
About Lisbeth
Lisbeth Plant ACDBC UW-AAB KPACTP CBATI is the founder and owner of Cowichan Canine. She was born and grew up in Sweden, but she is British by naturalization and Canadian by marriage! She got her first dog, Dino the dachshund, when she was 13 and they trained and competed together in obedience and tracking. After Dino, Lisbeth embarked on education, family and a career in the international insurance industry, and she was the CEO of an insurance/reinsurance company in the City of London, England, until she was forced to retire in 1998 following a severe horse-riding accident. She moved from London, England, to Cobble Hill, where she lives with her husband Bill and their Bernese Mountain Dogs.
Lisbeth is an Associate Certified Member in the Dog Division of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, holds a Certificate in Applied Animal Behavior from the University of Washingon, a Certified Training Partner of the Karen Pryor Academy and a Certified Behavior Adjustment Training Instructor (CBATI). She specializes in the behaviour modification of fearful, reactive and aggressive dogs, but works with dogs with many different behaviour issues on a daily basis.
Lisbeth is a strong advocate for increased professionalism and continuing education for professional dog trainers, and is a founding member and currently serving as President of PACTA BC - Professional Animal Care and Training Association of BC. She is also a member of the Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers and the Behavior Education Network.
Lisbeth is a licensed Be A Tree-presenter with Doggone Safe, a non-profit organization dedicated to dog bite prevention through education and dog bite victim support. The Be a Tree programme is a seminar program for elementary school children that teaches dog body language and how to act safely around dogs. Through the sponsorships of Cowichan Canine, Lisbeth offers the Be a Tree dog bite prevention program free of charge to schools, scout groups and similar community groups.
Lisbeth is a Canine Good Neighbour evaluator for the Canadian Kennel Club.
From time to time, Lisbeth serves as an expert witness in the Provincial Court of BC in cases relating to dangerous dogs.
Lisbeth's resume:
Current Certifications |
2016 |
ACDBC - Associate Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, |
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2016 |
UW-AAB - Certificate in Applied Animal Behavior from the University of Washington, Seattle, WA. https://www.pce.uw.edu/certificates/applied-animal-behavior |
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2015 |
CBATI - Certified Behavior Adjustment Training Instructor |
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2011 |
Dogsafe Canine First Aid, Levels 1-2 |
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2009 |
KPA CTP - Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner |
Work Experience |
2009-present |
President, Cowichan Canine Behaviour & Training Ltd |
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2013-present |
Volunteer trainer, Cowichan & District SPCA |
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2011-present |
Founding Member and currently serving as Vice President of the Vancouver Island Animal Training Association. Past volunteer positions as President, Treasurer, Secretary, Director, Chair of Education Committee, and Chair of the Complaints Committee. |
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2009-present |
Speaker Association of Professional Dog Trainers Annual Conference 2012 BC SPCA Cowichan & District Branch Staff & volunteer education BC SPCA Kelowna Branch Staff & volunteer education 2018 Mill Bay Veterinary Hospital Staff course "Low Stress Handling" 2014 Regional District of Central Okanagan Staff course for Bylaw Officers 2018, Seminar for owners of Dangerous Dogs 2018 Vancouver Island Animal Training Association various events |
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2009-present |
Author, dog training articles in various publications, inc: The APDT Chronicle, South Cowichan Life, Times Colonist, Duncan Free Press and various US and European breed specific club magazines. |
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2011-2015 |
Recurring assignments as Teacher's Assistant for the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Professional Program, national and international courses, working under: |
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2011 Aug |
Co-presenter, Behavior Education Network Webinar of the Month: "Modular Dog training Classes - Wave of the Future or an Instructor's Headache?" |
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2004-2009 |
Volunteer trainer, assistant trainer, director |
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1997-1998
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General Manager (until forced into medical retirement following a horse-riding accident) |
1995-1997
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Managing Director (until company was purchased by Sirius Int'l) |
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1996-1998 |
Volunteer Instructor |
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1992-1997 |
Volunteer Instructor, Diving Officer |
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1992-1995 |
Chief Underwriter |
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1990-1992 |
Underwriter |
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1988-1990 |
Underwriter |
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1986-1987 |
Underwriting Assistant |
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1983-1986 |
Underwriting Assistant |
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1979-1983 |
Reinsurance Accounts Clerk |
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1977-1979 |
Accounts Clerk |
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1975-1977 |
Accounts Clerk |
Professional Courses |
2015-2016 |
Certificate in Applied Animal Behavior A three-semester credit program online course (3 credits per semester) on the basic principles of evolution and natural selection as they relate to animal behavior, the application of animal behaviors to human-animal interaction, the latest scientific research on the training and care of companion animals, and methods to integrate theory with real-world practice in treating and improving behavior. Psych 200C/ AAB 200A: Comparative Animal Behavior Psych 291/ AAB 291: Principles of Applied Animal Behavior Psych 292A/ AAB 292A: Applied Animal Behavior in Practice |
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2015 |
Learning Theory 201: An Advanced Look at How Animals Learn |
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The Canine Brain: from Neurons to Behavior |
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Canine Hormones: from Molecules to Behavior |
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2014 |
BAT 2.0 - Instructors' Course A five-day hands-on instructors' course for behaviorists and trainers. Certification for BAT (Behavior Adjustment Training) instructors is a way to provide dog owners with a trusted source of referrals to behaviorists and trainers using BAT to rehabilitate dog aggression and other issues. |
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Animal Behavior |
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2013 |
Behavior+Works - Living & Learning With Animals: The Science & Technology of Behavior Change This course provides the foundation for a comprehensive and coherent understanding of behavior analysis as it relates to facilitating the lives of captive and companion animals. The principles and procedures discussed throughout the class apply to all species. http://www.behaviorworks.org/htm/lla_professional_overview.html |
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Puppy Start Right for Instructors The Puppy Start Right Preschool™ curriculum is co-written by a veterinarian and a Karen Pryor Academy faculty member and is a unique course that brings together veterinary and dog training expertise. |
2011 |
Internship on Behaviour Analysis & Behaviour Modification |
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2009 |
Karen Pryor Academy Professional Dog Trainer Program This six-month programme is aimed at highly motivated trainers who have specific goals for improving knowledge, skills, and career prospects. The course combines online learning with four two-day workshops with the best teachers in the field, to create outstanding positive reinforcement trainers to teach the general public. |
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Coaching People To Train Their Dogs I & II The syllabus of what was at the time a two-week course contains: Behaviour problems, Class organization, Hands-on dog training and teaching dog owners, Ethology/Body language, Family dog skills/children & dogs, Husbandry/dog care, Instruction/people skills, The science of learning/hands-on animal training, Puppy development socialization and training, Business tips and Training equipment/use. |
Workshops |
2012 |
Chicken Camp Condensed 202-Criteria & 203-Behavior Chains |
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2011 |
K9 Nosework |
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Chicken Camp 201-Cueing |
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2010 |
Special Operant Conditioning Workshop |
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Know Way, Know How: The Science and Art of Clicker Training |
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2009 |
Poultry In Motion |
Seminars |
2017 |
A Veterinary Behaviorist's Approach to Reactivity, Fear & Anxiety in Pets |
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2015 |
Stress and Aggression in Dogs |
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2012 |
Learn to Earn/Perfect Puppy/Doggie Playskills |
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Fear & Aggression / Dominance vs Leadership |
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2010 |
Games for Teaching Reliability, Precision & Pizzazz |
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Quantitatively & Qualitatively Raising the Bar in Dog Training |
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Behavior, Activity & Reactivity Problems |
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2009 |
What's Up Dog / How Dogs Think / Relationship Training and Problem Behavior Toolkit / Stress in Dogs |
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Creative Client Coaching |
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Working With Fearful Dogs |
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2008 |
Dog Behavior - The Science Made Accessible |
Conferences |
2018 |
BC SPCA Animal Behaviour Science Symposium |
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Annually 2010-2017 |
ClickerExpo |
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2017 |
International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants |
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2013 |
SPARCS Conference |
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2009, 2012 |
APDT Conference |
Research |
2011-12 |
"Extinction - A Preliminary Study - Is extinction a necessary part of putting a behavior on cue, or is it an unnecessarily stressful experience?" - This preliminary study was presented by me at the Association of Professional Dog Trainers annual conference in Cincinnati, OH, in October 2012 and the results and all documentation was transferred to Dr Jesus Rosales-Ruiz PhD, Associate Professor-Behavior Analysis, University of North Texas, in January 2013. |
Expert Witness |
2018 DOUGLAS |
Qualified by The Honourable Judge Mrozinski in the Provincial Court of British Columbia as an expert with respect to making assessments as to whether or not a dog is aggressive and dangerous; the likelihood of the dog, in the future, attacking and killing or seriously injuring a person or another domestic animal, and in the training and rehabilitating of aggressive and dangerous dogs. October 2018 |
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2017 |
Qualified by The Honourable Judge Mrozinski in the Provincial Court of British Columbia as an expert with respect to making assessments as to whether or not a dog is aggressive and dangerous; the likelihood of the dog, in the future, attacking and killing or seriously injuring a person or another domestic animal, and in the training and rehabilitating of aggressive and dangerous dogs. October 2017 |
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MOUNER |
Qualified by The Honourable Judge Black in the Provincial Court of British Columbia as an expert for the purpose of providing the court with opinions on the assessment, management, training and modification of the behaviour of aggressive dogs. March 2017 |
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FANG |
Qualified by The Honourable Judge Myers in the Provincial Court of British Columbia as an expert with respect to making assessments as to whether or not a dog is aggressive and dangerous; the likelihood of the dog, in the future, attacking and killing or seriously injuring a person or another domestic animal, and in the training and rehabilitating of aggressive and dangerous dogs. March 2017 |
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2016 MAILLET |
Qualified by The Honourable Judge McQuillan in the Provincial Court of British Columbia as an expert for the purpose of providing the court with opinions on the assessment, management, training and modification of the behaviour of aggressive dogs. September 2016 |
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2015 GIBSON-MORTENSEN |
Qualified by The Honourable Judge Gray in the Provincial Court of British Columbia as an expert for the purpose of providing the court with opinions on the assessment, management, training and modification of the behaviour of aggressive dogs. July 2015 |
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PANTON |
Qualified by The Honourable Judge Wallace in the Provincial Court of British Columbia as an expert for the purpose of providing the court with opinions on the assessment, management, training and modification of the behaviour of aggressive dogs. May 2015 |
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BELLAR & HEITZMANN |
Qualified by The Honourable Judge Cartwright in the Provincial Court of British Columbia as an expert for the purpose of providing the court with opinions on the assessment, management, training and modification of the behaviour of aggressive dogs. March 2015 |
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2014 |
Qualified by The Honourable Judge Saunderson in the Provincial Court of British Columbia as an expert for the purpose of providing the court with opinions on the assessment, management, training and modification of the behaviour of aggressive dogs. October 2014 |

- Next Orientation Class Apr 15
- Outdoor Classes eff. 30 March Mar 30
My Mom was very impressed with the change in Finn and reminded me of a walk we took last March where he was explosive at everyone we met along the way.
Robyn Dallaway
Reactive Dog Programme student, Cobble Hill, BC
My darling French Bulldog Maggie has passed this course with distinction. This would not have been possible without the fine teachings of Karen and Bev. Both these ladies conveyed instructions clearly and with humour, making the hour fun and interesting for both dog and owner. Maggie and I thoroughly enjoyed the course and plan on being back for more next fall. With many thanks,
Mimi Hayes and Maggie Mc.F. Hayes
Duncan