Behind every dog, there is a story
Meet Liz and the dogs behind Freedom Found, where compassion meets behavior change.
Meet Liz
Hi, I am Liz Vanderhoef, a Licensed Family Dog Mediator, behavior consultant, and full-time dog behavior nerd. I specialize in working with reactive, sensitive, and misunderstood dogs. I also help dogs who need a slower pace or a more individualized approach thrive in off-leash environments.
My journey started in 2021 with a casual flirtation with Barn Hunt and snowballed into a full-time dog training career by 2022. I have completed Michael Shikashio's Aggression in Dogs Master Course and hold certifications in both the Working and Library Services divisions of Family Dog Mediation.
I also help bridge the gap between research and the real world by curating resources for fellow trainers and applying those insights to the dogs in front of me every day.
Whether I am supporting a dog through a behavior shift, curating an adventure walk, or explaining that it is not stubbornness but stress for the 700th time, I am doing it with heart, honesty, and a lot of snacks.
Ruger's legacy
Freedom Found exists because of one very special dog, Ruger.
Ruger was my heart dog. My steady shadow. My greatest teacher. He came into my life when I knew so little and gave me grace as I learned what it really means to meet a dog where they are. He showed me that behavior is never just a list of problems to solve. It is a reflection of needs, emotions, and experiences we cannot always see.
We lost Ruger in June 2025. Every off-leash hike, every behavior consult, every quiet moment of connection with a misunderstood dog is for him. Ruger helped me find my way. Now, I help others find theirs.
The real stars of the show
Let's be honest, I just work here. These two are the ones running the show.
Rumor
Bacardi vom Wildhaus BH, BTX, NW3, RATM, L1I, NI, NC, TKP, ETD, CGCA, CGCU, CCSS-L1, SEN, SCN, SBN, FTI, BCAT, DJ, NW3-V, NW3-1, TDI, OFA GoodRumor is a 3-year-old female German Shepherd and one of the most versatile dogs you will meet. She holds over 20 titles across IGP, Nose Work, Barn Hunt, Rally, Dock Diving, Agility, Shed Hunting, and Trick Dog. She is a certified AKC Canine Good Citizen, certified therapy dog through Therapy Dogs International, and has earned Nose Work titles through NW3. Beyond the ribbons, Rumor works alongside me in real behavior cases. She has a gift for showing other dogs how to be dogs again, how to feel, how to just exist. She is proof that working dogs can do it all and still come home and just be a dog.
Photo: Black Dog Bytes
Roulette
Enigma vom Wildhaus BH, BTX, TKA, NTD, CGC, CGCA, CGCU, FTN, DM, DS, OFA ExcellentRoulette, known as Lettie, is a young working-line German Shepherd with serious athletic talent and even more serious drive. He competes in IGP, Nose Work, Dock Diving, and Agility, and earned his Dock Master title in August 2025 with jumps reaching 26 feet. He has racked up both Senior and Masters qualifying scores and is still just getting started. But beyond the sport, Lettie is one of those dogs who just gets it. He helps other dogs learn how to be dogs again, how to feel safe, how to just exist. Lettie represents the next generation at Freedom Found, carrying forward a legacy that runs deep.
Photo: Black Dog Bytes
So, why Freedom Found?
Because that is what every dog deserves. A life where they feel free, not fearful. Where their needs are understood, their choices are respected, and their people have the support they need to make it happen.
At Freedom Found, I do not believe in forcing dogs to fit molds. I believe in meeting them where they are and helping them grow from there, with kindness, clarity, and a little trail dust along the way.
Talk with Liz about your dog