, Inc. (http://www.integratedtouchtherapy.com) The majority of her clientele consists of canine athletes. Lisa believes in working with the dog’s energy to guide her skillful hands during the massage process. Her extensive anatomy background combined with listening to what the dog’s energy tells her helps to produce a more effective massage. Lisa is currently one of the Traveling Trainers for Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, Inc. (GAMSD) (http://www.medicalservicedogs.org). GAMSD provides service dogs to people with PTSD and mobility issues. She is responsible for following up with the paired teams once they leave the headquarters in Florida and working with them on any training and adjustment issues they may have once they arrive home. She also holds regular classes to ensure the teams are staying fine-tuned with their training. Lisa’s Doberman, Rylan was the first Veteran’s Court therapy court dog in the country through the Canine Advocacy Program (http://www.capmich.org) in 2010. Through this experience, Lisa’s life was forever touched and changed by the many Veterans that she and Rylan encountered during their therapy work. She has said that if there was a way to utilize her dog training background and work with Veterans it would be her ideal job. Working with Guardian Angels has now provided that opportunity. Lisa has been married to her high school sweetheart, Tom, since 1990. They enjoy traveling together and they share their house with two Dobermans, Rylan and Dante.