Doug Fifield

Doug started his training journey at Family Dog in 2013 (along with his wife Liz) with their female German Shepherd puppy, Halo. They had asked their vet to recommend a place for dog training when they realized they needed to work on some things. He and Liz attended classes together and learned a lot. A year later they got their second GSD, a male named Kona. Doug grew up with dogs but never trained them.

He really started enjoying classes and training the dogs, so when he was asked in 2016 if he was interested in becoming an instructor, he said yes and started teaching later that year. He taught Puppy Manners, Beginning Home Obedience, Advanced Home Obedience and Agility, as well as private lessons, and became a CGC and Trick Dog Evaluator. He kept taking his own classes and also started competing in Agility and Competition Obedience.

In 2021 he and his wife Liz became the new owners of Family Dog. Doug teaches classes and handles maintenance here, and he also has a full-time job in IT.

Outside of dog training and work Doug has a hobby of hot air ballooning and flies in local balloon rallies, as well as hanging out with family and friends.

Doug believes in being patient. Dog training takes patience, and he used to be the impatient kind, but his girl Halo has taught him a lot of it over the years.