Meet the team
Lizzi
I've been obsessed with all things dog since I was very young - my childhood was spent poring through dog breed atlases, drawing dogs, and taking our family dog (Steffie the staffy - an infinitely patient wee girl) down to agility classes at the dog training club.
While I was in high school, I got involved with the charity the Nelson Ark, and assisted with fostering and training many rescued dogs, as well as assisting at the doggy daycare which was then run by the Ark. By the time I was 19, I had three dogs of my own (just like every normal teenager, right?), and was becoming rapidly more and more obsessed with dog training.
I moved to Wellington for two years to study to become a vet nurse, and while I was there I also had the privilege of working under an experienced dog trainer, where I learnt heaps about teaching classes and how to effectively train people as well as their dogs, which inspired me to give it a go myself! While I was in Wellington I also spent time volunteering at the SPCA, and completed a certification as a dog walker.
After moving back to Nelson 10 years ago, I took a full time job as a vet nurse, and began teaching group classes on the weekends - running courses on domestic obedience, tricks, and leash walking. In 2020 I took over teaching puppy preschool for my clinic (Vetlife Richmond), and in 2022 I started teaching agility classes at the Nelson Dog Training Club. You could say I became addicted to teaching folks how to train their dogs!
My passion is for seeing owners and their dogs 'clicking' together, and I just love the joy and confidence that effective positive-reinforcement based training brings to dogs and their humans alike. My ethics are firmly based in science based training that is achievable, kind, effective, and that strengthens the relationship between dog/owner partnerships. I am always learning and honing my practical skills so that I can best help everyone I work with - my understanding of behaviour, physical health, the unique characteristics of different dog breeds, and (most importantly) human communication, helps me to understand you and your own individual dog and their needs.
Cora ("Cora" - ADX JD RN)
Cora is my darling old girl - a 12.5 year old long-haired Weimaraner. Cora was something of an impulse purchase off TradeMe when I was 19 years old, back when all I knew was that I loved dogs and needed them in my life... She is a truly exceptional girl in many ways, she gives 110% in everything I ask of her - what she lacks in finesse, she makes up for in sheer will to please. She has a passion for fetch, car rides, and would happily be patted and cuddled all day, every day. Cora had a short career in dog sport - she was very consistent as an agility and rally-o dog, but sadly had to retire young due to a lower back injury. She now enjoys the high life living with mum on her lifestyle block, and loves being the centre of mum's attention.
Cora has had some significant behavioural struggles in her life - as can be typical in her breed she is quite anxious, and she is also dog aggressive and has accepted very few 'friends' into her social circle. I'm pleased to say that these days she gets along really well with my current pack, but this hasn't always been the case, and many tears were shed in Cora's younger years! Cora is another dog who came into my life to teach me things, and thanks to her I now have many skills on hand to deal with training reactive, fearful, or aggressive dogs. I learnt to be a strong advocate for muzzle training thanks to her as well.
Zsizsi ("Zsizsi Come Zsizsi Go" - ADX JDX CDX SA RA)
Zsizsi is a 9 year old Hungarian Vizsla, who fell into my life after being surrendered into my care in 2016. A lot of you may have met Zsizsi before, and been exposed to her infectious love for life, enthusiastic affection and 'gift giving'!
Zsizsi really personifies the term "versatile Vizsla", having successfully competed in many dog sports, gaining titles in agility, obedience, rally-o and scent work (all those letters after her name are shorthand for titles she has earned through her success and consistency competing). She loves to train and compete, and gets quite sad if she thinks she's going to miss out! People often comment on the sheer joy and enthusiasm she exudes when working.
Over all she is just the most amazing girl - a dog who I was so lucky to have fall into my life. She makes me look good, tries her hardest in everything, and never lets me down... A true one-in-a-million.
Kina ("Addenhund Elysia-Kina" - NVS SA ACS AES AIS)
Kina is a 3 year old Hungarian Vizsla - the third Vizsla I have owned, and the inspiration for my dog training business name! Kina is an exceptionally intelligent dog, the smartest I have ever owned, and she picks up new skills and concepts very fast. She is also exceptionally sensitive and can be very anxious, and training her has been quite the journey! Owning and raising Kina has been extremely humbling, and has required me to learn and adapt a LOT of what I thought I knew as a dog trainer in order for us to succeed as a team. They say dogs come into your life for a reason, to teach you things you didn't know you needed to know, and boy is that true about beautiful miss Kina.
While I had hoped to compete in agility and obedience with Kina to follow in Zsizsi's footsteps, unfortunately a chronic physical issue prevents Kina from being able to do that. Because of this, we got started in the sport of scent work, where Kina has absolutely excelled. Her big brain and great hunting instincts have been a huge asset, and she has blown me away with her capabilities as a scent dog. She has only ever failed two searches in her career competing so far, and both times were completely my fault! And the best thing about scent work is that Kina's confidence has soared, our relationship and bond is so much stronger, and she just loves getting out there and searching.
Witty ("Tama Tu Sullivan's Mountain" - NCS SN)
Witty is a young working cocker spaniel, who is owned by my partner, but who is very much part of my life too. Witty is a joyful, eager whirlwind of a dog, who lives to run (and eat!). Being a working bred dog with a lot of energy and drive, Witty has certainly thrown lots of challenges our way, but he is so much fun as well, and loves to learn.
Learning to be an amazing companion dog has been the main focus of Witty's training so far, and he is shaping up to be a brilliant boy, with an even and confident temperament, and excellent manners out and about and in the home (well... Mostly! He is a terrible teen after all!) He's also in training as a scent work dog, and is learning puppy agility foundation skills too. He gained his first scent work title (novice container search) at 7 months of age, and has never failed a search so far - we are taking things slow and steady to help build his confidence, and can't wait to see what the future brings.
Eva ("Eva" - JD) 1/12/2008 - 11/8/2021, and Hanna ("Rowanstar Egmont Red Hanna" - ADX JDX Jade Milestone) 17/2/2010 - 21/6/2022
Eva was my first ever dog of my own, a heading dog crossed with who knows what, that I adopted from the SPCA when I was 16. She was a wild child, who grew up to be a rowdy, free and independent soul. Despite my enthusiasm for dog ownership, I was very much in over my head with Eva, and it took us a long time to build up a strong bond.
She moved to Wellington with me while I studied, and was a brilliant and ever patient 'practice dog' for me while I developed my skills in vet nursing. Eva and I had a lot of fun learning agility, though there was certainly a mis-match between her speed and my skill at the time! She lived to play tug, and loved to 'rark things up' with her big woof and a cheeky look on her face. Eva died of cancer in 2021, and her bright, sparky personality is missed very much.
Hanna was bought by my mum in 2010, and was meant to be her dog not mine, however it was love at first sight for me, and soon Hanna and I were inseparable. Unlike Eva, Hanna had an exceptionally easygoing and biddable personality, which meant that she was able to come everywhere with me - including me managing to convince the staff at my college to let her come to school!
She wasn't necessarily the sharpest or speediest of dogs, but she was keen to give anything a go if it was with me, and ended up being a successful and consistent agility dog. She was a gentle girl, but had an aura of self-assurance and mojo about her that meant she didn't get pushed around by other dogs. There was a special look, and a special noise that Hanna used to have just for me - as far as she was concerned I was her person and everyone else was "just OK". Hanna passed away in 2022, leaving behind a huge hole in my heart.
Though these beautiful girls are gone now, they are the reason I am where I am today, and I am so, so grateful to them for the lessons they taught me and the love they gave me.