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It started with a wet nose
For the entirety of her life she has always had a special bond with animals.
"I can still remember like it was yesterday a time I came face to face with the neighborhood "dangerous dog" and my family was screaming for me to get away but instead I befriended it! I know now how reckless and stupid that was for a child to do, but, I remember feeling like the dog was only misunderstood and so I just wasn't afraid of it. Or even when I was 10 and lived with a cousin who had 2 Rottweilers, 1 of which was extremely aggressive and wouldn't let anyone in the backyard with it except my cousin, well, anyone but me of course! I used to nap with him in the grass when I got out of school, he genuinely loved me." -Elise
She has been training dogs (and the occasional cat) unofficially since she was 4, just using kibble and wanting "a dog like Lassie and Rin Tin Tin." She learned early on that her life would always be better so long as she had a dog in it. When she didn't, she volunteered at shelters as soon as she was old enough and took advantage of the opportunities to hang out with her friend's dogs.
Good ol' Jackson
Rehabilitation has always been a passion, since living with her grandpa who had a Shar Pei/ Chow chow mix named Jackson. Jackson wasn't an abused dog and he had a good home, but he was never walked, bathed, or taken anywhere except to the vet. Her grandpa was sort of old school, lucky for Jackson Elise was very much new school! She created a bond with him and he was able to trust her enough to overcome his fear of water, after training him to just walk on a leash they went on long walks together, and he became so excited for car rides he would hop in the Jeep before she had the door all the way open! With him she learned that you can build a bond at any age, it WAS possible to teach an old dog new tricks!
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Enter Beowolf
"In the words of the Fresh Prince, my life got flipped turned upside down when I got Beowolf. A Timberwolf/ Malamute hybrid that would become my best and only friend for the years to come."
Living with an animal as determined and intelligent as Beowolf was no easy feat, Elise got him when she was 21 and only rented a small bedroom; he was BIG, loud, and destructive! She had to learn patience quickly, from that she came up with her favorite saying...
"Every good dog in history, started out as a puppy."
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Beowolf's presence in my her propelled her into so many experiences, from training dogs of military families in San Diego to finally becoming a Registered Veterinary Technician in Sacramento. She got her Degree in Animal Science specializing in Veterinary Medicine from Carrington College in 2015 and moved to Los Angeles to work in the field and gain more knowledge. Working in every type of veterinary hospital you can think of: Private Practice, General Practice, Emergency, Small animal, Large animal and Specialists, she certainly learned a lot.
"By trusting my instincts I was able to formulate methods of applying medical treatment even to "untouchable" dogs and cats. I learned how to be the calm presence for a pet that feels like it's always in a storm, creating my personal motto..."
"Gentle hands, calm heart."
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The Mentorship
She began a 7 year mentorship for a dog trainer who specialized in aggressive dogs, learning everything and soaking up all the knowledge like a sponge! She also lived on the ranch as a private veterinary technician while also working full time at a nearby clinic. From there she learned all types of training methods and approaches as well as various disciplines of training from how to run an obedience class to preparing a dog for movie work! She also worked with sport dogs (USMRA, PSA, Schutzhund, NARA), military & police dogs, and the K9 Ranch also offered pet dog boarding! She also did the photography for social medias and for various clients that worked with them, being as she is comfortable with the proximity of a working dog, she was able to get shots that really required a lack of self preservation. Nonetheless, she always managed to get a great shot!
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Like all good mentorships, after 7 years of dedicated work and learning all she could, it finally came to an end. It was now time for her to take her sharpened skills and utilize them in helping members of her own community with their pets! Having been on both sides of the "counter" as pet owner as well as pet professional, she knew the feeling of wondering if you're doing the right thing by your pet. This makes her the best for being that reliable resource for you!
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