Shark & Paws K9

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Shark & Paws K9 Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Shark & Paws K9, Dog trainer, Santa Ana, CA.

K9 Development Strategist: Behavioral Consultant | NAVC Pet Nutrition Coach | TCCC/TECC | SARTECH III | Educator in K9 Disaster Prep | Specializing in high-drive breeds, safety protocols, and structured care for companion & working-line dogs.

10/05/2026

No more messing with flimsy plastic window screens or wrestling with channels. Solid metal security for the working pack. 💪🏻

October is National Pit Bull Awareness Month, so let’s talk about one very special “pit‑type” girl who changed my entire...
10/03/2026

October is National Pit Bull Awareness Month, so let’s talk about one very special “pit‑type” girl who changed my entire world.

This is Stormborn Lady Freyja — my "mutt," my lifeline, my working partner, and the dog who proved that bully breeds deserve far better than the stigma they’re handed.

Freyja’s story didn’t start pretty.
Her entire litter was going to be drowned because someone “didn’t want them.”
My friend in Louisiana stepped in, rescued all the puppies, and gave them all a chance at life. Freyja was originally spoken for, but fate had other plans — she glued herself to my late Service Dog, Miss Daisey, and Daisey (reluctantly) took her under her wing. When her adopter fell through, she became mine… and eventually became Daisey’s successor.

She’s stubborn (thanks, 35% APBT DNA), brilliant and loyal (25% German Shepherd DNA), sassy (9% Malamute DNA), and blessed with a nose that could find a Tic Tac in a tornado (10% Bloodhound DNA).
She’s a mutt — but she’s our mutt, and she takes her job seriously.

Freyja works full‑time with me at MSU football games to keep my brain in check.
She’s AKC registered (All-American Dog), Barn Hunt registered, and has assisted in local search situations (nothing official yet, but she would absolutely crush it). She knows when to clock in, and she knows when to flop in a hammock and smile like she invented joy.

I grew up with Shepherds. I wasn’t a “pit bull person.” Not because of stigma — just because I loved the breeds I knew. But Freyja showed me exactly what these dogs are capable of when they’re raised with structure, purpose, and love. The news loves negativity, but dogs like her prove the truth: breed doesn’t define behavior — ownership does.

So this month, I want to see your pitties living their best lives.
Share your photos. Tell me their stardom moments. Show off their blocky heads, their goofy grins, their victories, their resilience.

Let’s flood October with the stories that actually deserve to be told.

Who I Am & Why I Do This: The Raw Story Behind SPK9 🐾If you’ve been following Shark & Paws K9, you know my approach isn'...
09/26/2026

Who I Am & Why I Do This: The Raw Story Behind SPK9 🐾

If you’ve been following Shark & Paws K9, you know my approach isn't built on cookie-cutter obedience drills or trend-chasing. I don’t separate behavior from biology, and I refuse to label complex, high-drive, or misunderstood dogs as "broken."

But how did SPK9 actually start?

The textbooks, certifications, and background in military service, emergency response, and SARTECH search operations only tell half the story. The real foundation was built in the trenches—shaped by the specific dogs in my life who challenged everything I thought I knew, tested every ounce of my patience, and taught me how to truly understand canine behavior from the inside out.

From the partner who became my absolute lifeline during a brutal chapter of my life, to the relentless "too much" dog who proved that physical exercise means nothing without mental boundaries and structure—every lesson earned has shaped the strategist I am today.

I finally put the full, unfiltered story into words. If you want to know where SPK9 came from, which dogs taught me each piece of the puzzle, and why I advocate so fiercely for the dogs other people give up on, read the story here.

Please drop a comment below and say hi!
Let me know: what breed or working partner are you navigating life with right now? 👇

There has been a growing trend in local discussions where people ask for “Fear Free only” dog trainers. As a behavior‑fo...
09/26/2026

There has been a growing trend in local discussions where people ask for “Fear Free only” dog trainers. As a behavior‑forward training service, SPK9 is committed to clarity, accuracy, and ethical communication — and this is an area where terminology is being misunderstood and misapplied.

Fear Free™ is not a dog‑training credential. It is a veterinary‑industry certification designed to reduce stress during medical procedures, grooming, and cooperative care. It teaches low‑stress handling for clinical environments. It does not certify someone as a trainer, does not evaluate training skill, and does not cover behavior modification or real‑world training needs.

Because of this, using “Fear Free™” as a requirement for ethical dog training is based on a misunderstanding of what the certification actually represents.

At the same time, many people are unintentionally confusing Fear Free™ with Force‑Free training, and even R+ (Positive reinforcement) only training. These are two entirely different concepts:

Fear Free™ = veterinary handling certification.
Force‑Free = a dog‑training ideology that avoids all forms of pressure or consequence.

Neither term is interchangeable, and neither defines ethical training on its own.

Here is what Fear Free™ does not address:
aggression or reactivity
resource guarding
household dynamics
obedience or structure
impulse control
training methodology or ethics

It also does not prohibit all forms of pressure or consequence. It is not designed to guide training decisions, evaluate trainer competence, or define humane practice in the training field.

When Fear Free™ or Force‑Free labels are used as moral gatekeeping tools, they unintentionally exclude qualified professionals based on terminology rather than skill, education, or results. Ethical training is defined by welfare, transparency, evidence, and integrity — not by one specific certification or ideology.

SPK9 supports owners in finding trainers who align with their values, but we also believe in using accurate terminology so people can make informed decisions. Positive reinforcement, balanced training, cooperative care, and low‑stress handling are all different concepts — and understanding those differences helps owners find the right professional for their dog’s needs.

Fear Free™ is valuable for what it was designed for.
Force‑Free is a training philosophy.
Neither is a universal measure of ethical dog training.

SPK9 remains committed to evidence‑based methods, humane structure, and clear communication — and to helping our community navigate terminology with accuracy and confidence.

I finally switched to the Starfire Meta glasses (Kylie edition) — and the transitional lenses are a total game‑changer. ...
09/10/2026

I finally switched to the Starfire Meta glasses (Kylie edition) — and the transitional lenses are a total game‑changer. I can actually wear Meta glasses at night now without feeling like I’m stumbling around in dark sunglasses. Cloudy days, dusk, full night visits… I stay hands‑free and fully able to see what I’m doing.

No more juggling my phone in the dark or trying to capture updates while squinting through tinted Wayfarers. These glasses let me record, snap photos, and stay connected while keeping both hands free for the pets who deserve all the luvins and all the attention.

Better visibility. Better workflow. Better care — even after sunset.

With the Missouri State Bears football season underway, I want to give everyone a heads-up! Because of mandatory overtim...
09/08/2026

With the Missouri State Bears football season underway, I want to give everyone a heads-up!

Because of mandatory overtime at my full-time job, I will be unavailable during all MSU home games this season.

If you're not tracking the schedule for home games at Robert W. Plaster Stadium, here are the dates and times when I'll be locked into my shift work:
Saturday, Sept. 12 vs. Lindenwood — 6:00 PM
Saturday, Sept. 19 vs. Marshall — 5:30 PM
Wednesday, Oct. 14 vs. Kennesaw State — 6:30 PM
Tuesday, Oct. 27 vs. Sam Houston — 7:00 PM
Saturday, Nov. 14 vs. New Mexico State — 2:00 PM
Saturday, Nov. 28 vs. Liberty — 1:00 PM

Thank you all so much for your continued patience and understanding as I juggle both schedules. Feel free to reach out ahead of time if you need to coordinate around these blocks!

Go Bears! 🐻

08/28/2026

We sits after we sh*ts. 😂
Loki knows the drill. Nyx is re‑learning because two weeks of no long walks means we apparently forget EVERY life skill we ever had.

Today’s lesson:
We don’t yank the human while they’re trying to pick up the 💩.
We sit.
We wait.
We act like civilized members of society.

The Conehead Graduates are officially back in training—with Loki as teacher.

Today we celebrate the noses, the paws, the wiggles, the chaos, the loyalty, and the unconditional love that make our li...
08/27/2026

Today we celebrate the noses, the paws, the wiggles, the chaos, the loyalty, and the unconditional love that make our lives better every single day.

From the working dogs who give their all…
to the spicy little gremlins who keep us humble…
to the seniors who’ve earned every gray whisker…
to the puppies who think gravity is optional…

They’re family. They’re purpose. They’re joy.
And we’re honored to be part of their journey.

Drop a photo of your four‑legged crew — let’s fill this space with the faces that make our world brighter.

Happy National Dog Day from SPK9! 🐾❤️

I go away for one week and Driversnote is out here sending wellness checks like, “Hey… you good? Haven’t seen you drive ...
08/21/2026

I go away for one week and Driversnote is out here sending wellness checks like, “Hey… you good? Haven’t seen you drive in 4 days.”

Sir, I’ve been in California learning, networking, and petting airport golden retrievers. I promise the mileage chaos will resume shortly. 😂

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Santa Ana, CA
65803

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