Dr. E’Lise Christensen DVM is a board-certified veterinary behaviorist and an international lecturer and author. Dr. C received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State University in 2002. She first became interested in veterinary behavior as a high school student when she worked at a veterinary practice and began training animals for pet therapy at a local substance abuse facility. While in veterinary school she researched separation anxiety in shelter dogs, was an assistant trainer at an animal shelter, and studied with numerous board-certified veterinary behaviorists.

After veterinary school Dr. C began a rotating small animal internship at SouthPaws Veterinary Referral Center in Springfield, Virginia. While working there she continued her studies in veterinary behavior. She practiced feline-only medicine in Arlington, Virginia and general medicine in Bloomingdale, New Jersey before entering the Behavior Residency Program at Cornell University in 2004. During her residency she researched the behavior of dogs, cats, and horses and treated behavioral problems in a number of different species. Her most cited research involved evaluating the efficacy of canine temperament tests in the shelter system.

Mike Rose is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant , Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer, and an Accredited Dog Trainer through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. He hails from outside of Philadelphia, PA. Mike moved to New York City to attend Marymount Manhattan and graduated with his musical theatre BFA. While in school, he worked as a dog walker with Wag! and loved the job so much that he decided to pursue a career working with dogs.

Mike worked as a trainer and behavior consultant for Wag! and GoodPup before founding his own company The Pawssociates. He fosters dogs for Muddy Paws Rescue, taking in dogs of all sizes, backgrounds, and temperaments in order to provide them a soft place to land when they arrive here in the big city. He works with each pup to help them adjust, relax, and learn skills that will increase their adoptability and future behavioral success. He even fostered a pregnant pup and her litter of 8, following all puppy culture protocols to give the pups the best start in life. Mike kept one puppy from that litter, his cattle dog Boots. Boots not only looked at him with the most loving puppy dog eyes, but was born anxious and needed a special behavior-savvy home which Mike could provide. Mike specializes in Separation Anxiety, supporting clients around the world with dogs struggling with being home alone. Using a systematic approach to addressing the issue, Mike has been able to help clients achieve freedom while alleviating their dogs’ fears.