About Me: Elizabeth
My name is Elizabeth Faubion, and I’ve been professionally training animals since 2010. My passion for animal behavior began growing up on a small hobby farm, where I cared for everything from dogs and cats to goats, cows, pigs, rabbits, and horses. Through 4-H and FFA, I learned the importance of consistency, patience, observation, and responsible animal care.
My journey into training began at age 11 with my Border Collie mix, Lucky. I discovered reward-based training and quickly became fascinated by how animals learn. That interest continued with my first horse at 14, an untrained and blind Arabian mare, whom I successfully trained and eventually trail rode using a combination of positive reinforcement and natural horsemanship.
Later, as a college student, I had a highly reactive Border Collie who led me to study behavior modification more deeply. Through patience and clear communication, he became a certified therapy dog, and referrals from other pet professionals soon turned my passion into a career. Today, I bring nearly 17 years of professional experience working with animals and their people in a wide variety of settings.
Experience & Qualifications
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Certified Trick Dog Instructor (CTDI)
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AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator
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Pet Partners Registered Therapy Animal Handler
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Municipal Animal Control Trainer & Adoption Counselor
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Veterinary technician experience in general practice, emergency and critical care, spay/neuter, and wellness clinics
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Experienced horse trainer, including training a blind horse
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Next Level K9 Texas member, handling explosives detection, narcotics detection, and search & rescue/mantrailing dogs
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Competitor in PSA, American Schutzhund, AKC Rally, lure coursing, dock diving, disc, scentwork, and conformation
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Service dog task training and public access experience
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STSK9 MVP Program student
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Puppy Culture consultant for breeders
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Active Belgian Malinois breeder focused on temperament, health, and working ability
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Animal talent trainer/wrangler (animal actors & models)
About Me: Josh
Teaching is my passion, and nothing brings me more joy than helping others build strong, positive relationships with their dogs. I am dedicated to empowering you to communicate effectively with your dog, teaching new skills through reward-based training, and enhancing your dog's overall well-being.
As a professional dog trainer, Certified Trick Dog Instructor (CTDI), Canine Conditioning & Fitness Coach (CCFC), and an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to every training session. My journey into the world of animal training has been one of continuous learning and growth, driven by a deep love for teaching both humans and animals.
Our family business is entirely devoted to this mission. Together, we strive to create an environment where learning is not just effective but also enjoyable for both you and your dog. Whether you're looking to instill basic manners and obedience in your dog or puppy, explore the fun of trick training, or improve your dog's physical health through conditioning and fitness coaching, I’m here to guide you every step of the way.
About Our Facility
Our training facility is also our home and ranch, located on 5 beautiful acres in Sanger, TX. Our indoor, climate-controlled kennel and training building is just steps from our home, allowing us to keep a close eye on our canine students throughout their stay.
We are proud to be a small, hands-on operation. As a husband-and-wife team, we personally care for every dog and handle all of the training ourselves. We do not rely on kennel staff or outside employees, which means your dog receives individualized attention directly from us.
Our indoor facility features central A/C and heat, clean and dry 5' x 10' kennels designed to be your dog's "bedroom" rather than a place for toileting, a professional dog wash, a calm crating area, durable Kuranda cots, and canine treadmills.
We prioritize maintaining a quiet, low-stress kennel environment. Incessant barking is not allowed, and we proactively interrupt and redirect dogs who become vocal. This helps create a calmer environment for everyone and allows our students to rest, decompress, and focus on their training.
Outside, our property includes fully fenced and secure potty and play yards, a covered outdoor area for rainy days, and a 4-acre open field that gives us plenty of room for training, exercise, long-line work, and real-world skill development.
Our ranch is also home to chickens and ducks that we raise as pets and for eggs, and our inquisitive barn cat that watches over everything. They provide an added benefit to our training program by serving as natural, controlled distractions for our canine students.
We believe the environment in which a dog trains matters. Our facility allows us to provide a clean, safe, structured, and low-stress environment while giving each dog the individualized attention they deserve.
About Our Methods
Our training begins with positive reinforcement. We use food, toys, play, praise, and other rewards to motivate dogs and reinforce the behaviors we want to see. Rewards aren't just about teaching obedience. They are also powerful tools for changing emotional responses. Through classical conditioning and carefully controlled exposure, we can use food and play to help dogs develop positive associations, build confidence, and work through challenges such as fear, anxiety, and reactivity.
At the same time, we recognize that dogs don't live in a vacuum. The real world is full of competing motivators: rabbits, squirrels, other dogs, exciting smells, dropped food, and countless other distractions. Sometimes the desire for a treat or toy simply isn't enough to compete with what a dog finds rewarding in the environment. Individual dogs also have different temperaments, motivations, and thresholds.
That's where balanced training comes in.
We use appropriate boundaries and guidance to help dogs make better choices when rewards alone aren't enough, while continuing to reinforce and reward the behaviors we want. Our goal isn't to punish dogs for making mistakes. It is to provide clear communication, teach them how to respond to pressure, and help them understand what is expected of them.
There is no one-size-fits-all training method. The tools and techniques we use are selected based on the individual dog, the behavior we are addressing, the environment, the owner's goals, and what will be most effective and fair for that particular dog. A method that is appropriate for one dog may be completely unnecessary or inappropriate for another.
Ultimately, our goal is to create dogs who understand how to succeed, have confidence in their handlers, and can make good choices even when the environment is competing for their attention.
MEMBERSHIPS & CERTIFICATIONS
