What our customers are saying…
My vet told me Willow needed to lose weight! She was a senior rabbit who wasn’t exploring her enrichment areas as much anymore, and was mostly just sitting and snacking. Bunz of Steel provided both a terrific evidence-based approach to animal learning and lots of fun, safe, low impact exercise. Willow and I both thoroughly enjoyed this course.
Leslie McDevitt, MLA, CDBC, CPDT-KA, TAGteach Level 2, globally renowned author of Control Unleashed series
Emily from Empowered Animal Training helped me so much with my goldfish, Finley. After needing extensive medical care, Finley went from being curious and engaged to scared and withdrawn. I had a care plan in place, and Emily worked with me to thoughtfully refine it—even helping us navigate his visual impairments. Thanks to her support, we were able to make his final chapter peaceful and respectful. I’ll always be grateful for that. Emily isn’t just great with fish—she’s one of the few trainers I fully trust to work with and refer rabbits to. Hands down, she’s one of the top rabbit trainers I’ve seen worldwide. Her fitness and trick classes are incredible—not just fun for the rabbits, but also incredibly effective at helping guardians build trust, reduce fear around stressful situations like vet visits, and deepen the human-animal bond. These classes are accessible, affordable, and packed with value. If you’re a rabbit guardian and haven’t taken one of her classes yet, do yourself (and your rabbit) a favor and sign up. Both trainers at Empowered Animal Training are insightful, qualified, and creative. They go above and beyond to help you and your furkid (or fin kid!) meet your goals. 10/10. All thumbs up. Standing ovation.
Rebecca Gridley, MA-Phys, DD-CFA, owner Total Pet Training, LLC, and Finley
When I first signed up for Trickbun I, I was doubtful my bunny would take to learning tricks, and mostly signed up just out of curiosity. (After all, doesn’t a zoom class with a bunch of other bunnies sound fun?!) Much to my surprise, my bunny Halo loved learning tricks, and the trick training became something she looked forward to each day. Halo is not a “lap bun” at all, so the trick training became an amazing way for us to bond with one another in a different way. The Trickbun class taught me to appreciate how incredibly smart bunnies truly are, and also how important intellectual stimulation is for their overall well-being.
Because we had such a great time with Trickbun I, we signed up for Trickbun II too, and we had an equally great time! But let me take a moment to explain why the Trickbun classes are so great. Emily and Lizzy clearly put a lot of time into preparing materials for the class — the classes have a clear structure, and the shaping plans they devise are key to understanding how to teach tricks, breaking them down into steps that are easy to understand (and in a way that could never be learned from just watching videos or reading the trick descriptions on a website.) So not only is the “teaching” portion of these classes very clear, professional, and thoughtfully prepared, but the class participants then have a chance to practice in real time on zoom, with Emily and Lizzy watching our buns and giving us critical feedback to help us in our training. It is also a blast to watch everyone else’s buns; I find the other buns in class to be a real inspiration!
I am truly in awe of what Emily and Lizzy do; they are excellent teachers and truly believe in their mission of empowering animals to live rich lives, and they help others achieve this through giving us the means to provide our bunnies with intellectual stimulation via trick training. What may seem to be just trick training is really a tool for getting to know and appreciate your bun on a deeper level; I would recommend the Trickbun classes to anyone even mildly curious about bunny trick training. You won’t regret it!
Patty
I am from Montreal, Canada and I heard about Empowered Animals Behavior and Training, LLC by my older sister that was training with Emily when working for an animal shelter in Vancouver. My dog, Shadow, German shepherd was having more and more issues with barking when people were coming at the house. We worked all together very hard to make it better and it did worked! Thank for your help Emily and Empowered Animals Behavior and Training, LLC. I would 1000% recommend!
Charlotte L. and Shadow
Just a short note to tell you what a wonderful experience it was to work with Emily remotely. Our foster lab, Dakota, had a small animal prey drive and would bark and act crazy around small dogs, cats, birds, squirrels, etc. We would have to literally pull her into the house to get her to stop.
Along came Empowered Animals Behavior and Training, LLC! From the very first Zoom meeting, Emily was fantastic. We would discuss what training she wanted me to practice during the week and would back that up with a written document, putting in writing what we had discussed during the Zoom meeting. That was very helpful for me. She had ordered clickers (which I had never used for training) plus a treat pouch and a harness that fit Dakota perfectly.
Every meeting that we had, sometimes going outside so she could see me doing what we had practiced the week before, was very informative. Dakota, being a lab, was very receptive to the training because of the treats. Now, whenever she hears the clicker, she will turn around immediately and run back to me for her treat (carrot!). We are still practicing everything we have learned and it’s amazing what a difference this has made in her life (and ours). We are hopeful that Dakota will be adopted soon.
When I heard about this training using Zoom, I was skeptical, but I was ready to try anything. This is the best thing I have done with a dog with problems, and I would recommend this to anyone who has “a problem child”! Kudos to Empowered Animals and Emily!!
Dakota and Lynne
We worked with Emily and Lizzie remotely via Zoom to help with our senior dog, Rosie, who had become aggressive toward my husband. Even though we’re in Arizona and they are in Florida, the virtual sessions were very beneficial. They took the time to understand Rosie’s behavior and gave us clear, compassionate techniques to help rebuild trust between her and my husband. Every session was followed up with clear instructions and homework. We learned so much about reading her signals and adjusting our approach to make her feel safe. Rosie started to become calmer, more relaxed, and stopped seeing my husband as a threat. I’m so grateful for the support. You can teach an old dog new tricks.
Robyn, Frank, and Rosie
I thank my luck stars for the day I found Emily and Empowered Animals. Our rescue pup Bodie had a lot of baggage to work through (extreme reactivity to other dogs, not letting people in the house, etc.) that we weren’t sure how to help him work through–but Emily knew just what to do! Her positive, calm approach and effective training techniques truly changed our lives. I cannot recommend her highly enough!
Cindy B. and Bodie
I don’t know what we would have done without Emily and Empowered Animals! My puppy was so afraid of everything and Emily’s positive training helped build her confidence to take on the streets of busy downtown Tampa! She gave me the tools to be able to help my dog overcome the fear of new people, environments, or situations. So grateful for her guidance! 10/10 would recommend to anyone needing a trainer
Susan K. and Birdie
We had 3 training sessions with Emily for our new rescue dog, Dakota, and we are amazed at the progress we have seen. Emily has wonderful techniques for training and was very creative in adapting as Dakota’s behavior changed. She went from being a dog who constantly pulled on our walks and was very dog reactive to a gentle walker who is a pleasure to take out! We are so pleased with this process and the way the training program is customized for each animal’s needs. Would highly recommend Emily!!
Jenifer and Dakota
I work at an animal shelter in the Florida Keys and have consulted with Emily about shelter animals and also referred others to her through the years for both training and behavior consulting. Her extensive experience working with both exotic and domestic animals, her intelligence, her kind and generous spirit, and her ability to communicate put her at the top of my list of people I recommend. Her knowledge and experience with rabbits is vast and she has been an educational resource to other professional organizations. I cannot recommend her highly enough!
Cathy Baier, Florida Keys SPCA
We have taken two trick classes with Emily and Lizzie and have loved them! My rabbit Kodiak is very curious, smart, and active but doesn’t really come to us for enrichment or entertainment. Working with him to learn all the tricks really strengthened our bond and helped us learn to do something fun together!! I loved seeing his little brain work through learning all the tricks and how excitedly he would run out when it was training time. Emily and Lizzie provided so much feedback and support during our classes, and I loved the detailed training tutorials!!
Orla O.
Emily and Liz coached me on working with an aggressive foster bun. They taught me a lot about bunny body language and possible causes for the unusual behavior. She’s come a long way after applying a methodical approach to reviewing incidents and practicing positive reinforcement. We train regularly, have a lot of fun showing the interactions this leads to, and the bunny and I are now good friends. I highly recommend their consultation services if you and a bunny aren’t living in harmony.
Alyssa K
Emily is a pleasure to work with! My bunny Dizzy, was urinating all over the living room floor no matter what I tried. Emily helped my understand what Dizzy was trying to communicate, and how to have her needs met in her different way. Dizzy is now 99% toilet trained ( and when she misses, I know to try and figure out what she is trying to say). Emily’s attention to detail helped figuring out Dizzy needed flat litter trays because of back pain issues. Emily always explained the reasoning behind her suggestions and was very patient with our many (many!) questions. Now that we’re not frustrated with Dizzy on a daily basis, we can enjoy her sweet and unique personality in a way we didn’t before!
Channi S.
“I have a very shy rabbit who was still grunting when I tried to pet her after living with me for 2 years. Emily and Lizzy helped me to quickly understand that this was a behavior based on fear, not spite or grumpiness, and how to work with my rabbit so that she was more comfortable and that I did not further distress her. When I was trying to bond this rabbit in a small studio where the entire space was her territory, typical “stress bonding” was causing both rabbits to shut down, such as when we tried taking them for car rides or forcing them to be together in a bathtub or other small neutral space. The solution was not quick or as convenient for the humans, but it was safe and effective for the bunnies. In their case it took about 3 months with no fights or stressful events. They have a very strong bond. Emily and Lizzy provide quick responses and leave no questions unanswered. They are patient, kind, thoroughly knowledgeable and adaptive to you and your pets’ circumstances and needs. They also provide education so that you can understand your pet’s language and what they are telling you. Do not give up on your beloved pet if you are frustrated with behavior- they can help. We are so grateful for their guidance.”
Mary L., Silas and Liberty
“Mousse and I have had the pleasure of working with Emily and Lizzy for an entire year now! I contacted them after adopting Mousse and feeling completely lost as to how to even begin building a relationship with my new bunny. Now, I truly feel that my bunny and I have a great dynamic and a solid relationship based on trust, communication, and positivity. Empowered Animals Behavior and Training goes above and beyond to help pet parents cater to their unique animal and situation, I highly recommend them!”
Gigi T.
“I cannot recommend Empowered Animals enough, both for helping with behavioral issues and for building a better bond with your animal. Our rabbit, Bee, came to us with a number of behavior issues stemming from fear of people. He was very aggressive, and honestly, a little bit frightening! After just one session we understood Bee’s behaviours much better and had a plan to help him. Several sessions later he had completely changed from the fearful bunny who came to us to an adorable and very social boy, one who is clicker trained and a pleasure to be around. Emily and Lizzy helped Bee bloom into just a fantastic rabbit in a way that was both easy and enjoyable for both of us! Their understanding of rabbit behavior is impressive, and they are very skilled at finding creative solutions for difficult problems. We’re very glad we found Empowered Animals!”
Ruth F.
My ability to train my Terrier mix grew at a tremendous rate thanks to Emily and Lizzy at Empowered. They genuinely listen to your needs and what corrections you desire to make. The time and attention to detail was amazing. I experienced a level of patience that seems unmatched. Each technique I continue to use and I feel that it draws my Terrier closer. I don’t think I can thank you enough but I truly appreciate your time and expertise. Definitely three thumbs up and high recommendations for anyone who wants help with training.
Jonathan E.
“Emily & Lizzy were recommended to me by the rabbit rescue I got one of my bunnies from. I learned so much from them on bunny behavior and it’s helped me be a better bunny parent. Their assistance helped me go from my two females trying to tear each other apart to living side by side with no issues. When I was moving to my new house, they helped me figure out the best way to set up their room, what to do to make them comfortable, etc. We started with two side by side pens that had pavers in between, slowly the pens got closer to each other to now where they literally just have a small piece of wood between the pens. They are close enough to each other that if they really wanted to, they could bite each other but they don’t. They mirror behaviors and no longer show aggression towards another. I wouldn’t be able to be at this point without the support of Emily & Lizzy. I never thought we would be here. I thought I would end up having them live in separate rooms for the rest of their lives. One day we may be able to have them live together free range again. Bonding takes patience and time, it’s not an overnight fix. Emily & Lizzy are bunny savvy. They understand bunny behavior, their personalities, etc. If you are a bunny parent, you know how rare that is.
Mallory D.
I just finished the Empowered Animals Bunz of Steel class. It was an educational, organized, fun and wonderful experience!! Emily and Lizzy are truly amazing! They are so knowledgeable about rabbit training, rabbit behavior, and rabbit health/nutrition. All of our classes were packed full of information and we were guided by their comments, PowerPoint presentations, and hands on training. After each class, we were given emails with links to the class recording, presentations, and external links to proper food, toys, and other training examples. And one of the best aspects of the class was being able to watch other people work with their rabbits!! The whole class was great and I looked forward to it every week. Also, I have worked with Emily and Lizzy in one on one zoom sessions with my rabbit Bindi. She had some serious aggression and behavior issues and I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to keep her. But after just a few meetings with Emily and Lizzy, Bindi and I are on track to bonding together. Bindi is now a completely different rabbit – she loves her training exercises and she seems so much happier and content. I should also mention that Bindi is deaf and they were able to help me give Bindi visual cues to use for training. I owe all of that to the Empowered Animals team!!
Carla E.
“Emily and Lizzy are amazing trainers and working with them was such an awesome experience! Mya is a rescue that was new to our family and they were able to help us bond our chocolate lab with our two cats in only a couple of months! Through convenient zoom meetings we learned so much, they taught us several behavioral training games and techniques that we’re able to continue on a regular basis. It’s so appreciated how much effort and detail they put into customizing your and your animals needs. It’s been the most wholesome and heartwarming experience to see our dog and cats grow together and to see Mya become even more comfortable in her new home. My fiancé and I would highly recommend them to anyone, we can’t thank them enough!”
Zoé and Bryce
“Empowered Animals Behavior and Training has made a significant difference for my girl La-a and I. Using their training techniques I was able to understand the “why” behind La-a’s behavior. This enabled me to make positive corrections, reducing her (and my) overall stress level, leading to a significant reduction of bad behavior. Happy pig = happy home. La-a and I both would highly recommend Emily and Lizzy Cassell.”
Shannon S. and La-a
Emily and Lizzy are great! They were able to customize training and behavioral assessments for my bunnies. They are the kindest trainers who want what’s best for your pet and also to help strengthen the bond and relationship with your pet. They take the time to really listen, come up with amazing solutions and get great results. I can honestly say my relationship is so much stronger with each of my bunnies thanks to their amazing work and training.”
Nicole W.
