Hi, I’m Barb Darbey, Owner and creator of Dog Owner Education.

Besides being a dog lover, I am a Christian, wife, mother, grandmother, knitter & crocheter. I would definitely knit or crochet with dog hair. And I would wear it. In public.

I love people, and I love helping people. I believe in educating yourself and helping others to educate themselves by showing them where to find the best information and resources to make life easier, less expensive, and more fun. I’m also one of those “crazy” people who avoid soy, high fructose corn syrup, and gmo’s.

I am Owner and past Breeder of MacKay Kennels Rottweilers.
I believed that a well-rounded dog should be trained and socialized as a puppy, so much that I stopped breeding so I could focus on training puppies and dogs, and educating the owners of all breeds. You’ll find more about my  breeding practices on the Breeder Advice page.

Dog Trainer at Elite K-9 Training
Elite K-9 is where I learned nearly everything I know about dog training. Karen, who is the Owner and Head Trainer, also believes there is more to a well-rounded dog than just obedience training.

She has added pack leadership and even feeding advice to the training introduction of her Group Obedience classes. Check her out on the web at Elite K-9 Training, and be sure to use her for training and doggy daycare if you live near Warren, Ohio. Karen is a really great dog trainer!

I am Founder and past President of Shelter Puppies, Inc, a 501c(3) non-profit shelter located in NE Ohio, that not only rescues abused and abandoned puppies, but provides them with vet care (flea/tick medication, necessary vaccinations, microchip), spay/neuter, and basic obedience training before placing them in their furever home. Puppies are kept in foster homes where they interact with family and other pets, instead of a kennel environment. Visit Shelter Puppies, Inc.

My current status is as Blogger and Owner of Dog Owner Education, where it is my goal to Educate with Kindness. I believe people should be lifted up to a higher level, and should not be put down because they haven’t been informed or led to a higher level.

Education should come through leadership, not by domination through threat and ridicule. ~ Barb Darbey

It’s a pet peeve of mine to see people ridicule others because they don’t see eye-to-eye, especially on dog care. There are those whose animals may appear to be lacking – not because the owner is abusive, but because that’s how the dog’s owners were raised, and it worked.

Growing up, they probably had a dog that lived to a ripe old age, and they’re now caring for their own dog the very same way. Trust me, if you go at them like a crazy person, they will not be receptive to your view. Remember to Educate with Kindness.

Some things you will hear from me that you may not agree with – these are my opinion, and you are welcome to politely disagree.

• Table scraps are (mostly) okay.
• A raw diet is better than commercial dog food.
• A good homemade diet is also better than commercial dog food.
• Dogs are pets, not humans.
• A human is more important than a dog.
• Breeding dogs (when done properly) is okay.
• Only the weak need to put someone below themselves.

Be Strong, Dog Lovers, and Lead!