Here at K9DEB.com, we pride ourselves on informative and educational articles regarding everything about your dog.
From grooming, training, food reviews and product reviews, we have everything you need to help give your dog the best life it can have.
Our Team
Kelly Siedhof
Dog Trainer at The Seeing Eye
Thomas Wipperman
AKC Certified Dog Trainer
Molly Weinfurter
A Shih Tzu Lover
Jessica Mabie
A Vet Tech and Obedience Trainer
Jen Ryan
Golden Retriever Lover
Molly Shea
Dog Groomer and German Shepherd, Siberian Husky Lover
Reno Charlton
Boston Terrier and the Labrador Lover
Amanda
Yorkie and a Weimaraner Lover
Kelly Siedhof
Kelly Siedhof is a native of Pennsylvania where she works as a freelance editor and writer, specializing in the canine training industry. Her work often includes studying the canine mind and determining innovative and effective ways to work with the dogs in our lives.
Kelly began working with dogs at the age of 2 when her family raised their first guide dog for The Seeing Eye, Inc. Odelle, a spunky German Shepherd, sunk her paws into Kelly’s heart. Granted, at 2 years old, she spent more time playing with pups than training them – but she was hooked on working with dogs! Over the next 25 years, Kelly and her family raised 15 guide dogs for The Seeing Eye.
After high school, Kelly pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in English at West Chester University. Her writing grew deeper as she studied new ways to deliver her messages. Through a diverse curriculum, Kelly practiced writing in business settings, academic pieces, creative pieces, and the publishing process of her pieces.
Upon graduating from WCU, Kelly began the construction of her own business: KellySiedhof.com. Her website is continually growing to reflect the freelance editing and writing entity of which she dreams. With an eternal desire to learn, Kelly regularly studies new methods of writing so she can grow into a highly successful freelance grant writer for service dog and canine rescue organizations.
In addition to The Seeing Eye, Kelly and her fiancé adopted a lovable pup from Pitties.Love.Peace. – a pit bull rescue organization in Elizabethtown, Pa. Greta, their silly new bundle of fur, spends her days napping on the couch while Kelly researches and writes about canine training methods.
Feel free to visit Kelly’s Facebook page for the occasional puppy picture and updates on her work!
Thomas Wipperman
My name is Thomas Wipperman, and I’m an AKC certified dog trainer, and I’ve been training dogs since 2011. I’ve worked with over 3,000 dogs since I began training, working with all sizes, breeds, and temperaments. All of my methods rely on Positive Reinforcement, taking cues from the most up to date dog training theories. Having traveled across America and spending time in Greece to engage with monks and their relationships with dogs, I’ve experienced a great deal of different styles and methods of training. Right now, I live in Nashville, TN, with my Australian Shepard, Audie.
I currently work both as an independent writer and as a dog trainer. Working with both a large pet chain and smaller organizations, I train dogs and new trainers, as well. Many of the dogs I’ve trained have gone on to be therapy and emotional support animals after passing the AKC Good Citizen Test, and I work with local rescues as well.
If you have any questions you’d like answered, or want to request an article or have anything to say, just stop by my Ko-Fi! or drop me an email via Thomas[at]k9deb[dot]com.
Molly Weinfurter
Molly Weinfurter grew up in Wisconsin, but she moved to Florida after her high school graduation to receive her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from Full Sail University, as well as to get away from the cold weather and snow. She currently works at Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming where she gets to work with dogs and talk to other pet parents on a daily basis. She also works as a freelance writer and editor. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her dog, working on art projects, and dancing.
She has a dog of her own, which is a Shih Tzu named Mabel. She adopted Mabel from a rescue up north about a year before moving to Florida, so the two of them spend a lot of time together whether it’s going on walks, sleeping, or hanging out at the dog park. Mabel even gets to come to work with her! Molly plans to adopt more dogs in the future and hopefully foster dogs as well because she is very passionate about helping dogs at rescues and shelters find good homes.
When she’s not working with dogs, Molly spends time on various writing and editing projects. She has published two books so far. “The Complete Guide to Shih Tzus” is her most recent book, which is a guide on everything you need to know about raising and caring for a Shih Tzu, whether it’s a puppy or a rescue. It includes chapters that cover everything about raising a dog, which includes purchasing supplies, training, providing healthcare, grooming, and more! She also published an eBook titled “Passing Through Darkness,” which is is a collection of various flash fiction stories in the young adult genre. She is currently working on ideas for more dog books that she hopes will be published in the near future.
She has also published lots of different articles on a variety of topics including Disney articles, motivational posts, and of course, a lot of pieces in the pet industry, not only about dogs, but also about other unusual pets, such as lizards and salamanders. Her dog articles are on a variety of topics, such as types and brands of dog food, different pet products, and a variety of dog breeds. She is knowledgeable about multiple different breeds, but of course, Shih Tzus are the breed that she knows the most about.
Jessica Mabie
Jessica Mabie is a Freelance Writer from the Twin Cities that specializes in writing about pets, food, and travel. She graduated with a BA in English Literature in 1999 from the University of Minnesota. Jessica has a diverse professional background that includes sales, business analyst, and owner of a personal chef company.
Jessica has loved dogs all her life and at the age of 14 started volunteering at a local vet clinic. From there she continued her work with dogs as a vet tech and obedience trainer. Though she no longer works with dogs as a profession, she does use her experience volunteering with American Brittany Rescue.
When Jessica isn’t working, she enjoys running, camping, cooking, and reading good books.
Jessica and her husband have the good fortune to share their lives with four dogs and a cat. They all love camping and try and get away as many weekends in the summer as possible.
Lily, age 21, was adopted from a local rescue when she was 5 years old. She loves her canine siblings and traveling in the family RV.
Daisy, age 15, was adopted from a reliable local breeder when she was 8 weeks old. She loves spending time with her family, going for walks, and camping.
Sophie, age 14, was a foster fail that was adopted when she was 2 years old. Sophie loves hunting in her backyard keeping it free from rabbits, turtles, and birds.
Calvin, age 11, was a foster fail that was adopted when he was 8 months old. Calvin enjoys hiking, snuggling and eating popcorn.
Ginger, age 6, was a foster fail that was adopted when she was 2 years old. Ginger loves going for walks and playing with toys.
Reno Charlton
Reno Charlton is a freelance writer who lives in the West Midlands, United Kingdom. Although she has no children, Reno has always had pets and adores animals. Since childhood, she has had both cats and dogs in the household and has also done a lot of work for animal charities including fundraising and rehoming.
In terms of her career as a writer, Reno began offering her services back in 2003 after gaining her Diploma in Copywriting from the Institute of Copywriting, UK. She has also worked in a range of other industries and jobs including a short stint as a police officer, working for the UK’s Nation Health Service (NHS), and working in social housing.
Reno’s love of animals stems from childhood when a homeless kitten found its way into the family home and decided to stay! Sadly, the cat died a few years later but her father then went out and got her another kitten, which she had until it died of natural causes aged 18. During this time, Reno also took in another stray kitten as well as a stray Labrador mix puppy, which had been abandoned at railway tracks.
Now aged 48, Reno has had a succession of pets and continues to donate to and help animal charities in her spare time. She currently has four cats, Smudge (aged 10), Rosie (aged 8), Ethel (aged 8), and Pixie (aged 3). In addition, she has a black Labrador named Hector (aged 3) with a wonderful but somewhat boisterous nature!
As part of her work as a writer, Reno has produced hundreds of articles about both cats and dogs, including a detailed eBook and guides about Boston Terriers, a breed that she has learned a lot about over the years. Her personal experience in terms of dogs is with Labradors, having owned a black Labrador mix as a child and a full Labrador at present.
Jen Ryan
Jen is a die-hard Alabama fan and native living in the middle of Florida with her family. She has been a freelance writer and editor for over 10 years and is also a youth pastor in her local church. Jen loves dogs of all breeds and is currently owned by her 11-year-old Golden Retriever, Molly.Jen has had experience in all sorts of dogs throughout her lifetime. Her very first pet was a Cocker Spaniel puppy that they both grew up together. She’s been the proud dog mom to basset hounds, Chocolate labs, Australian Shepherds, and good old mix breeds. She has been through obedience training with them and loves to go on long walks with her pup by her side.Jen loves living near the water and all the nature trails around Florida that she gets to explore. In her downtime, Jen enjoys the beach, time with friends and family, watching football games and of course, hanging out with her Molly girl. Her family also loves to watch the dog shows on television and cheer on their favorites. She has always had a dog by her side and doesn’t ever plan to have it any different.Molly Shea
Molly Shea is a West Virginia native and lifelong lover of dogs. She currently works as a dog groomer and freelance writer based in Ohio. Her interest in all things canine all began when she received her first dog Blossom, a Labrador Retriever/Dalmatian cross, after many years of hoping for (and nagging her parents for) a dog. It was with Blossom that Molly first developed a love for training, first for Confirmation and later for Obedience and Agility, even earning a spot through 4H at the state fair to trial in Obedience. Though she would not place at states one thing was sure, she had caught the training bug!Molly further delved into the world of training with her German Shepherd, Eva. While pursuing her Bachelors in Philosophy Molly regularly attended IPO/Schutzhund training classes and later Nosework classes. After graduation she rescued a Siberian Husky, Mackie, that she works with in Obedience, Rally Obedience, and Barn Hunt. She also hopes to eventually train Mackie to compete in Bikejoring. Though she enjoys all opportunities to work with and enjoy her dogs’ company, Molly seeks to engage her dogs in work and play that best aligns with their natural inclinations. In addition to spending time with her dogs Molly loves to spend time in nature, hiking and camping whenever she can. Recently she began section hiking the Appalachian Trail with Mackie, completing their first 30 mile section this fall.In her work as a dog groomer she has the opportunity to interact with dogs of all breeds and types. Knowing breed standards and characteristics helps create a better groom and a better experience for the dogs. Caring for dogs inside and out is of the utmost importance and keeping up with the latest in animal care information and technologies drives her work. Additionally she volunteers on the board of her local dog park where she spends countless hours exercising her dogs.Amanda Cannady
Amanda lives with her family, two dogs, and three cats in the middle of Florida in a town where you have to drive two hours to do anything fun. Instead of daily excitement, she writes creatively for enjoyment and non-fiction to pay the bills. Her favorite writing topics are always animal-related and she knows a lot about Weims and Yorkies since she has had them for over a decade now.She’s been blessed with a mix of different furry companions as her best friends since childhood. She loves cats and dogs equally, although her dogs, Ruger, 11, and Lola, 8, are much more fun to hike with.
Joanne Speed
Joanne is a freelance writer from Edinburgh, Scotland. She has always had a passion for writing and decided to turn her hobby into a career in 2015. This was after gaining her law degree at the University of Aberdeen. Her work is diverse and there isn’t any challenge that’s too big for Joanne. From taking on legal academic work to writing about business and books, she loves to find out about topics and share them with the world.
With a love for dogs, she enjoys researching and writing about canine behavior and training techniques in her own time and in a professional capacity. Joanne is passionate about promoting the rescue of animals and is an advocate for Staffordshire Bull Terriers in the UK. Since she was a child, she has always wanted to have her own dog. Her sister is a veterinarian and Joanne often helps out with looking after sick and injured animals, including dogs, cats and rabbits.
Joanne rescued a Staffordshire Bull Terrier in 2018 after she was abandoned in a woodland area in England without any collar or signs of an owner. Joanne named the brown ‘Staffy’ Zion after her favorite US National Park and it wasn’t long before she discovered they both loved going on adventures. They built a close bond very quickly and despite being abandoned, Zion became very trusting towards Joanne. They had to start from the beginning when it came to Zion’s training; she didn’t know how to play fetch, walk on a lead or socialize with other dogs. But through patience and perseverance, Joanne used her research to train Zion into a happy and confident dog after a hard start in life. Now she knows basic and advanced commands, enjoys playtime off leash and has fun with other furry friends. Zion is now having a ball in Scotland.
In addition, Zion has many allergies and was very sick when Joanne first adopted her. She nursed her back to health and has spent extensive time studying dog nutrition and diet to ensure she’s healthy and happy. In particular, she has expansive knowledge on raw feeding and combating food sensitivities. Joanne has also begun canicross, which is cross country running with a dog. This is a fun and rewarding activity for her and Zion, providing exercise, mental stimulation and bonding time. Even the Scottish weather can’t keep them indoors or stop them having fun.
When Joanne isn’t working, she enjoys going hiking and running with Zion around Scotland, reading new books in front of the fireplace and exploring other countries. In particular, one of Joanne’s aspirations is to visit all 50 states in the US. Currently, she has visited 25 and plans on more traveling trips in 2020. In the future, she also plans on rescuing another dog. Joanne has recently moved from the bustling city of Edinburgh where she was born to the unknown and small town of Kinross. Joanne and Zion are enjoying the quiet Scottish countryside and embarking on new adventures together.
Carlie Lawson
Carlie Lawson started out as a model and now also works as a journalist, author, business consultant and publicist. Lawson is a two-time Weather and Science*Integrated Studies Fellow. She owns Powell Lawson Creatives and Powell Lawson Consulting. Her finance and business coverage regularly appear on the Goalry branded sites Loanry, Creditry, Budgetry and Cashry. Lawson recently authored a five-biography series on Hip Hop and R&B artists Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Post Malone, Travis Scott and John Legend for Mason Crest Publishing. She is currently working on the next four books in that series.
She attended the University of Oklahoma where she earned BAs in Journalism and Film & Video Studies, and a Masters in Regional and City Planning. While she now lives in Oklahoma City, OK, Lawson grew up in the rural town of Cottageville, SC where she helped care for her parents’ many cats and her neighbor’s hunting dogs and horses. She had to wait until high school for her first dog, Smokey, a gregarious gray/black/tan German Shepherd who she shared with the next-door neighbor’s two boys. Smokey kept her hopping since he liked to play with her dad’s cats and the turtles that lived near their lakeside homes in Walterboro, SC. Neither the cats nor the turtles quite appreciated the attention from the much larger Smokey who could easily put his front paws on my front shoulders. (I’m 5’7”.) While sharing responsibility for taking care of him, my human-sized German Shepherd was a great lesson in responsibility.
Smokey stayed put while Lawson moved away to travel the US and eventually ended up in Oklahoma City. Once she settled in, she adopted Misha, an equally large, equally gregarious all black Chow Chow whose bark instantly terrified the mail carrier. Misha only wanted to lick him, but his size was all the postal carrier saw. Walks were a lot of fun since Misha outweighed Lawson. In high school, Lawson weighed 115 pounds. Lawson admits to being a big dog kind of person.
She began college and had to give up her fur friends. They weren’t allowed in the college dorm. Upon graduation, Lawson landed spot after spot that only allowed small pets. Also loving cats, she adopted one, then two, then three, then four. Silly, Sissy, Shelley and Sweetie became her fur friends post-graduation. That very furry household started companies together and Sweetie, who thought himself a dog, would go do laps with Lawson through the neighborhood.
All of the kitties and the puppies, eventually went to Heaven, but Lawson has also enjoyed time with her friends’ cats and dogs. She is the one they have turned to for pet sitting or help when caring for a sick animal. It has been that way through Number One, Two, Three, Four (cats), Baby Dog and Sam (dogs). She played with Jill (wolf), Jack and Klipsy (dogs) and can vouch for their fur snuggles.
She will write about the breeds Chow Chow and German Shepherd here at K9deb.com. We hope you enjoy the coverage.
