“Trainer To The Stars”

This week it was brought to my attention that LA-based “dog trainer-to-the-stars” ******* (*name of business owner omitted by Dog Star Daily editorial staff) had copied my Valentine’s Day article for PetPlace.com for his enewsletter ******* and attributed authorship to himself. I emailed him and told him that plagiarism was dishonest and illegal and that the material was copyrighted. Here was his website’s public response (which was similar to a personal email sent to me):

"Hello ****** family. My name is John Doe*, a long time assistant of ******. It is my job to help do all the repetitions of the behavior programs ****** create (sic) for your dogs and as of last November to write the ****** newsletter. It has come to my attention that I have inadvertently attached (business owner’s name omitted) name to articles in our newsletters.

One entitled "Can You Teach Your Dog To Love You" for this I am truly sorry. It was not my or this newsletters intent to mislead anyone. Our purpose is and always has been to inform you on animal relate (sic) issues and community activities. I am resigning as editor of the newsletter and hope you do not hold (business owner’s name), ****** or anyone else to blame for my mistakes.

For over 20 years (business owner’s name) has created a large community of activist, care givers and clients that care deeply about animal issues. My hope is that my actions do not cause you to doubt his efforts, commitment to you, commitment to your companions and his spreading the word of healthy compassionate living. It is with a heavy heart that I step down because of my mistakes and hope that you do not allow this to affect your trust in ****** (business owner’s name), or our Newsletter. god bless you all.

John Dow"

Note that “John Doe/Dow” seems to have difficulty spelling his name and does not appear to be a particularly careful copy editor. Also, he seems somewhat sycophantish regarding his boss. I wondered whether “John” and ****** might be one and the same person. My curiosity was peaked so I checked ***** out and I found mention of him on the Internet.

******, the business owner, seems to be one of the country’s leading deadbeat dads and is cleaning up in Southern California charging celebrities inordinate sums for what may or may not be the best advice. So this man is dishonest in more than one way: he has stiffed his family, hidden from the law, claimed other peoples’ work as his own, has liberally posted copyrighted material on his own website, and may be using more than one identity. If you run into this sketchy guy, especially if you have money and are gullible, you’d better watch out. Buyers beware. Nick Dodman

* Names have been changed or omitted by Dog Star Daily editorial staff