While working at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, as a Bird House animal keeper, they worked with a variety of species including individual birds who were sometimes sensitive, aggressive, and anxious. As a zookeeper they were concerned with the animal’s enrichment and cooperative care. This led them to attend professional workshops, seminars, and shadowing experiences on science-based positive training.

Liz carried these skills into their career as a dog trainer where they have focused on a relationship-first approach for pet parents and their dogs, developing and empowering behavior skills, and working on a range of goals from puppy development to reactivity.