Liz Vanderhoef

Hi, I’m Liz Vanderhoef—a Licensed Family Dog Mediator, behavior consultant, and full-time dog behavior nerd. I specialize in working with reactive, sensitive, and misunderstood dogs. I also help dogs who need a slower pace or a more individualized approach thrive in off-leash environments and structured retreats.

My journey started in 2021 with a casual flirtation with Barn Hunt… and snowballed into a full-time dog training career by 2022. I’ve completed Michael Shikashio’s Aggression in Dogs Master Course and hold certifications in both the Working and Library Services divisions of Family Dog Mediation.

I also help bridge the gap between research and the real world by curating resources for fellow trainers and professionals—and applying those insights to the dogs in front of me, every day.

Whether I’m supporting a dog through a behavior shift, curating an adventure walk, or figuring out how to explain “it’s not stubbornness, it’s stress” for the 700th time, I’m doing it with heart, honesty, and a lot of snacks.