Lisa Russell has always had a love for all animals and a strong desire to understand their behavior. At the age of 9 she started riding and training horses and by 16 she was competing in eventing and show jumping with a Thoroughbred and former racehorse, named Midnight Suite. During that time she became confident in handling and understanding large animals, their behavior and highlighted her natural ability to work with animals.
 
Immediately after graduating High School she took on a job at the Harrisburg SPCA where she's been from 2008 to 2011 as a full time employee. Her responsibilities included but were not limited to the daily care and maintenance of animals at a kennel that often holds 150 or more dogs.
 
She not only worked as part of the kennel staff and with the medical department but was also part of the behavior team. Lisa assisted in creating “The Shelter Animal Behavior Guide” used by staff and volunteers to better understand canine and feline behavior. This helped others to recognize serious and or dangerous canine behavior and body language and how to best deal with and handle such animals safely.
 
She was also instrumental in following through and implementing “The Quiet Kennel Program”. This program is designed for long term residents and highly stressed new arrivals. The program in essence gives these animals structure, discipline, affection, as well as kennel enrichment to improve their quality of life.
 
Over a 3 year period before her employment Lisa has evaluated, rehabilitated, trained, and assisted in the proper placement of hundreds of dogs. She came to Consummate K-9 in October 2010 and excellerated through Consummate K-9 Training's Professional Trainers Course brining with her a natural understanding of canine behavior, reading dogs, and communicating with people. With the additional skills and her knowledge she possessed Lisa was asked to join the Consummate K-9 Training staff upon her graduation as a Registered Professional Trainer.