MEET OUR TEAM

Management Team

Lisbeth Borg de Waard

CEO, based in Norway

Lisbeth is the founder and CEO of Nordic Dog Trainer, an international education company based in Norway, and the creator of The Caring Human Code™. Since founding the company in 2012, she has built a global reputation as a thought leader in ethical dog training and a leading specialist in calming signals, with 25 years of experience in dog behaviour and training.

She is the author of The Dog Trainer’s Teaching Manual: From Theory to Practice and the upcoming book The Caring Human Code, which shares her frameworks and philosophy with a wider audience. A former college and university lecturer in Norway, Lisbeth now leads the International Dog Trainer School, certifying trainers worldwide, and the C.A.R.E. Membership, which offers accessible education for dog owners.

Her mission is to set a new global standard for ethical dog training — creating relationships between humans and dogs built on trust, respect, and true communication.

Jonas Christensen

Learning Experience Manager, based in Norway

Jonas specializes in pedagogy, instructional methods, course quality, and first aid for both humans and dogs.

With 18 years of experience developing training programs for the Norwegian Ambulance Service and Police, he brings a strong background in creating effective, high-quality education that combines practical skills with clear, structured teaching.

Tamara Schmider

C.A.R.E. Community Manager, based in Brazil

Originally from Germany, Tamara now calls Brazil home, where she lives with her two rescue dogs, Flora and Manolo. Passionate about all dogs, she has a special place in her heart for fearful ones and is dedicated to helping them build confidence and explore the world at their own pace.

She combines this love for dogs with her background in education technology and online learning as our CARE Community Manager, where she fosters a welcoming space for members to connect, share, and grow.

Emma Totten

C.A.R.E Community Experience Manager, based in Arizona, USA

Arizona-based for most of her life, Emma lives near Phoenix with her senior rescue Chihuahua named Annie. Emma has loved animals her whole life – launching her first dog-related business at 11 years old when she went door-to-door asking her neighbors, “Do you have a dog? Can I walk it?”

Active in rescue, she has also fostered 25+ rescue dogs through county shelters and local organizations, with a soft spot for helping fearful dogs build confidence and feel safe in the world.

Teachers

Turid Rugaas

Based in Norway

Turid Rugaas is a world-renowned Norwegian dog trainer and author of the bestseller On Talking Terms with Dogs. Famous for her pioneering work on canine communication, she identified more than 30 calming signals that have shaped modern understanding of dog behaviour.

In 2017, she received the King’s Badge of Honour from His Majesty King Harald VI of Norway for her lifetime contribution to the field.

Amber Batson

Based in England

Dr. Amber Batson is a UK veterinarian who graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, London, in 1999.

She has specialised in companion animal welfare, responsible pet ownership, and psychoneuroimmunology — the study of how stress and emotions affect health. Amber has also supported international animal charities, including serving as a welfare consultant for WPA.

Julia Robertson

Based in England

Julia Robertson is the founder and global head of Galen Myotherapy, established in 2002. A pioneer in canine myotherapy, she has treated more than 8,000 dogs and trained hundreds of practitioners worldwide.

Julia is the author of four books and producer of two DVDs, including Tongue to Tail, which won the Maxwell Award from the Dog Writers Association of America in 2012.

Lyubov Elupova

Based in Estonia

Lyubov is a graduate of Turid Rugaas’ International Dog Trainer Education in Spain, founder of Canuzzo harnesses, and co-founder of the Smiling Leash Project.

She has specialised in dog aggression and puppy training, and today works full-time with consultations and classes, as well as teaching at Nordic Dog Trainer.

Lisa Dickel

Based in Sweden

Dr. Lisa Dickel is a postdoctoral researcher in ecology and animal welfare at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).

Originally from Germany and now based in Sweden, she combines her passion for science and dogs through the Nordic Dog Trainer’s Journal club “Tiny Science Chats.”

Mentors