S

teve Kotowske had an idea several years ago to help 

teenagers in crisis; wanting to mash-up his passion 

for people and dogs he started a business that would 

check homes for illegal drugs as a means to keep 

teenagers from getting into serious trouble. While that 

business still exists, it is a small part of what Steve and his 

team offer. When people learned that he was training dogs 

full time, they wanted to put his years of knowledge to work 

helping them better understand their furry friends. Six years 

later, What’s Up Dog? has become a household name.

Starting a home-based business was one thing, but 

growing so rapidly was well beyond the early images Steve 

had for his future. He saw himself as a one-man show, with 

a fl ex schedule, able to attend football and soccer games with 

his son, cheer competitions with his daughter, and spend 

nights at home cooking dinner in between. It was clearly 

evident that he brought the community something that was 

much needed, a trainer who knows how to communicate 

with both people and dogs. That small beginning, working 

from his own yard and garage, traveling to peoples’ homes, 

and working with dogs in crowded areas was going to set a 

foundation to change the training landscape for the Emerald 

Coast.

After dealing with clients that had anxious, nervous dogs 

with bad behaviors stemming from their fears, he knew he 

must set up a facility to provide a better option of building 

confi dence in the dogs.

Landing at the Lynn Drive location,  plans  were laid to 

set up a facility that could appropriately address the issues 

people were having with their dogs. This facility included 

a retail section with quality foods, vitamins, supplements, 

and useful toys. What’s Up Dog? was adding staff and 

continuing to grow. The “training facility” is now staffed 

by a team of 12, including four full-time trainers that 

are qualifi ed in disciplines from obedience to personal 

protection training. It was time for Steve to bring in some 

help with staff needs and daily operations. Steve hired his 

son, Corey, to take on the role of operations manager. With 

Business  Profile

Steve and his family started Pawsitive Love Foundation to raise 

funds in order to procure, train, and place properly trained Service 

Dogs with Veterans, and children with Autism and Epilepsy.

 

photos by

 

Zhalman Harris

Corey & Steve  Kotowske

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