About Me
Helping you understand your dog — through real experience, not guesswork
Hi, I’m Sharon — founder of Dog Care Knowledge.
I’ve spent over 30 years caring for dogs, including running my own dog daycare and working through plenty of real-life challenges with my own dogs. Here, I combine that hands-on experience with careful research to help you better understand your dog and feel more confident about their care.
- 30+ years of hands-on experience
- Former dog daycare owner
- Certified in canine behavior & natural pet health
About Dog Care Knowledge
I created Dog Care Knowledge to make caring for your dog a little less confusing. There’s a lot of information out there, and it isn’t always easy to know what applies to your dog or what to do next.
Here you’ll find clear, practical guidance on everything from raising a puppy and understanding your dog’s growth to everyday care, behavior and common health concerns. My aim is to explain things in a way that makes sense, so you can make more informed decisions about your dog’s care.
Why I Started Dog Care Knowledge
I’ve always talked about dogs — probably more than most — so creating Dog Care Knowledge felt like a natural step.
Over the years, I found myself constantly looking for answers: Why is my dog doing that? Is this normal? Should I be worried? What can I do to help? Running a dog daycare showed me that other dog owners were asking many of the same questions.
I created this site to share what I’ve learned from caring for my own dogs, working with many more at the daycare, and researching the questions that come up along the way — in a way that’s practical, easy to understand and useful in real life.
More Than 30 Years of Life With Dogs
Over the past 30+ years, I’ve shared my home with six dogs — five German Shepherds and Buster, a rescued Labrador mix. Usually two at a time, I should add!
I’ve raised dogs from puppyhood, worked through house training, socialization and behavior challenges, and cared for them through the health problems and changes that come with different stages of life.
Living with dogs for that long teaches you something a textbook can’t: every dog is an individual. What works beautifully for one may do absolutely nothing for another — something my own dogs have reminded me of many times over the years.
The Challenges That Taught Me the Most
Of course, 30+ years with dogs hasn’t all been puppy cuddles and wagging tails. I’ve dealt with my fair share of health problems too — particularly with my German Shepherds.
Hudson suffered badly from dry, flaky and itchy skin and later developed Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), which eventually left him unable to use his back legs. Once he could no longer scratch an itch himself, keeping his skin comfortable took on a whole new importance.
Ava has kept me learning in different ways. She’s dealt with recurring allergies and ear problems and, much more frighteningly, two episodes of bloat. One required emergency surgery when her stomach twisted.
Experiences like these taught me to ask better questions, research more carefully and pay close attention to what was — and wasn’t — helping my individual dog. They also taught me something equally important: knowing when a problem is something you can manage at home and when your dog needs veterinary care.
Running My Own Dog Daycare
My experience with dogs expanded considerably when I founded K9 to 5 Doggie Day Care. What started with just a few dogs grew into a busy daycare where my team and I cared for 20–30 dogs each day.
Spending every day around that many dogs gave me experience I could never have gained from my own dogs alone. I worked with different breeds, ages, personalities and temperaments, and saw everything from separation anxiety and behavior challenges to upset stomachs, cut paws and puppies determined to get into absolutely everything.
It also showed me just how differently dogs can respond to the same situation. Learning to observe those differences — rather than assuming every dog needs the same approach — is something that has stayed with me ever since.
My Training & Qualifications
Hands-on experience has taught me a great deal, but I’ve also backed that experience with formal study. My training has helped deepen my understanding of canine behavior, everyday care and some of the different approaches owners may encounter when caring for their dogs.
- Understanding the Canine/Human Interface
Animal Care College · 1996 - Natural Health Care for Pets
Penn Foster Career School · 2019 - Accredited Petcare Professional
National Register of Accredited Petcare Professionals · 2019
How I Approach Dog Care
Alongside my hands-on experience, I take a research-driven approach to the information I share on Dog Care Knowledge.
I research each topic carefully, using reputable sources and current guidance alongside what I’ve learned from years of caring for dogs. When I have relevant first-hand experience, I’ll share that too — but I won’t pretend to have experienced something I haven’t.
My goal is to take sometimes complicated information and explain it clearly, so you understand what it means for your dog, what you can reasonably do yourself, and when it’s time to involve your vet.
What Dogs Have Taught Me
After all these years, perhaps the biggest thing dogs have taught me is not to assume. Two dogs can have the same problem and need completely different approaches.
A few lessons have stayed with me:
Behavior is communication
What looks like “bad behavior” often makes more sense once you stop and ask what the dog may be trying to communicate.
Consistency usually beats perfection
You don’t have to get everything right. A sensible approach you can stick with is often more useful than constantly searching for the perfect one.
Know your individual dog
What’s normal for one dog isn’t necessarily normal for another. Changes in your own dog’s behavior, appetite, movement or habits can tell you a lot.
And know when you need help
There are plenty of everyday things we can manage ourselves, but good dog care also means recognizing when something needs a trainer, behavior professional or veterinarian.
What Can Dog Care Knowledge Help You With?
Whether you’re raising a new puppy, trying to understand a change in your dog’s health or behavior, or simply want to take better care of them day to day, Dog Care Knowledge is here to help you make sense of what’s going on and decide what to do next.
Not sure where to start? Explore one of the main areas below.
Dog Care Tips
Practical help with the everyday questions that come with caring for a dog.
Dog Skin Conditions
Understand common dog skin problems, what may be causing them, and when it’s time to involve your vet.
Puppy Information
Guidance for navigating puppy growth, development, care and those inevitable “is this normal?” moments.
Dog Weight Charts
Breed-specific puppy growth charts and tools to help you understand how your puppy is developing.
A quick note about veterinary care
Dog Care Knowledge is here to help you better understand and care for your dog, but it isn’t a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If your dog is unwell, injured or you’re concerned about their health, always contact your veterinarian.