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About Author

About the Author

 

My name is Steven. I live in Southern California in a small town called Murrieta. I've owned dogs since I was a little kid, and after moving from a place where I couldn't own a dog for nine years, I finally got another dog. Actually, I got two, a chow mixed named Junior and a Dachshund named Sheetza.

 

I love all canines and have spent countless hours reading information covering almost every aspect of cynology (study of dogs). My favorite topics are dog training, grooming, and canine dermatology. Along with reading books and articles, I also spend some time on dog forums and dog websites. I often give advice on forums and these allow me to stay in touch with up-to-date information on almost anything dog related. I stay in contact with several dog breeders, groomers, trainers, and vet/vet techs that I have met and often consult with them about situations that I find puzzling and to get a second opinion. I really enjoy interacting with other people that share my love for dogs, this being a big reason why I like to visit dog forums whenever I can.

 

The main reason for building K9Domain is that I wanted a space where I can jot down information that I find useful and to have for future reference. It also helps with organization and not forget methods or tips that can help with problems that may arise during any time of canine ownership.

 

I try to use a variety of training techniques to train dogs but always advocate using non-aversive/dog friendly training techniques before anything else. It is my firm belief that there is no one correct method for all dogs, and that much of what makes a dog trainer a dog trainer is their ability to asses an individual dog and try to use certain techniques that will help that dog learn effectively.

 

 I'm planning to get an APDT or a CPDT certification to become a professional dog trainer. Currently I'm taking a vet assistant class so that I can gain more knowledge in that field. I have helped various friends and neighbors learn about how to be responsible dog owners. I've had the privilege to help some people with training their dogs or helping alleviate their sick dogs when vet care wasn't an option. I have fun talking, teaching, and learning about our furry companions; I hope that through K9Domain, I am able to prove that!

 

-Steven L.

My Dog Junior
 
This is my dog Junior, a chow mix. He is about 5 years old, and is one energetic pooch. Junior has an unusually high prey drive for the chow breed and is a persistent lead puller. Those are two aspects I've had to work on the whole time I've owned him. He is sweet with all that are welcomed to our house, however still makes an excellent guard dog in alerting when there is a stranger near. The good thing about him is that being of the spitz breed, he hardly ever barks. On occasion, he bark/howls to greet the family or to warn off someone that isn't welcomed to our house, but other than that, he is a silent type.
My Dog Sheetza
 
Here is our dachshund, Sheetza. She was given to us by owners that could no longer care for her at about one year of age. As to how she got her name, I'll never know, we decided not to change it, just to avoid confusing her. The people we got her from said that her owners before them had physically abused her, so now we have to deal and modify some fear-aggressive behaviors. Unlike Junior, this pup really loves to bark and wasn't the nicest with visitors. Like many other abused dogs, this one was a particularly hard one to deal with, especially because she had (still has to a lesser extent) submissive tendencies such as urinating when confronted or shying away. To all those who have to deal with a dog with a similar situation, all I can say is to keep consistent with training, be loving, and most importantly be patient.