Ron Levi
DogTV Co-founder & Chief Content Officer
Before coming up with the concept of television for dogs, Ron Levi was creating television for humans. In the past 20 years, Ron served as a host on TV’s Music Channel and several daily shows on Israeli radio. His background as a TV writer for “The Amazing Race” and as a university media professor dovetails perfectly with his current role as content developer and creator for DOGTV. As the CCO of the first television network for dogs, Ron and his team spent more than 3 years researching and observing dogs in order to create the most appropriate visual and audio content. Being a professional musician also helped Ron in working with the musical talent behind DOGTV to create the music and audio sounds featured in the programing. The New York-born dog lover is committed to creating scientifically approved content that pushes the envelope of traditional human-based programming.
Katie Woolsey
Public Relations Coordinator, Escondido Humane Society
Katie Woolsey is the public relations coordinator at the Escondido Humane Society, the first and only shelter in San Diego County to provide DOGTV for its animals. Before joining the staff, Katie was a volunteer dog walker at the Escondido Humane Society for three years, during which time she quickly discovered a passion for helping animals in need. She jumped at the chance to join the EHS staff in December 2008 so she could merge her professional background, which includes writing and editing, with her desire to help homeless animals. While she wishes she could take all of the animals at the shelter home, she knows that the right home for every pet is out there … she just needs to help them find each other. Katie has one pet of her own: a 7-year-old ball-chasing black Labrador named Blue.
Connect with her at:
and read her blog at patch.com
Chad Frederick Gilbert
Doggy Pop Culture Commentator, DogTV
Chad Frederick Gilbert is thrilled to be a contributing writer to the Alpha Dog Blog. With his thumb on the pulse of the latest and greatest, Chad will bring his commentary on trending pet topics and media coverage of the pet industry to his readers. A Phoenix native, Chad moved to San Diego in June 2007 to pursue a degree at San Diego State University’s nationally ranked public relation program, and graduated Cum Laude in 2011. Besides blogging about man’s best friend, Chad’s other interests include fashion, singing karaoke, tennis, watching movies and spending time with friends. When asked what his favorite breed of dog is, he can’t narrow it down to just one. So, his top three are Yorkshire Terriers, Maltese and Pomeranians. The two Maltese Chad is pictured with are Resse and Lucy.
Connect with him at:
Erin Vejar
Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT), Woof San Diego
Erin decided to become a dog trainer after learning a very important lesson while spending time volunteering with rescue dogs: dogs who are well behaved are more likely to be adopted. Likewise, well-behaved dogs are also much more likely to keep their homes and lead happy lives. While earning her degree in Communication at University of California, San Diego, she gained her certification in pet dog training from Animal Behavior College in 2006. She gained her professional experience by volunteering with local animal shelters and rescues and apprenticing with a seasoned animal behaviorist before teaching classes at a chain pet store. She has passed the Knowledge Assessment given by the Certification Counsel for Professional Dog Trainers, proving her thorough understanding of all facets of the dog training profession, including canine ethology, the science of learning theory, animal husbandry, classroom management and technique and more. This title also requires a commitment to humane training based on scientific research. She takes pride in keeping her knowledge in the field up to date by attending continuing education seminars and workshops taught by the industry’s best dog trainers, and this continuing education is monitored through her CPDT title.
Connect with her at:
and read here blog at woofsandiego.com
Jt Clough
Author, Dog Whisperer and Canine Lifestyle Coach
Jt Clough is owner of Big Island Dog and K9 Coach Inc. She lives on the Big Island of Hawaii where she practices health, happiness and natural remedies. She has finished nine Ironman triathlons, is an author, dog whisperer and coaches people to ReVIBE. She inspires people to do that thing that they keep talking about doing. Having taken on big changes, leaving behind most of her material possessions and a successful business in San Diego to create a life her way in Hawaii with her life partner and two dogs, Jt knows just what it takes to create a life with meaning and contentment.
As a dog whisperer she teaches through the realization that dogs and people typically reflect one another’s behavior. She believes we can learn much about ourselves through our dogs. She has applied and taught others how to create a balanced lifestyle with calm dog training techniques through her lifetime commitment to health, fitness and recognizing how to break through fear.
Connect with her at:
and read her blog at Big Island Dog
Tee Taylor and Mike Fish
Pet Photographers extraordinar, OH MY DOG! Photography
Tee Taylor and Mike Fish are the visionaries behind OH MY DOG! Photography, Southern California’s premier pet photography studio that brings fashionable wall art to stylish pets and their owners. Photographers Tee and Mike run the studio with the help of Gus, their spunky 12 pound Boston Terrier. Tee and Mike credit their success to a love of animals, loads of patience, years of experience and a good sense of humor. With a studio located in San Diego’s vibrant art district of North Park, OH MY DOG! Photography draws clientele from across the country with their unique and distinctive style.
Connect with them at:
and read their blog at ohmydogphoto.com
John Reh
Owner, Dogs Love Running! and Dog Walking Franchise
John Reh is passionate about pet health. He’s the owner of Dogs Love Running!, a pet care service, and the Dog Walking Franchise where he helps pets live longer and behave better through exercise. The company is based near Chicago in Lisle, Ill.
After giving up an otherwise “good” corporate job in a non-pet related field to do something more meaningful, he applied his corporate experience and business school education to creating a unique pet business. The result is Dogs Love Running! where its flagship service is … you guessed it … running with dogs! DLR! is a unique twist on the traditional dog walking and pet sitting service as incorporates exercise into everything it does for its human and pet clients. The business was an instant success and is now a pet franchise opportunity available across the nation to those looking to work with animals for a living.
Connect with him at:
and read his blog at: dogsloverunning.com
Rick M. Tamargo
Pet Product Blogger, Haute or Not Pets
After many years (too many to mention) in the fashion and interior design industry, Rick decided to follow his bliss. Shortly after that momentous decision, Haute or Not Pets was born.
Having spent all those “too many years” being surrounded by the HAUTEST stuff that the universe had to offer for humans, Rick thought it was time to shift his love for the fabulous and the unusual from people to pets.
So with the help of his trusty canine companions Gordi and Loca, a feline or two, one guinea pig named Reeses, Paisley the horse and the contributions of various and sundry other slithering, climbing and crawling creatures, the HorN Pets Blog was rolled out. As the source for what’s new, exciting and fashion-forward in the pet product industry, NorN continues to be successful year after year.
Betsy Gallagher
Registered Dietician, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Betsy is a licensed, registered dietitian with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She holds her bachelor’s degree in nutrition and food science and her master’s degree in nutrition education. In 2000, Betsy was recognized in the “Top Docs for Women” issue of the “Philadelphia Magazine.” The same year Betsy decided to focus her expertise in companion animal nutrition and began working for Hills Pet Nutrition.
With her background in the science of nutrition, Betsy’s goal is to help pet parents make educated choices when choosing a food for their pets. She feels that there is an overwhelming amount of misinformation that marketing firms are using to sell pet food products. Betsy believes that by focusing on the facts, and looking for the science to support health and marketing claims, we can better care for our pets’ nutritional needs.
Betsy enjoys spending time with Mitzi, her (awesome) adopted Jack Russell terrier. She also enjoys horseback riding on her ranch and playing tennis with her husband and two children.