Connie Swaim is director of canine training and behavior for the Humane Society of Indianapolis. She is a Karen Pryor Academy-Certified Training Partner and a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. She is also a K9 handler for Midwest Search Dogs, a volunteer search-and-rescue organization.

Debra Eldredge, DVM, graduated from Cornell University, where she was the first recipient of the Gentle Doctor Award, a prize given by the clinical faculty for the best patient care. She is a past president of the Dog Writers Association of America and an award-winning author of more than 20 books on pets, including Your Labrador Retriever Puppy Month by Month, cowritten with Terry Albert.