Today we’d like to introduce you to Dina Zaphiris.
Hi Dina, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve spent more than three decades building a career around understanding and improving the lives of animals. After earning my degree in Psychology from the University of California, Davis, I apprenticed under master trainer Richard Vye, a protégé of the legendary Rudd Weatherwax, trainer of Lassie. What began as a passion for dogs quickly grew into a lifelong mission.
Over the years, I became a professional dog trainer, behavior specialist, author, speaker, and researcher. I hosted the Animal Planet television series Pet Finder, served as the resident animal expert on The Bonnie Hunt Show, and worked with everyone from everyday pet owners to celebrities, helping strengthen the bond between people and their animals.
My work eventually expanded beyond training into scientific research. I founded the In Situ Foundation, where I collaborated with universities and medical professionals to train dogs to detect diseases such as cancer and urinary tract infections through scent. Our research helped demonstrate the remarkable potential of dogs to contribute to human health and medicine.
Today, I continue to train dogs, write books, speak internationally, and mentor owners on building better relationships with their pets. My latest book, 101 Mistakes Humans Make to Mess Up Their Dogs, reflects many of the lessons I’ve learned throughout my career. Looking back, every chapter of my journey—from television and research to training and education—has been driven by the same belief: when we better understand animals, we become better humans.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Like most entrepreneurs, I’ve experienced my share of setbacks, financial uncertainty, professional challenges, and personal loss. Building a career around animals required years of hard work, long hours, and a willingness to take risks long before there was any guarantee of success.
One of the biggest challenges was balancing multiple roles at once—running businesses, conducting research, writing books, appearing in the media, and continuing to grow as a trainer. Much of my work involved educating people about ideas that were not yet widely accepted, including the incredible abilities of dogs to detect disease through scent. Pursuing that research required persistence, fundraising, and the ability to keep moving forward even when resources were limited.
At the same time, some of my greatest lessons came through difficult personal experiences. Those seasons taught me resilience, strengthened my faith, and reminded me that growth often comes through adversity. Looking back, I wouldn’t change the journey. The challenges shaped who I am today and gave me a deeper appreciation for every success along the way.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a professional dog trainer, behavior specialist, author, speaker, and canine scent-detection researcher with more than 30 years of experience helping people better understand and communicate with their dogs. My work spans everything from family pet training and behavior modification to scientific research exploring the extraordinary abilities of dogs to detect disease through scent.
Throughout my career, I have trained thousands of dogs and their owners, authored multiple books, appeared on national television, and founded a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing canine medical detection research. I am perhaps best known for my work training dogs to detect cancer and other diseases, as well as for helping owners solve complex behavior problems through practical, relationship-based training methods.
What I am most proud of is bridging the gap between science and everyday dog ownership. Whether I am training a family pet, speaking to an audience, conducting research, or writing a book, my goal is always the same: to improve the lives of both dogs and the people who love them. I have been fortunate to collaborate with universities, physicians, researchers, and dog owners from all walks of life, helping demonstrate the remarkable impact dogs can have on human health and well-being.
What sets me apart is the unique combination of experience across several disciplines. Few professionals have worked extensively in dog behavior, scientific research, television, publishing, search and rescue, and canine scent detection. My background in psychology, combined with decades of hands-on experience, allows me to approach dogs from both a scientific and deeply practical perspective. At the heart of everything I do is a belief that dogs are capable of far more than most people realize—and that understanding them has the power to transform lives.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is to stay committed to your passion, even when the road is difficult. Every meaningful accomplishment in my life—whether in dog training, research, writing, television, music, or working with horses—required perseverance through setbacks, uncertainty, and moments when giving up would have been easier.
There were many times when success seemed far away, but I learned that passion, combined with persistence, has a way of opening doors you never expected. Not every opportunity arrives on your timeline, and not every challenge makes sense in the moment. Often, the very obstacles that seem to be holding you back are preparing you for what comes next.
If I could give one piece of advice, it would be this: stick with it. If you truly love something and are willing to work hard, keep learning, and refuse to quit, your passion will eventually lead you exactly where you need to be. The journey may not look like the one you originally imagined, but the lessons, relationships, and opportunities you gain along the way are often even more valuable than the destination itself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://DinaZaphiris.com
- Instagram: @dinadog1
- Facebook: Dina Zaphiris
- Other: https://Dogsdetectcancer.org
