Vivian has been working with dogs nearly all her life and has been a positive reinforcement trainer for over 10 years. She got her start working at several prominent show kennels in Sweden (her home country) and England. She later assisted a professional dog handler team in California, focusing on preparing the dogs before they went into the show ring, and also worked at an Afghan Hound show kennel. More recently, she worked with a great mentor and teacher Carole Peeler, owner and founder of C& C Pals, where Vivian taught group classes for several years and later went on to open her own business.

Vivian continues to place a strong emphasis on furthering her education in the field of dog training, and behavioral science in particular, which is one of her great areas of interest. This interest came to light when she adopted a Doberman with aggression issues. Since then she has fostered several difficult dogs and in 2005 she started her own business POSITIVE DOG, which focuses on behavior modification consultations. Vivian's interest in behavior also extends to people as she has earned a master's degree in conflict resolution from the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (ICAR), at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA. This formal education provides her a unique skill set to relate to the human side of the partnership in addition to the dog.

Vivian is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) through the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT). She is a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT). She is also an Associate Member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and supporter of Truly Dog-Friendly community and the No Shock Collar Coalition. She is also an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator.

Vivian resides in Alexandria with her husband Tom and their 1 year old daughter Isolde, along with Sheba the Doberman, Sugar the Golden Retriever, Tuula Belle the South African Mastiff, and Samson the cat.