We’ve created The Dog People Panel to answer pet parents everyday dog care questions, from how to teach your dog new tricks to the best ways to bond with your puppy. We’ll be partnering with specialists in a variety of fields who can provide expert guidance and advice to pet parents to help them take great care of their best friend.
All of the members of The Dog People Panel share our passion for dogs and are committed to improving the quality of care that all dogs receive. Learn more about them below.
Nicole Ellis
Nicole is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), American Kennel Club CGC evaluator and APDT trainer. Using positive reinforcement methods Nicole has trained hundreds of animals from basic behavior and puppy manners, to trick training, therapy work, and service dog training. Nicole believes with love and positive reinforcement we can train any dog.
With over 15 years of animal training experience, Nicole works with everything from bears to tigers to horses to cats and dogs. Her dog, Maggie, was adopted from a city shelter and performs in films and commercials, visits hospitals, puts on shows, does demonstrations, and knows over 100 commands from skateboarding to handstands. Nicole and Maggie have been seen on such shows as The Today Show, ABC, NBC, Nightline, and more.
Nicole is also the author of “Working Like A Dog,” which provides a window into the world of working animals. She loves to travel, see new places, ride naughty ponies, and try to change the world with Maggie at her feet.
Dr. Gary Richter
Dr. Gary Richter, M.S., D.V.M., C.V.C., C.V.A., is a graduate of the University of Florida with a B.S. in animal science, an M.S. in veterinary medical science, and a doctorate of veterinary medicine with honors. Since 2002, he has been the owner and medical director of Montclair Veterinary Hospital in Oakland, California, and he launched Holistic Veterinary Care in 2009. Dr. Richter is certified in veterinary acupuncture as well as veterinary chiropractic and uses these therapies along with his veterinary medical education to achieve better outcomes for his patients.
Dr. Richter and his two animal hospitals have received more than 30 local and national awards, including Best Veterinary Hospital, Best Veterinarian, Best Canine Therapy Facility and Best Alternative Medicine Provider. Montclair Veterinary Hospital was named one of the top ten veterinary hospitals in 2013 while Dr. Richter was named one of the top ten veterinarians in the United States for 2012, and America’s Favorite Veterinarian in 2015 by the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF). For more information on Gary’s work, as well as pet health resources to complement the book, please visit: PetVetExpert.com.
Philip Tedeschi
Kiki Kane
Dog Chef and Blogger Kiki Kane has been has been writing about pets and internet culture since 2009. Her passion for creating healthy foods and treats for dogs began when her older dog Rudy was diagnosed with cancer and needed to keep his appetite, weight, and spirits up as they enjoyed their last year of life together. From hearty bone broths to fancy birthday cakes, Kiki explores every foodie avenue to bring you the best and simplest recipes to create nourishing treats for your four legged loved one. Simple fixes like upgrading the quality of ingredients in favorite recipes (like replacing wheat flour with gluten free oat flour) to cutting out the unhealthy fats and sugars, Kiki takes the guesswork out of cooking for your dog without sacrificing the flavors and aromas that tantalize the taste buds.
