Keith and Sheldon

If you’ve spent any time in the North Valley, you’ve probably met Keith the Dog Guy or at least heard about Uncle Sheldon. Keith is a positive reinforcement dog trainer in North Scottsdale, and Sheldon is his four-year-old Golden Retriever. After a fulfilling career as an Executive Chef here in the Valley, Keith realized he was ready for a change. He wasn't searching for a better job—he was looking for a better purpose. One day, while his 80-pound Golden Retriever was snoring on his feet, it struck him: "I should work with dogs." It felt right. A lifelong dog lover, Keith dove headfirst into learning everything he could. He found a school, worked relentlessly, studied, read, practiced, and fully immersed himself in the science of dog training and positive reinforcement. Dogs became his passion, and before long, he had built a reputation as one of the area's most trusted personal dog trainers, helping countless dogs and their families. But Keith had another dream. Having witnessed the comfort, joy, and connection dogs can bring, he wanted to create a team of therapy dogs and volunteers to share that magic with people across the community. This is where the Scottsdale Golden Gang came into play. Keith and Sheldon started with just one dog, and together they met incredible people with warm hearts and amazing dogs. They built lasting friendships and eventually founded the Scottsdale Golden Gang—a community of extraordinary volunteers and exceptional dogs dedicated to spreading kindness, comfort, and plenty of Golden smiles wherever they’re needed most. When they’re not training, volunteering, or making someone's day a little brighter, Keith loves spending time with his wife, Stephanie, their other Golden Retriever, Piper—better known as Sweet Baby Dog—and their little cat, Bebe, who has surprisingly demonstrated that dogs and cats can absolutely coexist…as long as the cat is in charge.