As a dog trainer in the Philippines I have often been told, “You must be living the dream. You get to play with dogs everyday!” While this is definitely true, pursuing my dream has had its challenges and it was a long journey before I realized that working with dogs was my passion and purpose.
Growing up, I was always surrounded by animals. My Dad loved having pigeons, roosters and dogs. As a toddler, I had a German Shepherd mix beside me or sleeping with me. He was given to my father as a gift and eventually passed from old age, but the memories of my furry companion are ever so vivid and cherished.
As an adult, I didn’t have a dog and missed it. The internet did wonders for me because through it, I got in touch with a dog rescue and I started to volunteer in 2013. Little did I know that visiting rescued dogs every weekend would eventually lead to me discovering my passion.
I went from casually volunteering at the rescue to working full time as the on-site supervisor of their large scale kennel. The rescue had many dogs that experienced a wide range of traumas, backgrounds, and ailments. This proved incredibly challenging and it was never just a 9-5 shift. I had to be available and on call 24/7 for anything and everything the dogs needed. This also meant not being able to attend gatherings with loved ones or barely seeing them in a year.
While there were perks to working with dogs, like seeing their progress and getting to hug them daily, this also meant sacrifice.
It was worth it. Working at the kennel helped me grow into who I am today and it solidified my decision that being around dogs, helping dogs with their behavioral issues and improving their quality of life was something I wanted to pursue as a career.
In 2019, I took a leap of faith to pursue dog training full time. I moved my entire life and my animals back to Manila and into a quaint apartment. I started taking in dogs for boarding and training - this was the birth of South City K9. I started small with faith that my vision of a beautiful property perfect for my passion would come to fruition.
Fast forward to today, in the middle of a global pandemic, South City K9 finally moved to a property with a large yard that enables me to train dogs much more efficiently and effectively. I have also found trusted business partners who aren’t afraid to get their hands a little muddy and want to see SCK9 succeed. I have built a family around my passion caring for dogs and feel truly fulfilled.
My journey leading to South City K9 has been quite an experience! I am excited to share this journey with everyone and am humbled by all of your trust and support. We are just getting started :)
It’s Dog or Nothing 🐾
Keith
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