This former physician has traded her white coat for a custom treat pouch
Elisa Segal describes her career pivot from medicine to dog training like a homecoming.
Growing up, Elisa watched every Jane Goodall special she could find on television. In junior high, she dreamed of becoming a primate research biologist, captivated by the story of Koko the gorilla learning sign language.
Instead, she went to medical school, became a family practice physician, and spent 16 years in clinical practice before moving into a senior executive role at a health insurance company. But the uncertainty of the pandemic years prompted a deeper question: what did she really want to do next?
Finding Her Way to a New Career
Beyond loving dogs because they’re fun or cute, Elisa has always wanted to understand the why behind their behavior—how they feel, how they communicate, and the science underneath it all.
While looking for something to listen to during her workout at the gym one day, Elisa came across Victoria Stilwell’s Positively Podcast, which led her to the annual Dog Behavior Conference. At the DBC, pieces began falling into place. “I really liked Victoria’s demeanor, her way of presenting things, and the way she viewed dogs,” says Elisa. The science-led ethos was a perfect fit.
Elisa enrolled in the VSA Dog Trainer Course at Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training & Behavior (VSA) online during COVID. She squeezed in the online lessons between workday calls and meetings. Eventually, when VSA’s in-person, hands-on instruction became available once again, she traveled to attend.
The Power of the VSA Community
Throughout the online modules, Elisa’s canine education benefited deeply from her Faculty Advisor, Jamie Diaz, an experienced professional. And the in-person session left an even deeper mark.
“We all cried at the end,” says Elisa. “It was such a bonding experience. We were all so different—different backgrounds, different places, different ages—but we all had this one thing in common.” Long after the course ended, Elisa and her classmates still keep in touch through a Facebook group chat where they share cases, successes, insecurities, and practical questions like which booking platforms work best.
Like many VSA graduates, Elisa sees the Dog Trainer Course as a launch pad rather than a destination. “The class is the foundation,” she says. “You really learn on the job, and by continuing to learn from your colleagues.”
Since attending, she has worked with individual cases, read over 30 dog behavior books, attended continuing education programs, continues to volunteer at her local animal shelter, and has attended industry events including ClickerExpo, where she had the chance to meet trainers she has long admired, including Ken Ramirez and Chirag Patel.
Building Something New
Like most positive trainers, Elisa uses different levels of treat value depending on the environment. In a low-distraction environment like the home, regular training treats may be enough. Out in the world, where distractions multiply, she reaches for a higher-value reinforcer like chicken or cheese to keep the dog engaged.
She found herself with a challenge. “I’d be reaching in the bag because I’m paying attention to the dog, not the bag. I’d end up with a handful of plastic bag, or just the plastic rattling would become a cue for the dog. And I thought, why can’t there be a bag that has two separate compartments?”
She sketched her idea on paper, partnered with a New York design firm, and worked through several prototypes. The first one, she laughs, was too big to wear comfortably. The current version is streamlined and built for a trainer’s reality: two removable, washable compartments—one insulated to keep perishable treats cool—plus thoughtful extras like a built-in poop-bag dispenser, a reflective strip for evening walks, and a sturdy, easily adjustable belt.
“I made The Reinforcer for the needs of a trainer,” explains Elisa, who credits a lesson from VSA’s business module, taught by faculty member Nicole, with helping her adapt her approach. As Nicole told the class: “A business is a series of experiments.” Elisa has taken the lesson to heart—trying things, adjusting, and trying again.
Training Dogs, Supporting People
If there is a single insight Elisa returns to, it’s one that VSA emphasizes from day one: dog training is really people training.
Her medical background, it turns out, prepared her beautifully. Years of listening to patients, identifying the real source of a problem, and translating complex ideas into everyday language have all transferred directly to working with dog guardians.
“The temptation, once you have all this knowledge from training, is to use those words with your clients to impress them with how much you know. Nobody wants that. They don’t want to know what kind of drill you’re using. They want the hole in the wall.”
When working with guardians, she relies on simple analogies, sometimes framing canine behavior through the lens of how a small child might experience a situation. It helps them truly absorb what she’s teaching and apply it at home, long after the session ends.
To hear more of Elisa’s journey—including stories from her years in medicine, her path through VSA, and the evolution of her treat pouch—listen to her full episode of Victoria Stilwell’s Positively Podcast.
Learn more about preparing for a rewarding career as a dog trainer with VSA’s premier Dog Trainer Course.
