Elizabeth Silverstein
Host of Telltail Dog
I’m Elizabeth.
Growing up, I didn’t think I had any natural ability with animals.
I wasn’t the sort of person that could look a dog in the eyes and just know what they were thinking. Some people do have that skill, and I find it fascinating.
Instead, I pursued my love of writing. I’ve been a writer for over thirteen years at this point, and you can see more of my work over at hewandweld.com, where I provide storytelling services for businesses. I use the art of interviewing to break down a narrative, and then I build it back up in a consumable. I’ve written for electronics companies, medical businesses, restaurants, and photographers.
In 2012, I started working with animals, though, while continuing my writing. While living in Colorado, I brought home my own little living creature, then I started dog sitting for friends. I took several dog training courses and slowly began to see that I could learn how to communicate with animals. There were science-based methods.
In 2016, I gave dog walking a chance after I moved to New Jersey, and then in 2017, I tackled a dog training internship on a southern New Jersey farm. I was quickly promoted to communications coordinator and Farm Camp manager. It was a sink or swim sort of environment that taught me a massive amount about dog behavior, since we primarily handled and trained dogs with behavioral issues while using positive reinforcement methods.
In less than a year, I was eligible to become certified through the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers, and I’ll sit for that this fall. The strenuous 250-question exam also requires 300 hours of hands-on dog training.
I moved to Little Rock in 2018 and quickly started volunteering with a few local rescues.
I started Telltail Dog Training because I saw a need for force-free, positive reinforcement training that focused on communication, while catering to the busy individual who might need drop-in evening and weekend classes.
We can all learn how to communicate with our pets, and I’m excited to help bridge the gap.
Elizabeth Silverstein has hosted 49 Episodes.
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Episode 35: “Reach Out to the Community that's Available to You”: Becoming A Service Dog Trainer with Hallie Wells
April 8th, 2022 | 29 mins 9 secs
certified dog trainer, dogs, guide dog, guide dog trainer, guide dog training, service dog, service dog trainer, service dog training
Hallie Wells, the owner of Lumos Dog Training and Behavior Services, is a service dog and pet behavior expert who started her career as the Puppy Program Manager for a nationally accredited service and guide dog school. In addition to being the owner and head trainer at Lumos, she is a pet trainer with Peach on a Leash with a focus on the VIP Development program and behavior modification. These positions have led her to offer online service dog training services and behavior consultations for dog owners and service dog users beyond the Atlanta area. She is a certified professional dog trainer through The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers with a focus on providing modern, science-based training. Hallie joined Elizabeth Silverstein of Telltail Dog Training to discuss how she became a guide dog trainer and why she started Lumos Dog Training.
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Episode 34: “Knowledge is Key”: Starting a Dog Training Business and Discussing Pitbull Misconceptions with Masina Kakese
February 25th, 2022 | 33 mins 23 secs
dog trainer, dog training, dogs, force free, pitbulls, positive reinforcement, rescue dogs
Masina Kakese’s love of dogs began at a young age, surrounded by chickens, cats, and Pugs on three acres of land. She began a professional career with animals through dog walking, and she decided to learn more about behavior and training. She has also fostered, volunteered at local shelters, and worked in kennels and at a doggy daycare. She has continued her education as she launched her own business, Q & A Dog Training, and she’s currently enrolled in The Academy for Dog Trainers. She joined Elizabeth Silverstein of Telltail Dog Training to discuss why she started her business, Q & A Dog Training, how she ended up with Q, her 5-year-old Black Lab-Pit Mix, and how she navigates an unregulated industry.
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Episode 33: "Love Has No Age Limit": Managing Older Rescue Pups and Children with Karen B. London, PhD
December 17th, 2021 | 1 hr 5 mins
behaviorist, dog trainer, dog training, dogs, kids and dogs, love has no age limit, older dogs, positive reinforcement, rescue dogs
Karen B. London, Ph.D., is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and Certified Professional Dog Trainer. She specializes in working with dogs with serious behavioral issues, including aggression. Karen writes the animal column for the Arizona Daily Sun and is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Northern Arizona University. She joined Elizabeth Silverstein of Telltail Dog Training to discuss her 2011 book, Love Has No Age Limit, her more recently published Treat Everyone Like a Dog, her training journey, and how she manages and advises kids and dogs and their families, especially with older rescue pups.
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Episode 32: "Recalls Save Lives": Puppies and Pitbulls with Damelle A. Morgan Sr.
December 9th, 2021 | 35 mins
dog trainer, dog training, dogs, kids and dogs, positive reinforcement, tip top breedz dog training
Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner Damelle A. Morgan Sr. of Tip Top Breedz Dog Training joins Elizabeth Silverstein of Telltail Dog Training to share his training journey, his top tips for keeping a puppy safe, the importance of teaching kids and dogs to respect one another, why he loves bully breeds, and the chance TV commercial that got him on the path to becoming a dog trainer.
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Episode 31: "Everybody Deserves to Have Access": Behavior and Training with Miranda Hitchcock
November 11th, 2021 | 1 hr 4 mins
behavior, dog trainer, dog training, dogs, every dog austin, kids and dogs, positive reinforcement
Certified Trainer Miranda Hitchcock of Every Dog Austin joins Elizabeth Silverstein of Telltail Dog Training to share her training journey, why she believes everyone deserves access to quality, safe dog training, how she began her nonprofit, kids and dogs and reducing bite risk, behavior vs. training, and so much more.
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Episode 30: You Need to Teach Both the Dog and the Child Boundaries: Babies and Dogs with Lauren Haley
October 20th, 2021 | 32 mins 45 secs
babies and dogs, dog trainer, dog training, dogs, kids and dogs, pitbulls, positive reinforcement
It's time to discuss babies and dogs! This is part one of a series. Trigger warning: child deaths are discussed.
Board-certified behavior analyst and a long-time dog owner Lauren Haley joins Elizabeth Silverstein of Telltail Dog Training to discuss getting her pitbull, MJ Watson Barker, ready for her baby, and the management she learned and implemented.
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Episode 29: There's No Reason You Can't Train Your Dog At Home: Uluru Virtual Dog Training with Nicole Skeehan
September 24th, 2021 | 21 mins 22 secs
dog trainer, dog training, dogs, philly unleashed, positive reinforcement, uluru training, uluru virtual dog training
Certified Trainer Nicole Skeehan of Philly Unleashed and Uluru Virtual Dog Training joins Elizabeth Silverstein of Telltail Dog Training to discuss how she became a trainer and how she developed Uluru Dog Training -- along with Uluru's story, the dog that inspired it all.
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Episode 28: Go One Step At A Time: Resource Guarding Prevention and Management in Puppies with Cathy Madson
September 3rd, 2021 | 46 mins 3 secs
dog trainer, dog training, positive reinforcement, preventive vet, resource guarding
Certified Trainer Cathy Madson of Preventive Vet joins Elizabeth Silverstein of Telltail Dog Training to discuss how to prevent and manage resource guarding in puppies.
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Episode 27: It Was Just Perfect: A Trainer's Journey with Cathy Madson
August 26th, 2021 | 38 mins 7 secs
becoming a dog trainer, dog trainer, dog training, positive reinforcement
Certified Trainer Cathy Madson of Preventive Vet joins Elizabeth Silverstein of Telltail Dog Training to discuss how she became a dog trainer, why Preventive Vet created a position just for her, and how teen dogs can be even more challenging than puppies.
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Episode 25: You Don't Have a Demon in Your Home: Discussing Puppies with Juliana DeWillems
July 9th, 2021 | 34 mins 41 secs
becoming a dog trainer, dog trainer, dog training, positive reinforcement
Certified Trainer Juliana DeWillems of JW Dog Training is back, joining Elizabeth Silverstein of Telltail Dog Training to talk puppies and what behaviors are totally normal and what behaviors need some help. We go over chewing/nipping, socialization, and potty training and how early training can help deter leash reactivity in adolescent dogs.
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Episode 24: Just the Facts: A Trainer's Journey with Juliana DeWillems
July 1st, 2021 | 42 mins 22 secs
becoming a dog trainer, dog trainer, dog training, positive reinforcement
Certified Trainer Juliana DeWillems of JW Dog Training joins Elizabeth Silverstein of Telltail Dog Training to discuss how she became a dog trainer, why and how she started JW Dog Training, and why she considers certifications important to the industry while holding four of her own.
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Episode 23: Puppies: Part Two With Dana Falsetta
June 14th, 2021 | 41 mins 45 secs
dog training, dogs, interview, puppies
Dana Falsetta of Animal Welfare Society is back! She joins Elizabeth Silverstein of Telltail Dog Training to share more about puppies and how she ended up with Link, along with a discussion on fear periods, crate training, and introducing a puppy to cats.
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Episode 22: Enrichment: Part Three with Taylor McDonald
May 27th, 2021 | 38 mins 40 secs
certified dog trainer, dog interview, dog training, dogs, enrichment, training
It's the third installment of the Enrichment series! Join Elizabeth and Taylor McDonald of Bindi's Bucket List to learn more about Bindi and Rosie, why Taylor started her platform, the benefits of enrichment, how she incorporates research into her work, and what it was like to go viral on social media.
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Episode 21: Enrichment: Part Two with Erika Gonzalez
April 23rd, 2021 | 40 mins 40 secs
certified dog trainer, dog interview, dog training, dogs, enrichment, training
It's the second installment of the Enrichment series! Join Elizabeth with Erika Gonzalez of From Dusk Till Dog to learn more about her business, why she became a dog trainer, what she considers enrichment, and she incorporates it into her own life with her two pups.
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Episode 20: Enrichment: Part One with Kate Hosier
April 2nd, 2021 | 19 mins 49 secs
certified dog trainer, dog interview, dog training, dogs, enrichment, training
It's the first installment of the Enrichment series! Join Elizabeth with Kate Hosier to learn more about her THREE pups and how she uses enrichment in their day to day.
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Episode 19: Talking Training Methods with a Quippy New Englander
March 21st, 2021 | 1 hr 18 secs
certified dog trainer, dog training, dogs, interview
Join certified dog trainers Cassi Bee of Philly Unleashed and Elizabeth Silverstein of Telltail Dog Training to discuss how Cassi became a dog trainer, how she developed her website, https://www.diydoggo.com/, and some tips on selecting a trainer and training methods. PLUS: Why an alpha leader and pack mentality isn't a thing and why rainbows and roses and treats are okay when training.