LIFE TRACKS TRAINING

LIFE TRACKS TRAINING

ENRICHMENT ENGAGEMENT EVOLUTION

About Me

Welcome to Life Tracks Training, I am Elizabeth Minor, GDA-PPDT – Certified Professional Pet Dog Trainer and Certified Pet First Aid Instructor. In addition to Life Tracks Training, I owned and operated Pleased Pets, makers of “Meat Muffins” food supplements for dogs. I retired this company after a successful production run of twenty years to pursue my passion of dog training.

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. I am currently enrolled with the Companion Animal Sciences Institute (CASI) studying towards my diploma in Canine Behavior Sciences and Technology (CBST). This diploma will certify a solid fluency with the natural science of behavior at the Masters level, ensuring clients my credibility and proficiency in canine behavior and training. The importance of continuing education using force-free training techniques is crucial within the ever-evolving dog training industry. I will continue to regularly upgrade my education with seminars, webinars, classes, online courses and member resources.

My certifications specialize in the knowledge rooted in the scientific principles of dog training. This science and evidence-based method of positive reinforcement (force-free) training is proven dependable and effective. This method of training uses positive reinforcement to increase the probability that the behaviors (down, stay, heel) will be repeated and decreases your dog’s impulse control without force. Counter conditioning and desensitization exercises are also utilized for dogs feeling conflicted or stressed 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 stimuli 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. Dog Training and Pet First Aid Courses are available in both Calgary and area.