Liz Fifield

Liz Fifield first came to Family Dog Training Center in 2013, when she and her husband, Doug, enrolled with their female German Shepherd puppy, Halo. They had signed up on the recommendation of their veterinarian, and Liz quickly found she was learning so much, both about Halo and about dog training in general, that the family was hooked. Before long they added a male German Shepherd named Kona to the household.

Halo and Kona went on to earn their Canine Good Citizen titles and their Trick Dog Novice, Intermediate and Advanced titles, along with titles in Agility and Competition Obedience. Both dogs have since passed, and the time Liz spent training and competing with them continues to shape the way she works with students and their dogs today.

Liz and Doug now share their home with two new German Shepherds, River and Soul. River, a female, and Soul, a male, are learning to be demonstration dogs for classes and are working toward their own titles. River has already earned her Trick Dog Novice title.

Liz began apprenticing at Family Dog in 2016, and in January 2018 she started teaching Puppy Manners and Beginning Home Obedience classes. That same year she became the office manager, taking on many of the day-to-day operations of the school alongside Kathy Lang, Family Dog's founder and then owner. Working closely with Kathy gave Liz a thorough understanding of how the school runs, from the front office to the training floor. In April 2021, Liz and Doug purchased the business from Kathy.

The training approach Family Dog has always taught matches Liz's own, and as President and Training Director her goal is to share it with many thousands more students and to help people build better lives with their dogs. She believes that training your own dog creates a strong, trusting relationship that lasts for the rest of your dog's life. Good foundation training also opens the door to new activities, whether a family wants to pursue them simply for fun or to compete.

Liz currently teaches Puppy Manners, Beginning Home Obedience, Advanced Home Obedience and Canine Good Citizen. She is also a certified CGC Evaluator.

Outside of dog training, Liz enjoys helping with ballooning, a hobby she and Doug share. She also likes spending time with family and friends, reading, taking road trips and camping.