Renowned Certified Dog Trainer, Behavior Specialist, and Founder
Graham Bloem, originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, is a dedicated dog trainer and behavior specialist with over 24 years of experience. After moving to Toronto, Canada, and later settling in San Diego, California, Graham earned his certification as an Animal Behavior College Certified Dog Trainer (ABCDT) in 2002. He has since devoted his life to improving the bond between dogs and their owners.
Graham's extensive experience includes head dog trainer roles at nationally renowned dogs rescue centers and humane societies, where he specialized in behavior modification and saved countless dogs from uncertain futures. He founded West Coast K9 and served as a senior mentor trainer for Animal Behavior College, sharing his expertise with aspiring trainers.
Graham has trained famous war-zone rescue dogs, including Nubs and Lava, featured in NY Times Best Sellers. He has also contributed to developing innovative dog interaction devices like CleverPet. Currently, he is the Owner and CEO of Specialty Dog Training and the Co-Founder of Shelter to Soldier™, a nonprofit providing trained rescue dogs to military personnel with PTSD.
Graham, a proud father of four, attributes much of his success to his wife, Kyrié, who shares his passion for helping dogs and veterans through their non-profit work.
Achievements
Owner & CEO of Specialty Dog Training
Certified Dog Trainer and Mentor Trainer with Animal Behavior College.
CoFounder & President of Shelter to Soldier™
Recipient of the ABC10 News Leadership Award, CBS8 Change Maker Award, Waggy Award for Animal Welfare, Honeywell Life Safety Award, and American Red Cross Real Heroes Award.
Former Advisor and Chief Dog Trainer for CleverPet, LLC.
Trainer for famous rescue dogs, Nubs Dennis and Lava Kopelman.
Consultant to pet-related businesses, including shelters, pet resorts, and veterinary hospitals.
Features and honorable mentions on local, national and global news outlets and talk shows like ABC World News, CNN, Ellen, Today Show, Tonight Show, and Good Morning America.
Contributor to Dog Fancy Magazine and Dog’s Life Magazine.
