Lisa Knowles

Lisa Knowles

Lisa Knowles M.S. has dedicated her career to the psychological and physical well-being of captive and domestic animals in the human community.  She is passionate about positive reinforcement training, environmental enrichment, environmental management and socialization for dogs, cats, horses and primates.

Lisa’s education, including a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree focusing on Animal Behavior has allowed her many avenues to help animals and the people who care for them and make their lives as good as they can be.  This has meant working with family dogs and cats, ranch horses and research primates.  Lisa has explored opportunities to be successful with positive training, enrichment and socialization within all these situations.

Currently, Lisa is a Behavior Consultant and Expert in the Pet Industry helping companies best educate their clients on the value of their positive products in enhancing the lives of pets and making them the best they can be.

Prior to that, she was the National Animal Behavior and Training Manager for PETCO.  In this position, Lisa promoted the evolution of the training and behavior services offered to PETCO clients by raising the standards of excellence for class curriculum, education of Trainers and the range of opportunities available to customers.

Lisa owned a successful Animal Behavior and Training business (A-PLAWS).   She helped many dozens of families and their dogs and cats with behavior and training issues to better communicate with each other so that all species were comfortable together, made appropriate choices and felt safe, calm and peaceful.

Lisa also volunteered her time doing Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) where she chaired and participated in National committees and helped write many National Manuals.  She was a Licensed Evaluator, Instructor and managed and visited in hospital programs, schools and assisted living facilities with her dogs and cat. 

Lisa studied with and trained for Patricia McConnell Ph.D. , a world renowned Animal Behaviorist and positive family Dog Trainer.  

She worked in a leading Feline Specialty Veterinary Clinic, which boasts the top Feline Veterinary Behavior Specialist in the country, where she provided behavioral and medical support to clients and their feline patients.

She also worked with captive primates to substantially improve their psychological well-being through environmental enrichment, positive training, social housing and passionate lobbying for their welfare.

Lisa has committed her career and volunteer work to improving and maintaining the quality of life and the ethical treatment of all animals in the human community.  Lisa has two dogs- Olivia and Willoughby and her cat Marmot.