Behind Good Dogma

“Training dogs by training people”

AKC Certified Evaluator: Canine Good Citizen, Trick, Urban  and Community testing

Member International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP)

Meet Lisa

Founder | Lead Trainer

I began my canine career as a Veterinary Technician, getting a part time job at a busy vet clinic. Starting as a kennel worker and in time assisting doctors with treatment.

Relocating to Texas, working as a veterinary technician, I was asked if I would be interested in becoming a dog trainer. Yes! I jumped at the opportunity to learn about the dog’s mind and help people understand their canines. I devoured almost every book on dog training, behavior and dog psychology I could find. In 1996, I launched Good Dogma Obedience Training

Back in San Luis Obispo, I attended Cal Poly, earning a BA degree. My senior thesis was, “Canine Development and Communication”.

My background and experience with animals includes:

Mentor training for Animal Behavior College

Volunteer work with Horseback Riding for the Handicapped and Partners in Equestrian Therapy

Volunteer work at the Gibbon Research Center in Valencia

Founding member and trainer for the Heeling Touch dog training program at San Luis Obispo Juvenile Services

First trainer at CMC for “Paws for Life”, the first dog training program at the California Men’s Colony in SLO

Monthly contributing writer on dog behavior/training for The Estero Bay News

Volunteer with Novy’s Ark, helping adopters connect with and train their newly rescued dog

Vicki Ramos has lived on the Central Coast of California since 1989. She has been passionate about dogs her entire life (since the age of 2!) and has raised many wonderful pets over the years. After graduating in 2009 from the Animal Behavior College as a certified trainer, she became the co-trainer at Good Dogma.

Vicki retired as a consultant in the community banking industry and now devotes her time to training people and their dogs. She spent 15 years supporting Woods Humane Society as a “master” volunteer, working with dogs to enhance their chance of adoption into good homes. Vicki also volunteered at community outreach events to help raise awareness about the shelter and their adoption program.

She lives in the quaint Village of Arroyo Grande and enjoys gardening and agility classes with her dogs, Zoey and Sophie.