Graham Bloem

Co-Founder & President

Founder & CEO, Specialty Dog Training
Professional Dog Trainer • Behavior Expert • Author • Entrepreneur

Graham Bloem is the Co-Founder and President of Shelter to Soldier™, a California nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of veterans, first responders and others in need through highly trained service dogs and the human-animal bond.

With more than 25 years of experience in the professional dog care and training industry, Graham has built a career that combines canine behavior, business leadership, animal welfare and community service. He began working professionally in the pet industry in 1999, gaining early experience in pet nutrition, animal care and management before pursuing formal dog-training education through Animal Behavior College, where he graduated as an Animal Behavior College Certified Dog Trainer (ABCDT).

His early professional career included work with respected animal welfare organizations including Helen Woodward Animal Center and Rancho Coastal Humane Society. He later founded and developed dog-training businesses and today serves as Founder & CEO of Specialty Dog Training, leading a professional team serving families throughout Southern California and clients nationwide.

In 2012, Graham helped establish Shelter to Soldier with a vision of creating meaningful partnerships between dogs and people whose lives could be transformed by them. As Co-Founder and President, he has helped build and lead the organization from its early stages into an established service-dog nonprofit. His leadership spans program development, canine training standards, organizational growth, fundraising, partnerships, community outreach and long-term strategy.

Graham’s work with Shelter to Soldier reflects both his canine expertise and his experience building mission-driven organizations. He has helped develop the systems, team, facilities and partnerships needed to select, train, match and support service-dog teams while expanding the organization’s capacity to serve more people and dogs.

Throughout his career, Graham has worked with thousands of dogs and families, including complex behavior cases, family companions, working dogs and service dogs. He also worked with internationally known war-zone rescue dogs Lava and Nubs, whose stories were featured in bestselling books and national media.

Graham’s leadership, animal-welfare work and community service have been recognized with honors including the American Red Cross Real Heroes Award, 10News Leadership Award, CBS8 Change It Up Award, Waggy Award for Animal Welfare and Honeywell Life Safety Award. He has appeared across local, national and international television, radio, print and digital media and continues to serve as a resource on service dogs, canine behavior, animal welfare and the human-canine relationship.

In addition to his nonprofit leadership and professional training work, Graham is an author, educator and pet-industry consultant. His children’s book, I’m On Duty, introduces young readers to the important role service dogs play in the lives of people with disabilities.

Today, Graham continues to lead Shelter to Soldier alongside its board, staff, volunteers, donors and community partners, with a focus on responsible growth, strong service-dog standards and creating measurable impact for the people and dogs the organization serves.

“When you begin to understand the bond and connection your dog has with you and you have with your dog…confusion will diminish and your dog will begin to follow your lead”

Graham Bloem

Graham’s Accomplishments

• Co-Founder & President, Shelter to Soldier™
• Founder & CEO, Specialty Dog Training
• More than 25 years in the professional dog care and training industry
• Animal Behavior College Certified Dog Trainer (ABCDT)
• Former Animal Behavior College Mentor Trainer
• Former trainer/consultant with Helen Woodward Animal Center and Rancho Coastal Humane Society
• Service-dog and canine behavior specialist
• Trainer to internationally known war-zone rescue dogs Nubs and Lava
• American Red Cross Real Heroes Award recipient
• 10News Leadership Award recipient
• CBS8 Change It Up Award recipient
• Waggy Award for Animal Welfare recipient
• Honeywell Life Safety Award recipient
• Author of I’m On Duty
• Featured across local, national and international media