About Lisbeth

Lisbeth

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 Vice President of the Vancouver Island Animal Training Association (VIATA). 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 Re-cert every 3 yrs	ACDBC - Associate Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants http://iaabc.org/
	2016	UW-AAB - Certificate in Applied Animal Behavior from the University of Washington, Seattle, WA. https://www.pce.uw.edu/certificates/applied-animal-behavior http://staff.washington.edu/jcha/uwaab.html
	2015	CBATI - Certified Behavior Adjustment Training Instructor Certified Behavior Adjustment Training Instructors (CBATIs) are professional trainers who have passed a detailed practical skills assessment and theoretical exam about BAT. CBATIs are experienced trainers who have trained clients and dogs for at least 200 hours, with half of those hours specifically in behavior modification for fear, aggression, and frustration. http://empoweredanimals.com/certification/
	2011 Re-certification every 3 years	Dogsafe Canine First Aid, Levels 1-2 Theory and practice. Re-certification every three years since 2011. http://www.dogsafe.ca/courses2.html
	2009 Annual re-certification	KPA CTP - Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner https://www.karenpryoracademy.com/dog-trainer-program

Work Experience	2009-present	President, Cowichan Canine Behaviour & Training Ltd http://cowichancanine.ca/
	2013-present	Volunteer trainer, Cowichan & District SPCA http://www.spca.bc.ca/branches/cowichan/
	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.
	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
	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.
	2011-2015	Recurring assignments as Teacher's Assistant for the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Professional Program, national and international courses, working under: - Terry Ryan CPDT-KA CDBC KPACTP - Julie Shaw RVT VTS-Behavior - Helix Fairweather BS KPACTP
	2011 Aug	Co-presenter, Behavior Education Network Webinar of the Month: "Modular Dog training Classes - Wave of the Future or an Instructor's Headache?" http://behavioreducationnetwork.com/
	2004-2009	Volunteer trainer, assistant trainer, director Cowichan Dog Obedience Training Club
	1997-1998	General Manager Sirius International Insurance Corp (publ) UK Branch, London, England (until forced into medical retirement following a horse-riding accident)

	1995-1997	Managing Director WASA International (UK) Insurance Co Ltd, London, England (until company was purchased by Sirius Int'l)
	1996-1998	Volunteer Instructor British Ski-Club for the Disabled, Hillingdon, London, England
	1992-1997	Volunteer Instructor, Diving Officer Richmond Sub-Aqua Club, Richmond, Surrey, England
	1992-1995	Chief Underwriter WASA International (UK) Insurance Co Ltd, London, England
	1990-1992	Underwriter WASA International (UK) Insurance Co Ltd, London, England
	1988-1990	Underwriter WASA International Insurance Co Ltd, Stockholm, Sweden
	1986-1987	Underwriting Assistant WASA International Insurance Co Ltd, Stockholm, Sweden
	1983-1986	Underwriting Assistant Skånska Brand Insurance, Lund, Sweden (until merged with WASA International)
	1979-1983	Reinsurance Accounts Clerk Skånska Brand Insurance, Lund, Sweden
	1977-1979	Accounts Clerk Malmöhus County Council, Lund, Sweden
	1975-1977	Accounts Clerk Revisor Börje Jönsson Accountants, Malmö, Sweden

Professional Courses	2015-2016	Certificate in Applied Animal Behavior - Prof Renee Ha PhD, Prof James C Ha PhD, Univ of Washington, Seattle 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 Grade: 94.69% Psych 291/ AAB 291: Principles of Applied Animal Behavior Grade: 99.33% Psych 292A/ AAB 292A: Applied Animal Behavior in Practice Grade: 100% https://www.pce.uw.edu/certificates/applied-animal-behavior
	2015	Learning Theory 201: An Advanced Look at How Animals Learn - Kristina Spaulding BSc A five-week online certificate course. https://apdt.com/education/courses/
		The Canine Brain: from Neurons to Behavior - Jessica Hekman DVM MS A three-week online course providing an introduction to the canine brain, with a focus on its effects on behaviour. https://apdt.com/education/courses/
		Canine Hormones: from Molecules to Behavior - Jessica Hekman DVM MS A three-week online course providing an introduction to hormones in the dog, with a focus on their effects on behaviour. https://apdt.com/education/courses/
	2014	BAT 2.0 - Instructors' Course - Grisha Stewart MA CPDT-KA KPACTP 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. http://empoweredanimals.com/certification/bat-instructors-course/
		Animal Behavior - Prof Mark Elgar PhD & Assoc Prof Raoul Mulder PhD An eight week non-credit online course authorized by The University of Melbourne, Australia, and offered through Coursera. Verified Certificate with Distinction. https://www.coursera.org/course/animalbehav
	2013	Behavior+Works - Living & Learning With Animals: The Science & Technology of Behavior Change - Susan G Friedman PhD, Dept of Psych, Utah State Univ 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
		Puppy Start Right for Instructors - Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior, Debbie Martin RVT VTS(Behavior) CPDT-KA KAPCTP and Kenneth Martin DVM DACVB 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. https://www.karenpryoracademy.com/puppy-start-right/details

2011

Internship on Behaviour Analysis & Behaviour Modification
- Terry Ryan CPDT-KA CDBC KPACTP, Legacy Canine Behavior & Training Inc, Sequim, WA

http://legacycanine.com/

2009

Karen Pryor Academy Professional Dog Trainer Program
- Terry Ryan CPDT-KA CDBC KPACTP

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.
https://www.karenpryoracademy.com/dog-trainer-program

Coaching People To Train Their Dogs I & II
- Terry Ryan CPDT-KA CDBC KPACTP, Legacy Canine Behavior & Training Inc, Sequim, WA

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.

http://legacycanine.com/coachingpeopleworkshop.html

Workshops	2012	Chicken Camp Condensed 202-Criteria & 203-Behavior Chains - Terry Ryan CPDT-KA CDBC KPACTP, Legacy Canine Behavior & Training Inc, Sequim, WA http://www.legacycanine.com/workshops/chicken-camps.html
	2011	K9 Nosework - Alecia Elvstad http://www.noseworkmagic.com/Welcome.html
		Chicken Camp 201-Cueing - Terry Ryan CPDT-KA CDBC KPACTP, Legacy Canine Behavior & Training Inc, Sequim, WA http://www.legacycanine.com/workshops/chicken-camps.html
	2010	Special Operant Conditioning Workshop - Bob Bailey
		Know Way, Know How: The Science and Art of Clicker Training - Kathy Sdao CAAB
	2009	Poultry In Motion - Terry Ryan CPDT-KA CDBC KPACTP, Legacy Canine Behavior & Training Inc, Sequim, WA http://legacycanine.com/poultry-in-motion.html

Seminars	2017	A Veterinary Behaviorist's Approach to Reactivity, Fear & Anxiety in Pets - Ken Martin DVM DACVB and Debbie Martin CPDT-KA KPACTP LVT VTS(Behavior), Texas
	2015	Stress and Aggression in Dogs - Dr Anders Hallgren, Psychologist & Animal Behaviorist, Sweden
	2012	Learn to Earn/Perfect Puppy/Doggie Playskills - Dr Sophia Yin DVM MS
		Fear & Aggression / Dominance vs Leadership - Dr Sophia Yin DVM MS
	2010	Games for Teaching Reliability, Precision & Pizzazz - Dr Ian Dunbar DVM PhD RCVS
		Quantitatively & Qualitatively Raising the Bar in Dog Training - Dr Ian Dunbar DVM PhD RCVS
		Behavior, Activity & Reactivity Problems - Dr Ian Dunbar DVM PhD RCVS
	2009	What's Up Dog / How Dogs Think / Relationship Training and Problem Behavior Toolkit / Stress in Dogs - Terry Ryan CPDT-KA CDBC KPACTP
		Creative Client Coaching - Nicole Wilde CPDT
		Working With Fearful Dogs - Nicole Wilde CPDT
	2008	Dog Behavior - The Science Made Accessible - Jean Donaldson

Conferences	2018	BC SPCA Animal Behaviour Science Symposium This first annual, two-day symposium brought together veterinarians, veterinary professionals, and animal training professionals in order to share knowledge of behaviour modification science and strengthening ties between veterinary professionals and the science-based training community.
	Annually 2010-2017	ClickerExpo A three-day animal training conference organized by Karen Pryor Clicker Training / Karen Pryor Academy, with speakers that are leaders in the field, from North America, UK and Europe.
	2017	International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants A two-day conference of science-based and practical education for animal training and behavior professionals.
	2013	SPARCS Conference A two-day conference created as a platform where modern animal behaviour science can be presented, discussed and debated by the greatest minds in canine sciences, organized by the Society for the Promotion of Applied Research in Canine Science, a WA-based non-profit organization created to fuel unrestricted research grants for graduate students and PhD candidates pursuing research in canine science.
	2009, 2012	APDT Conference A four-day dog trainers' conference by the Association of Professional Dog Trainers.

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
(cases that have gone to court only)

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

	2017 DESBIENS	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	2014 ORDA	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

What's New?

Lessons starting up - But carefully! May 11
WE ARE MOVING! Nov 25

What Clients Are Saying:

Amazing is the only way we can describe the transformation with our very reactive dog. Levi, our 5 year old Duck Toller, had taken the Foundations training and walked nicely on a leash. However he started to react to bikes and it got worse as time went by. When he saw a bike go by our happy-go-lucky dog turned into a monster. He would bark, lunge, and do the famous 'duck toller scream'. He was totally uncontrollable. We were very much afraid that if he ever got off leash he would attack the cyclist. It was very stressfull for both us and Levi. We decided to ask Lisbeth for help. With a few private lessons and practice Levi is a changed dog. The other day a cyclist came up behind us and rode within two feet of Levi and he only turned his head to look for a treat. Amazing! We can't thank you enough Lisbeth and Levi thanks you too.

Jan and Sig
Duncan, BC

Hi Lizbeth, Stephanie and Glenda: Thought you would like to know, we took Dalli to the Duncan market on Saturday morning. She was a perfect lady, walked around with her tail wagging and held high all the time. She was friendly and outgoing to other people, and sniffed other people’s hands and let them pet her when we stopped to talk or purchase things from the different stalls. We then walked over to the Garage for coffee, sat outside and again, she was well behaved, let people pet her and she was actually licking their hands. This was her first outing in a busy people environment as we usually just leave her in the car or at home when we go out shopping. What a difference from a year ago when you first met her. Thank you, thank you! We’ll see you in the fall when we come for the agility courses. (Dalli was adopted a year ago from Mexico, and was fear-aggressive to people coming to the house.)

Greg & Terri Askham
Duncan