OUR MISSION
At K9 of Mine, our goal is to bring readers the very best dog care resources and info to help owners better care for their canine companions.
After all, we believe man’s best friends deserve the best treatment!
We cover a wide range of topics, from dog nutrition, diet, grooming, and overall health to training resources, behavior issues, gear recommendations, and breed profiles.
DEDICATED TO FORCE-FREE TRAINING
Scientific research into canine behavior has shown that positive reinforcement-focused, force-free training is the most effective, safest way to train a dog.
K9 of Mine is committed to force-free training methods that do not use aversive methods like prong collars, choke collars, shock collars, or harsh leash corrections that have been shown to increase stress and anxiety, damage dog and owner relationships, and potentially increase aggression.
We may (rarely) have content about these tools and methods, but always with the aim of education and demonstrating why such tools are not recommended and cause more harm than good.
SCIENCE-BACKED RESEARCH
There is a lot of misinformation on the internet when it comes to caring for your canine. At K9 of Mine, we only give you the research-backed truth while leaving out the myths. We’ll show you the studies that support our positions so you can fact-check yourself!
That’s also why we have experts on staff, from certified dog trainers who understand dog psychology, to practicing veterinarians, we consult with real-world experts to make sure you’re getting the best, most reliable information.
OUR TEAM
Our team of experts and all-around awesome individuals at K9 of Mine
Megan Marrs
Founder
Megan is a dog trainer and the founder of K9 of Mine, starting the site as a tribute to her childhood dog Benzy. An avid dog enthusiast since childhood, her goal is to help owners develop better, richer relationships with their pets through compassion and understanding.
When not managing K9 of Mine, Megan spends time training her own rescue pit bull mix Remy, attending digital lectures on positive reinforcement-based training, and volunteering at local animal shelters, where she tends to dogs with a variety of behavior issues.
Ben Team
Managing Editor
In addition to being a dedicated dog dad, writer, and the editor for K9 of Mine, Ben is a lifelong environmental educator and animal care professional, who’s worked with species ranging from crocodilians to invertebrates.
Passionate about animal welfare and the value pets provide their people, Ben has been profiled in a variety of media outlets, including local public television, Countyline Magazine, and Disney Radio. He’s currently trying to avoid making eye contact with his beloved Rottie, who wants to go to the park. Again.
Kayla Fratt
Trainer + Writer
Kayla Fratt is an Associate Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and is a member of Dog Writer’s Association of America.
Kayla has previously worked at Denver Dumb Friends League as a Behavior Technician. She owns her own dog training business, Journey Dog Training, and holds a degree in biology from Colorado College. When she’s not writing or training her border collie Barley, Kayla enjoys cross-country skiing, eating sushi, drinking cocktails, and going backpacking.
Andrea Carter
Trainer + Writer
Andrea Carter is a Certified Training Partner with the Karen Pryor Academy (KPA CTP) and is a training content writer for K9 Of Mine. Andrea has previously helped a plethora of quirky homeless dogs make their way through the shelter system as a member of Austin Animal Center’s Behavior & Enrichment Team, volunteered as a Guest Trainer at Service Dogs, Inc., and encouraged people and their dogs to begin a lifetime of learning together as a Lead Pet Trainer at a Petsmart.
She is in the process of starting her own dog training business, Smart & Happy Dog Training, and believes that smart dogs are happy dogs! When she’s not working with training clients and writing, Andrea stays busy building a tiny house and performing duties as her eco-village’s resident chicken wrangler.
Kelsey Leicht
Content Editor
Kelsey is a lover of words and woofs. She worked hands-on with dogs for several years at a boarding kennel as a shift runner and office manager before venturing into the world of writing. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, four dogs, some kitties, and two grumpy turtles.
Kate Brunotts
Writer
Kate is a dog-loving content specialist with over a decade of canine-care experience.
She is currently a professional dog walker and pet sitter, with previous experience working at the Heart of Chelsea Animal Hospital in Manhattan. Kate loves dogs of all shapes and sizes, but Bernese Mountain Dogs hold a special place in her heart.
Jo De Kerk
Veterinarian
Jo is a graduate of the Royal Veterinary College, London. She has a Masters degree in Tropical Animal Health and is pursuing a PhD through the University of Warwick in Zoonotic Disease Modelling.
Jo has spent most of her career working in mixed veterinary practice. She is a published author of several books, and enjoys working as a freelance veterinary writer around her clinical work. Some of her most well-known work includes books, Tales from a Young Vet, Tales from a Wild Vet, and The Complete Guide to… dog breed series.
Jocelyn Okamoto
Video Creator
Jocelyn is our resident DIYer. While her background ranges from fashion design to finance, she’s her happiest whenever she’s creating things with her hands. She volunteers at her local dog rescue and has a huge soft spot in her heart for pit bulls.
Her childhood pittie/lab mix, Nami changed her life and she is currently raising a rescue pit bull puppy with her boyfriend in LA.
HOW WE MAKE MONEY
K9 of Mine generates revenue by participating in several affiliate programs, which provide us with a small commission when we send them traffic that generates a sale. We also have display ads on the site that help generate additional revenue. In some cases, we may also accept a sponsored placement fee from brands who want a certain product reviewed by our team.
This is how we are able to pay our writers, fund our expert consultants, and keep the lights on. Rest assured that we will always put you and your dog before profits – we never recommend products, training resources, or tools that we consider unsafe or unethical. Even when we are paid to review products, we always do so objectively and with our readers in mind. We always disclose any issues or drawback to a product we are reviewing, regardless of any sponsorship fee.
The goal of any business is to generate revenue, but we promise at K9 of Mine, that will never be at the expense of your furry friends’ wellbeing!