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Meet the Kindred Spirits Dog Trainers
Liz Palika has been teaching dogs and their owners in North County for over 25 years. Her training is based on an understanding of dogs and what makes them ‘tick.’ There is no funny stuff here but lots of common sense.
 With her business partners Petra Burke and Kate Abbott, Kindred Spirits Dog Training in Vista, CA has more than 700 dogs per year in their dog training program. Liz teaches group classes and is available for behavioral consultations.
Liz is a charter member of the International Association of Canine Professionals, and is a Certified Dog Trainer (CDT) through this organization. She is also an AKC CGC (Canine Good Citizen) Evaluator #4182, and a Certified Behavioral Consultant. She has been interviewed by USA TODAY, PARADE magazine, has been heard on numerous radio shows, including Steve Dale’s “Pet World” and Jon Patch’s weekly “Pet Talk” show. She has appeared on the San Diego KUSI news show and Drs Foster & Smith’s “Faithful Friends” show. “Good Morning, America” sent a film crew to interview her during the 2007 pet food recall debacle.
Liz Palika has been writing professionally since 1985 when she was first published in DOG FANCY magazine. Since then she has written more than sixty books and more than 1,000 magazine articles and columns. She has been published in DOG FANCY, DOG WORLD, CATS, CAT FANCY, AKC GAZETTE, and other pet publications, as well as NEWSWEEK, THE SATURDAY EVENING POST and WOMEN FIRST.
Liz’s books have been honored with several awards from Dog Writers Association of America, Cat Writers Association, ASPCA, Purina and San Diego Book Writers. Liz was honored by San Diego Channel 10’s Leadership Award; she was also a North County Woman of Merit. In Feb 2005, she was awarded a Distinguished Service award from Dog Writers Association of America.
Liz’s dog training book, ALL DOGS NEED SOME TRAINING was listed by Pet Life magazine as one of the ten best dog training books available to dog owners. Liz's newest puppy book, PUPPY LOVE, was released in April 2009 and has already garnered rave reviews. Her first children's book, ASPCA ANIMALS AT WORK was released in March 2009 and teachers in several schools are already asking for copies. THE ULTIMATE DOG TREAT COOKBOOK received rave reviews in magazines and newspapers all over the country, including USA TODAY. See all of Liz's books.
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 Petra Burke has been training for over 20 years. She teaches classes, has served as co-chair of the Pet Care Center at the San Diego County Fair and is also active in the therapy dog program. She does many school visits, teaching kids about dogs and working with a dog bite prevention program. She has also done private training for many years and has a special interest in training deaf, disabled, three-legged or blind dogs. Her 6-year-old Australian Shepherd, Kona, is totally blind but still does deomonstrations for the classes. Petra is also an AKC CGC (Canine Good Citizen) Evaluator #28916.
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 Kate Abbott Kate has been with Petra and Liz for more than 5 years, and has been training dogs and their owners for many years through a security compan and as a veterinary technician. Kate does all of Kindred Spirits' private, one-on-one training, and teaches our puppy and trick-training classes.
Kate presently serves as President of the National Board of the Foundation for Pet Provided Therapy. She and Walter, her Cockapoo, also have representation in Hollywood, where Walter’s tricks have wowed those experienced trainers.
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 Cayla Horn is Kate’s assistant trainer for all the puppy classes. Although just a teenager, Cayla has grown up in the classes and is a very capable young instructor. She is in the process of training her Australian Shepherd, Logan, and German Shepherd, Teddy, to work as service dogs for her and to demonstrate service dog skills. Cayla has also trained both her dogs, Teddy and Logan, and her goat, to pull a cart.
Cayla is very active in the Vista High School FFA program. She has shown her Boer goat at the Del Mar Fair and trained her in agility and carting.
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 Maggie Moore is an up and coming trainer. She is presently assisting in puppy, basic and therapy dog classes. Maggie trained her Airedale, Quimby, and Quimby was Kindred Spirits first service dog to become certified in our new program. Quimby now goes to school with Maggie on a daily basis. Maggie is presently training her Rottweiler, Cubby, as a service dog.
Mary Moore assists us in more ways than we can thank her for. When not assisting with classes, she helps behind the scenes and make things easier for all of us. Mary trained her two Standard Poodles, Chante and Sailor, both of who are wonderful therapy dogs, and both of whom are great carting dogs. Sailor is also serving as a service dog.
Katie Silva has trained several dogs, including her present dogs, Sasha, a Rottweiler and Jasper and Lily, Jack Russell Terriers. Katie assists with our basic classes. Several of Katy's dog have served as therapy dogs.
Debra Jensen is another skilled assistant. She is also an AKC CGC (Canine Good Citizen) Evaluator, assists in basic and puppy classes, and has taught the CGC class. She is training two Australian Shepherds, Apache and Wiott.
Connie Kelly is an AKC CGC Evaluator. She teaches the AKC STAR puppy classes with Kate, the CGC classes, and shares her home with three Australian Shepherds. |
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