Elizabeth Nelson

Elizabeth has been immersed in the dog sport world since the mid-1990s, when she began competing as a teenager with her German Shepherd and several other dogs she borrowed and trained from family including a Doberman & Australian Shepherd. She started in AKC Obedience and participated in 4-H Agility, Obedience, and Showmanship, building a strong foundation in training and handling from an early age.

After a brief hiatus during college, Elizabeth returned to the sport with a Doberman, competing in both Conformation and Agility. Since then, her passion has only expanded. She has competed with multiple Doberman, a rescue Rottweiler mix, and Whippets across a wide range of venues, including Agility, Scent Work, Obedience, Conformation, Rally, Lure Coursing, Trick Dog, and just about any other activity her dogs enjoy.

Currently, Elizabeth is running a Doberman in Masters Agility as they work toward their MACH, a Whippet on the verge of moving out of Open Agility, and she has a young Doberman in training.

Elizabeth’s training philosophy is rooted in the belief that one size does not fit all. She understands that every dog learns differently and prides herself on having a diverse toolbox of training techniques to motivate both dogs and handlers while helping teams achieve their individual goals. She emphasizes training the dog in front of you—without comparison to others—and prioritizes keeping classes fun, engaging, and rewarding for the dogs.

Outside of the dog world Elizabeth is a Realtor who shares her life with her Husband Neal, 5 dogs, and a menagerie of animals on their small hobby farm outside of Fargo.