Jill Lydic has been working with and training animals her whole life. Her desire to care for them led to four years of experience as a Veterinary Technician, providing her with extensive knowledge in first aid and preventative care. She was always most fascinated by behavior, though, and that interest led her to pursue a career in marine mammal training while doing some dog training on the weekends. For nine years, Jill worked with gray, harp, and harbor seals and Atlantic and Pacific bottlenose dolphins, gaining valuable experience in positive reinforcement training techniques. She also attended various training workshops involving walruses, sea lions, penguins, otters, and elephants. Training large mammals to participate in medical exams voluntarily requires plenty of patience, and Jill’s compassion for animals is obvious when you see her interact with them. As a Senior Marine Mammal Trainer, she had the opportunity to train three dolphins from birth, so she has the skills needed to work with young, naive animals. She enjoys watching the animals (and their humans!) learn and helping people bond with their dogs during the training process. Her own dogs are her children, so she understands the importance of having them in your life.
Jason Lydic has worked with numerous exotic and sometimes rare animals, including amphibians such as salamanders and poison dart frogs, large reptiles like crocodilians and anacondas, as well as primates, birds, hoofstock, and venomous insects. He has assisted in the training of pygmy marmosets, golden lion tamarins, and a variety of bird species. His eight years of college education to the level of a Master’s degree in Biology provides him with a strong background in animal science and management. He has extensive zoo and aquarium experience and his attention to detail when it comes to caring for animals is meticulous. He is extremely dedicated to animals and was the brains behind the development of YOU WORK, I’LL PLAY. A child at heart, Jason loves to get down on the floor with a dog for a good, old-fashioned romp! He excels at creating fun, new games for dogs and will surely keep your animal entertained for hours!
Keena is a border collie/lab mix who was rescued from the pound by Jason the day after Christmas in 1996 when she was one year old. She spends her free time lounging behind the desk and looking for people to rub her back or belly. She is a very easy-going dog and loves meeting new dogs and their people. Keena believes you're never to old to learn new "tricks" and earned her AKC Canine Good Citizen certification at the youthful age of 12, then became a registered Therapy Dog at 13. Keena’s beautiful face and calm demeanor are hard to resist, so she knows that when you meet her, you’ll be giving her a good rubdown in no time!
Ellie is a poodle/terrier/lab mix (a true mutt!) who was born on November 25, 1998 and unfortunately orphaned at five weeks old. Jill adopted Ellie two weeks later and they’ve been inseparable ever since. Ellie is an extraordinary jumper (perhaps part kangaroo?!) and an exceptional frisbee dog. Although shy at first, Ellie has a wonderful personality and can’t get enough of wrestling around with her sisters. At night, Ellie loves to curl up under the covers and snuggle with her mommy, letting out long sighs as she goes to sleep.
