Bringing the Best in Dog Training to Hyde Park

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 Elizabeth Emelene Jefferis, VSPDT

Elizabeth Jefferis grew up on a horse farm in Southeastern Pennsylvania training, competing, and hunting with her family’s hunter/jumper horses. Teaching has always been so rewarding for Elizabeth, from college sociology professor to property rehab mentor to certified yoga instructor to dog trainer. (Don’t tell anyone, but “dog training” is really “people training.”) She has been teaching private and group clients for several years and enjoying it all!

Elizabeth is VSPDT certified through the Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training & Behavior, a rigorous program including hands-on practice, mentoring, online and in-class lessons, subject-matter expert lectures, and extensive examinations. As a VSPDT degree-holder and Fear Free Certified trainer, Elizabeth engages in positive training methods designed to build people’s relationship and communication with their dogs.  Currently, she is working towards attaining her Certified Behavior Consultant Canine-Knowledge Assessed (CBCC-KA®), an advanced certification offered by CCPDT for dog trainers who offer canine behavior modification. Elizabeth is also working on her PhD in human-animal interaction from University of Chicago after attaining her master’s degree in sociology, also from U of C.

When not training other pupkids, Elizabeth is busy training her own working dog, Desdemona von Fidelis. Desi holds advanced tricks dog titles and scent work titles. Elizabeth and Desi are also part of K9 Search & Rescue teams in Illinois and Indiana. Every weekend, Elizabeth and her husband participate with Desi in K9 SAR team trainings, preparing to assist law enforcement in finding lost persons.