We caught up with celebrity dog trainer Lisa Hartman to learn about the pet expert and writer’s journey and methodology training animals.
Tell us about your background as a dog trainer. What inspired you to build your business?
I have been an animal lover my entire life, and grew up with Dalmatians and cats. After moving to Miami from New York after 9-11 I was volunteering at animal shelters and got wind of an animal behavior course taught by valedictorians of the Academy for Dog Trainers in San Francisco, then known as the best school of its kind. It was a serious education in learning theory and behavioral science, and we had a tremendous amount of shelter dogs to work with, many long term “inmates.”
By the second week I was the only one left in the course, it was hard! The instructor said to me, “You know you really get this, if you stay with it you could really help a lot of animals.” I thought yes! That’s what I want to do!
The thing I loved most about the course is that you were taught how to effectively communicate with and teach animals in a kind and gentle manner, and they loved it and learned quickly. Growing up my family had hired dog trainers who used punishment and corrections — choke chains, shock collars, yelling at them, etc. — which never taught the dogs what you want them to do and was painful and unfair.
The modern methods I learned took the animals feelings into account and focused on learning with positive reinforcement and setting the dog up for success. I knew I wanted to help spread the word that animal training can be done without force or fear, and actually works better when you have a happy, willing, and confident animal, regardless of issues. As the great Dr. Ian Dunbar has said, “Punishment in dog training shows the trainers inadequacy, not the dogs.”
A short time later after seeing my success with the dogs I was appointed the Director of Training and Behavior for the Humane Society of Greater Miami. I also was offered a training position at another animal organization and a pet column in the Biscayne Times. I continued my education studying with the best modern trainers and taking additional courses and seminars, I’m still learning today. I missed New York and decided to move with my rescued Dalmatian and Chinese Crested to the Hamptons, where I’ve always spent time. One of the best decisions I’ve ever made!
How does training on the East End differ from the city?
It’s a completely different animal! (Laughs.) The city is a very structured environment, where many dogs are leash walked a few times per day, and training takes place in more controlled areas.
Now in the Hamptons it’s dogs gone wild! They live a tremendously free lifestyle here with freedom to run on beaches, hike on trails, and have big yards and houses to call their own. What’s more they can smell and see all the great wildlife here — bunnies, deer, chipmunks, fox… doggie Disney! It’s a lot to compete with for the dog’s attention. I’ve trained dogs everywhere in the Hamptons from the beach to horse stables (leave the horse poop!), golf courses, vineyards… you name it. I also have to train dogs to be comfortable on boats, airplanes, helicopters, with lots of house staff and workers, to swimming in the bay, pool and Paddleboard. I feel lucky to work in all this beauty every day with awesome people.
Tell us about your work rehabilitating dogs with serious issues, such as aggression and reactivity, as well as your proactive puppy program.
My dog career started in the shelter system in Miami, and so I got to work with a lot of different behavioral issues in all ages and sized dogs (and a few cats) from different backgrounds. There were many dogs with aggression and reactivity issues, mainly brought on by fear or a less than desirable start in life, they were missing out on a normal childhood, and sometimes carelessly bred. My goal always is to take away their fear while systematically desensitizing them to their triggers; I try to make them actually love what they once feared. Of course I want them to always trust me as well and know I’ve got their back. My Dalmatian Jay-J had both reactivity to people, bikes, babies, and had offensive aggression. He was in a pet store and then the shelter system until I got him at 1.5 years old. He had been adopted several times and returned, so I knew I was his only hope. I saw he was really sweet on the inside and worked hard to play behavioral catch-up with him. He ended up being an amazing best friend and loved by many out here, and had the typical Dalmatian sense of humor! Our story was written about in a trade publication for dog trainers, a testament to positive training. That led to other trainers working with me and their dogs, and I got known for working with reactive rovers.
My proactive puppy program endeavors to give puppies the best start in life and cut off potential future problems. Essentially it’s a well-rounded program of socializing, manners, training, learning, and handling to prepare them for their life in a human world. It also prepares their humans to encourage behavior they approve of and teach puppies in a way that doesn’t turn them into fearful adults. With the right start in life they won’t fall pitfall to many problems that are harder to fix down the road.
Talk about your work on photo shoots for advertising campaigns.
I’ve always loved photography and have a background in the performing arts. My favorite thing to photograph is animals, which led to my two coffee table books for charity Tails and Hampton Dogs. I started getting calls for animal shoots from professional photographers, including Bruce Weber. Out east I’ve worked on several campaigns including Abercrombie, Hollister, and Shark Vacuum, and have worked on a couple movies out here as well. My dance background and musicality served me well working behind the scenes on reality shows, as well as music videos and other work where the dog must hit marks on a beat.
What do you like to do on the East End when you’re not working?
Eat! (Laughs). I’m certainly a foodie, and if I’m not with the dogs I’m out eating at one of our wonderful restaurants with friends, or planning to. There is nothing like the local produce here. I also love to Paddleboard on the bays and walk on the beach, anything outdoors really.
Tell us about some of the local and/or national rescue centers and animal foundations that you support.
We are blessed to have amazing animal organizations and animal lovers in our own backyard, and many of them started by women! Michelle Neufeld Montak of Gimme Shelter finds dogs from the south where gas chambers are still used to euthanize and brings them up here to find loving homes. Scarlet Magda started Veterinarians International and they are globally fighting for rights and a better life for elephants, dogs, and other animals. Liz Shafiroff founded Global Strays, and Jennifer Brooks, Second Chance Rescue. I’m proud to call these women friends. I’ve also had long standing relationships with ARF, Southampton Animal Shelter, and Last Chance Animal Rescue founded by Whitney Knowlton. They all do what they can to battle the issues of animal overpopulation and abandonment.
To learn more about Hartman, visit lisathedogtrainer.com.