Hi, I'm your trainer,

Lisa Mawson

Certified Professional Trainer

Member of the APDT (Association of Professional Dog Trainers) #84335

Approved "Master Trainer" by Animal Behavior College

My journey training began when...

...my animal obsession in high school peaked with a concentrated study in genetics, animal behavior, then followed by training and teaching. Covering these topics in detail at multiple science fairs (admittedly, in hindsight, an excuse to have more involvement with animals than my family's household pets could supply), years later, I became one of the first volunteers in a special interest department at Rosamond Gifford Zoo.

I began my journey in dog training in 1989 with my first dog, Buddy, a 185 pound English Mastiff adopted at 2 years of age. In 1993 I started challenging my knowledge and skills with Willy, an American Staffordshire Terrier and a German Shepherd, Katie, training for a wide variety of competitive sports. Together we successfully competed and earned titles and awards in Obedience, Schutzhund, Agility, Tracking, Canine Good Citizen and Weight pulling.

I also had a variety of careers with pets beginning early on as a manager in pet retail, dog groomer, and veterinary assistant.

After becoming a veterinary assistant I concurrently gained a special interest education in behavior, orthopedics, rehabilitation and canine nutrition. Over the years, I have studied many courses at Cornell, including topics of canine behavior, canine aggression, anxiety and nutrition among many others.

I have had the great fortune to be able to attend, and host, many different seminars, clinics and workshops over the last 20 years from some of the most respected behaviorists, veterinarians, ethologists, authors and trainers from across the country and Europe. Some of those trainers including, but not limmited to... Ian Dunbar Ph.D, Patricia McConnell DVM, Ray Coppinger Ph.D, Christine Zink DVM, Cathryn Houpt DVM, Cesar Millan, Gary Wilkes, Karen Pryor, Patty Ruzzo, Sue Sternberg, Brenda Aloff, Jeff Gellman Carolyn Wilke, and so many others over the years!

Combining these with my veterinary experience teaching proper pet care, understanding a clients needs, and training knowledge, I started officially educating dog owners in 1998. Canine Culture was started in 2003.

I have been honored to be a speaker and present at the 2014 APDT (Association of Professional Dog Trainers) National Conference in Connecticut, as well as written an article for the Spring 2015 APDT publication, "The Chronicle".

My Methodology

I am occasionally asked "What method do you use?" I find this a somewhat difficult question to answer, in short. Over the years, I've learned and used many different methods and incorporated alternative aspects of training together to achieve maximum results. No one, single, technique is applicable to all cases of varying degrees of difficulty. And each individual dog, and owners, learning style and needs are different. Having said that, the best answer to that question is... the one that works! Sometimes, actually often, a combination of many.

You and I, together, will determine and develop the best method for your dog, based on both you and your dogs' personality, temperament, needs, and learning style. I consider myself a balanced trainer and incorporate a "Yes" and "No" philosophy.

While inherently positive and reward based, to teach new behaviors, it is also important to understand how to fairly and safely inhibit unwanted, and unsafe behaviors.

I have trained 13, and titled 7 of my own dogs, starting in the late 80's, in multiple sports and disciplines. Including, but not limited to, obedience, agility, schutzhund and weight pulling. I have also trained 2 deer search dogs and several therapy dogs while continuing to dabble in sports. With my own dogs, we have tried many sports including herding, freestyle, Rally, tracking, lure coursing, barn hunt and scent detection (deer tracking). I have worked with my clients as well, in such things as water rescue, carting, retrieving, field and assistance work.

Continuing education about animal behavior and learning theory, and the neurology of behavior for over 30+ years, while attending seminars and classes from some of the best known trainers and behaviorists from across the country, I am proud to say I am here to help you with whatever you are facing!