Welcome to Life Tracks Training, I am Elizabeth Minor, GDA-PPDT – Certified Professional Dog Trainer. In addition to Dog Training I instructed Pet First Aid Courses for eight years and also operated Pleased Pets, makers of “Meat Muffins” food supplements for dogs for over twenty years. I retired both companies to pursue my passion of dog training full time.
My history with animals started at an early age, I rescued injured birds, small animals and stray cats from the neighborhood. As I grew older I started helping unwanted and abused dogs, I always had the strongest passion for dogs. The first three dogs I adopted as a young adult were rescues and their behaviors became the motivation to become interested in dog training and behavior. Kye was a neglected fear biter, Lilli was a feral broken soul and Hays was an anxious fear biter assessed to be euthanized. With dedication, education, and patience I was able to give them evolved, healthy, and socially enriched lives while gaining an undeniable bond with them.
I am often surprised and humbled by the resiliency of the canine species.
With the lack of regulations in dog training, it is the utmost importance to me that my certifications are held with credible, effective humane facilities and educators. I am GDA-PPDT certified in Professional Pet Dog Training – specializing in pet dogs. This certification is held with Good Dog Academy in Vancouver, BC, with Director of Training Jamie Knowles, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA. I studied with The Academy for Dog Trainers online course Dog Training 101 with Jean Donaldson and earned certificates in Scent Work, Canine Enrichment and The Art of Relaxation.
My certifications specialize in the knowledge rooted in the scientific and evidence based principles of dog training. These methods of force free and humane handling are proven dependable and effective. This method of training increases the probability that the behaviors (down, stay, heel) will be repeated and decreases your dog’s impulse control. Counter conditioning and desensitization exercises are also utilized for dogs feeling conflicted or stressed while conditioning their emotional responses to these triggers. E.g., walking past a garbage truck, getting into a vehicle, a cyclist riding by as you are walking. This training excludes aversive methods of using fear or pain to gain the desired result. Physical punishment will always end in a breakdown of the relationship and is shown to cause further fear and aggression.
Life Tracks Training is based in the beautiful Foothills of Diamond Valley, Alberta, Canada.
