About this episode
Today’s guest is Ali Van Es — a certified professional dog trainer who began her journey at the prestigious Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainers. After completing her formal education, Ali continued her development by learning directly from some of the top sport dog trainers in the country and regularly attending advanced workshops and seminars. Her passion for animals started young, but dogs have always held a special place in her heart. By the age of 18, Ali was already training professionally, joining the team of a dog training company where she had previously attended classes with her own dogs. While she enjoyed helping handlers strengthen communication with their dogs, she felt limited by the group class format and sought a more personalized approach. That drive led her to launch her own training company — where she could truly tailor each session to the individual needs of both dog and handler. Helping people build stronger, more effective relationships with their dogs is something she takes great pride in. Beyond her work with pet dogs, Ali is also active in the competitive world of dog sports. She currently competes in Mondioring — a protection sport — with her Belgian Malinois, and has also trained in Rally, Lure Coursing, Dock Diving, and Herding. Most recently, she’s diving into the world of advanced Trick Dog Training.