About Steve Brooks K9U
Santa Cruz-based Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) — positive, reward-based in-home training throughout Santa Cruz County.
Credentials
- • Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA)
- • Professional Member of APDT (Association of Professional Dog Trainers)
- • Member of Pet Professional Guild (Force-Free Training)
- • Licensed Presenter for Family Paws
- • Author of "Dog Bites" Training Book
- • Previous Contributor, Fido Friendly Magazine
- • Successfully trained over 25,000 dogs
Steve Brooks is a Santa Cruz-based Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) who has been teaching dogs a solid foundation of real-life manners and solving behavioral problems of all kinds for more than 30 years.
Today Steve lives and works in the Santa Cruz area, offering private in-home training and behavior consulting throughout Santa Cruz County — Santa Cruz, Capitola, Aptos, Soquel, Live Oak, Pleasure Point, Scotts Valley, Felton, and Watsonville — plus virtual coaching for clients everywhere. He lives with his wife, Yasmine, and their dog Uni.
As a CPDT-KA, a credential granted by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), Steve completed rigorous tests on humane training practices using the latest scientific knowledge related to dog training. He offers workshops and seminars and attends conferences across the United States and is a Professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT).
In 2005, Steve was one of the first non-veterinarian experts invited to attend the Post-Graduate Institute for Applied Clinical Behavioral Medicine at the North American Veterinary Conference, headed by Dr. Karen Overall.
Steve works with dogs of every age and every need — puppies, adult and senior dogs, deaf and blind dogs — and helps families choose the right dog before they bring one home. As a licensed Family Paws presenter, he also prepares expecting parents and families with toddlers for life with a dog and a baby.
"From first-time puppy owners to rescues to seniors and disabled dogs — I specialize in behavior problems of all kinds and teach a solid foundation of real-life manners to dogs of all breeds and all ages."
— Steve Brooks, CPDT-KA
The Story of Steve Brooks K9U
Before making Santa Cruz home, Steve spent more than two decades training dogs in Los Angeles. Steve Brooks K9U, founded in Los Angeles in 1999, was inspired by the memory of Steve's four-legged soul mate, "Sven the Love Dog", and maintains the philosophy of giving dogs a solid foundation of "real-life manners"; modifying behavior problems; and teaching tricks to keep training fun!
Thousands of dogs have graduated from Steve Brooks K9U with a diploma; evidence that they've completed a customized training program that brings families and dogs together by teaching leadership and mutual respect.
Media Engagements, Speaking & Appearances
Steve Brooks' appearances on national and international television mean humans around the world can participate in creative, customized Reward-Based Canine Training. Broadcasters from Canada to Japan to Australia have profiled him.
Steve also appeared as a dog training expert on the Blu-ray DVD Marley and Me, in the Dog Training Trivia section where he teaches his positive, Reward-Based Training methods.
Notable Clients
During his Los Angeles years and beyond, Steve Brooks K9U has trained everyday dog lovers and Hollywood celebrities with great success:
Professional Development
A small selection of seminars, workshops, conferences, and certifications Steve has attended:
Family Paws Presenter's Course
Jennifer Shryock
Family Paws Course 1 & 2
Jennifer Shryock
Super Seminars for Hosts and Speakers
Nicole Wilde
APDT Annual Conference
Multiple Speakers
Basic Behavioral Neuroanatomy
Dr. Lore Haug
Click-a-Chick Training Course
Terry Ryan
ClickerExpo Conference
Karen Pryor
4-Day Aggression Seminar
John Rogerson
Cues and Behavior Chains
Kathy Sdao MA CAAB
Applied Clinical Behavioral Medicine
Dr. Karen Overall
Canine Social Behavior
Dr. Ian Dunbar
Work With Steve in Santa Cruz County
In-home training across Santa Cruz, Capitola, Aptos, Soquel, Live Oak, Pleasure Point, Scotts Valley and beyond — or virtual coaching from anywhere. Call for a free consultation.