Lisa Cruz

Lisa, Canine Coach and owner/operator of Brighten Up Pup, has always been interested in animals, their behavior and their interaction with the environment. As a child, she spent much of her time playing with the family dog and her sisters. All on their own, they enriched Brittany’s life by teaching her to jump over obstacles on cue, to track treats they trailed along the ground and hid strategically and even made their own harness so she could pull them on their sled in the snow. Lisa intuitively understood at an early age that dogs need jobs. They need mental stimulation, physical exercise and humans who honor that. Lisa has spent much of her life reading about dogs and absorbing as much knowledge from others as possible.

Knowing that she loved nature, being outdoors and getting her hands on critters, she chose a career in wildlife biology. She graduated from West Chester University in 2001 with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology/Ecology.  Her early professional life consisted of more than 10 years of experience as an environmental consultant and conservation biologist.  She has experience in animal husbandry, conducting threatened and endangered species surveys, bird banding, wildlife rehabilitation and as a small animal veterinary technician.

When her first child was born, she took a hiatus from full-time employment to stay home. Once both her children were enrolled in elementary school, she began pursuing her long-time interest in animal behavior. Having been intrigued by dogs all her life, she devoted herself to learning the art of canine communication and has applied that knowledge while dog walking, pet sitting and supporting individuals and families who are raising puppies or welcoming rescue dogs into their homes. In January 2020, Lisa focused her efforts on enriching the lives of these families through education and formed Brighten Up Pup, LLC. As Lisa strives to provide quality support for her families, she continues to sharpen her canine coaching skills, cultivate professional relationships with other dog pros and expand her knowledge through mentors, dog behavior courses, hands-on training, webinars and other professional avenues.

Lisa is an Approved Professional for Kids Around Dogs, a licensed trainer for The Family Dog Private Training Program, and a licensed presenter of The Family Dog’s Stop the 77 dog safety program.

Remember: “Be kind to yourself and patient with your pup.  Learning a new language is challenging and mistakes will be made along the way.  These mistakes are an opportunity for growth. Be grateful for them, learn from them and they will make you a more effective communicator.”