Lydia is a Certified Behavior Consultant (CBCC) and Trainer (CPDT-KA), Accredited Mantrailing Instructor, Family Dog Mediator, AKC Approved Evaluator, and AKC Fetch Judge.

With over 20 years of experience in animal training—and the last eight devoted exclusively to dogs—Lydia brings deep knowledge, insight, and empathy to every client she works with. She holds a B.S. in Animal Science from Texas A&M University.

Before founding Next Step K9 Center, Lydia led the Training Department at The Dog Ranch of Liberty Hill in Liberty Hill, Texas. There, she was named Best Trainer of Liberty Hill in 2023, and the program  earned Best Training Program in Liberty Hill in both 2022 and 2023.

Lydia shares her life with three amazing dogs: Rey the Labrador, MaliBug the German Shepherd, and Ember the Doberman. Together, they have earned a variety of titles, including Novice to Advanced Trick Dog Titles from Do More With Your Dog, AKC Novice Trick Dog Titles, and a UKC Junior Dock Diving title. They continue to train in Mantrailing and other sports while enjoying life on the family property in Purcell.

Recent Continuing Education

• • Aggression In Dogs Master Class (aggressivedogs.com)

• • L.E.G.S.® Applied Ethology Family Dog Mediation® Professional Course (familydogmediation.com)

• • Introduction to Mantrailing Seminar

• • Accredited Mantrailing Instructor