Collection: How kiddo’s canine started
In 2013, this journey began with my dog, Some Kid. My name is Steven, and when she was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma, it sparked a lasting interest in canine nutrition—especially how thoughtfully prepared meals, supplement support, and natural wellness practices might help support a dog’s strength and comfort alongside veterinary care and chemotherapy.
After Some Kid passed, I needed something constructive to pour my time into. I began taking formal classes and deepening my education in nutrition and wellness support. Around the same time, I was already deeply involved in hands-on work with dogs. I have a degree in Statistical Process Control Engineering, and I’ve spent years applying that same disciplined, systems-based mindset to the dog world—especially working with rescues and helping rehabilitate aggressive pitbulls, which became a real passion of mine. Some Kid herself shaped the way I understood dogs: she was a calm, steady presence—what I’d describe as a submissive pack leader—and she inspired years of volunteering, behavior work, and eventually dog training, which I continued for a long time.
Not long after, another dog entered my life. I named her Little Kid—a way to keep Some Kid’s memory close as life continued moving forward.
In 2016, Little Kid had a litter of puppies. I gave one of her puppies to Desiree, who at the time was studying human nutrition. Not long after Delilah came into Desiree’s life, we moved in together and started building our family—Desiree, me, Little Kid, and Little Kid’s puppy, Delilah.
It wasn’t long after that when Little Kid began developing persistent paw issues. What started as licking progressed to chewing, discomfort while walking, and recurring bacterial infections. Our veterinarian referred us to a veterinary dermatologist, who emphasized the importance of a properly structured food elimination trial. Following that guidance, we did what many families do—we cycled through multiple commercial kibble formulas, hoping to find one that would finally help. Despite the changes, the pattern continued, and it became clear we were still guessing rather than learning.
That’s when Desiree’s mom, a human nutritionist for 22 years, gave us advice that changed everything: stop chasing formula after formula and start feeding her “grandkids” real food, so we could control ingredients, reduce variables, and approach elimination trials with clarity. Desiree’s background in human nutrition made that transition natural—she was familiar with structured elimination approaches used in human care, and together we adapted a disciplined, step-by-step method for Little Kid.
Over time, what began as a personal problem turned into a repeatable process—and families started asking for help. After Desiree’s mom retired, she encouraged us to take what we were doing and build it into a real full-time service. In 2020, we officially began doing this work full-time, and over the past six years we’ve supported pet parents across the Las Vegas and Los Angeles areas with practical, ingredient-focused nutrition planning for sensitive dogs.
Today, we’re expanding the business online with the support of our family—especially as a third-generation team member, our nephew, has joined us while studying computer science. That growth is helping us bring the same structured, transparent approach to more households through Kiddo’s Canine Skin Care—built from lived experience, careful study, and a commitment to making nutrition feel clear, realistic, and dependable for pet parents who have been stuck guessing for too long.