Our Story

 

The Healthy Happy Dog is run by a mother and daughter team, Hari and Ji Khalsa. Both have extensive experience raising, caring for, and training dogs and other animals.

 

Hari worked as a veterinary technician for over 10 years, and spent over 25 years as a working dog, pet dog, and service dog trainer and kennel master for large police dog kennels. She has bred Poodles and working dogs that have had successful careers as patrol dogs, tracking dogs, detection dogs, and more. She has studied with masters in the US, Canada, Germany, Holland, and Belgium. Her dogs have achieved many distinctions, including Mocha, Silver medal winner in the World Police Games. Click here and here to read more about Mocha.   

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i has a Masters degree in Microbiology and Biochemistry from Arizona State University, including independent studies in the link between canine genetics and behavior. Ji also has a graduate certificate in Regulatory Affairs from San Diego State University. She worked as a graduate student in an embryology and fetal development laboratory where she developed a fascination with the process of the formation of new life, from fertilization through birth. 

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Over the course of her 20-year research management career, Ji has managed over $100 million in federally funded bioscience research. She completed additional graduate work in molecular genetics and immunology. While most scientists specialize, Ji’s unquenchable curiosity and drive to build systems led her to program management, where she learned and engaged deeply with both the science and business aspects of an array of scientific disciplines. 

 

Her scientific project management included animal welfare, immunology/vaccinology, toxicology, pharmacology, national biodefense, pandemic response, drug development and manufacturing, cancer therapies, and more. 

 

Ji’s first love is teaching and helping others see the joy and wonder of life through the understanding of its biological foundations. Ji taught college-level biology, microbiology, and biotechnology courses for many years. She was an integral part of establishing new programs and curricula for several colleges and universities, including therapeutics manufacturing programs for Texas A&M University. She has created over a dozen new college and university courses for certificate programs and both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. She created the Biotechnology Laboratory Sciences program degree and certificate programs and curriculum for Blinn University. 

 

She applies her extensive knowledge of genetics, behavior, embryology, development, immunology, and health to helping responsible breeders become informed about science-based breeding and puppy rearing practices. 

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Ji is a Professional Member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, a member of the International Association of Canine Professionals, and is Accredited (IAABC-ADT) through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants.

 

Ji bred and trained working dogs most of her adult life, and most recently breeds companion dogs near Santa Fe, New Mexico. She shares her life with several dogs, cats, a BLM mustang, and a miniature donkey.

 

She is the founder of Midwoofery, a highly respected science-based educational resource for responsible dog breeders.

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Both Hari and Ji have decades of experience training pet, working, and service dogs and have spent extensive amounts of time training with top canine experts in both North America and Europe.