Meet your Trainer
ZiZi is the founder and owner of Hammond’s K9 Coaching, which officially opened in August of 2021. With a lifelong passion for dogs and their behavior, ZiZi has been actively involved in dog training since the age of 14, gaining hands-on experience with both companion and working dogs.
Her professional background includes experience as a trainer for a local service dog breeder, where she worked closely with dogs being prepared for service and assistance roles. This experience strengthened her expertise in canine behavior, temperament evaluation, and foundational training, as well as her ability to recognize and shape behaviors essential for success in real-world environments.
ZiZi’s training approach is informed by evidence-based modalities learned through Teamwork 1 and Teamwork 2 Dog Training and the K9 Training Institute. These modalities emphasize clear communication, relationship-based training, reinforcement-based learning, structure, and consistency, allowing training to be both humane and effective. ZiZi integrates these principles to meet each dog and handler where they are, ensuring training plans are individualized and sustainable.
ZiZi’s practical experience is supported by a strong educational foundation. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sports Science, which provides in-depth knowledge of anatomy, movement, learning principles, and physical conditioning—skills that directly inform her humane and effective approach to dog training. In addition, ZiZi is pursuing advanced education in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), further enhancing her understanding of behavior, reinforcement, motivation, and behavior change across species.
ZiZi has a specific and ongoing interest in dog behavior and temperament, with a focus on how genetics, environment, and learning history influence behavior. This science-based perspective allows her to design individualized training programs that prioritize clarity, consistency, and the emotional well-being of each dog.
She is dedicated to helping dogs and their handlers build confident, respectful relationships rooted in trust, communication, and a deep understanding of canine behavior.