Lisa Large

Bio

Lisa Large is an internationally certified Canine Behaviour Consultant (IAABC), Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), and Service Dog Coach (SDC) with over 15 years of experience helping dogs and their people thrive. Known for her ability to see beyond the surface of a behaviour problem, Lisa takes a holistic approach, looking at the dog’s history, environment, emotions, and physical health to uncover the why behind their behaviour. Lisa designs tailored treatment plans that focus on helping each dog overcome the challenges impacting their behaviour, building lasting skills, confidence, and resilience. Her trauma-informed, science-based, and ethical methods prioritize the dog’s emotional well-being at every step.

Lisa is highly sought after for her work with complex behaviour cases, aggression, service dog teams, puppy development, and free-roaming dogs. She is also a respected mentor and educator in the canine professional community, known for turning compassion, expertise, and evidence-based practice into transformative results for dogs and the humans who care for them.

I bring a strong commitment to advancing ethical, humane, and evidence-based dog training, along with practical experience as both a behaviour professional and a business owner. Through my work with clients, mentoring trainers, and coaching pet professionals (Thrive and PetBiz People), I regularly engage with individuals at many stages of their careers, which gives me insight into the challenges, questions, and opportunities facing trainers across Canada.

One of my greatest passions is supporting the growth of a collaborative professional community. I believe that when trainers feel supported, educated, and connected, it benefits not only the professionals themselves but also the dogs and families we serve. I am particularly interested in helping develop educational resources and programs that promote choice-led, welfare-focused training methods and help raise the overall standard of care within our industry.

I also bring experience in leadership, program development, and organizational structure. I value thoughtful communication, collaboration, and transparency, and I enjoy working with teams to build systems and initiatives that support long-term professional growth and member engagement.

I would like to serve on the CAPDT Board because I believe organizations like CAPDT play an important role in shaping the future of our profession in Canada. Promoting humane training standards, supporting continuing education, and creating a strong professional community are all critical to improving outcomes for dogs, their guardians, and the professionals who work with them.

Throughout my career, I have been passionate about education and mentorship. I have seen firsthand how valuable it is when trainers have access to supportive networks, reliable information, and opportunities to learn from one another. Serving on the Board would allow me to contribute to building those kinds of opportunities on a larger scale.

I am particularly interested in supporting initiatives that strengthen collaboration among trainers and promote accessible, high-quality educational materials that help both professionals and the public better understand ethical, choice-led training practices.

Ultimately, I would be honoured to contribute my time, perspective, and energy toward helping CAPDT continue to grow as a supportive, credible, and forward-thinking organization for trainers across Canada.