About Nerdy Dog, and the NERDS!

It’s two years into COVID-19 pandemic. The veterinary industry has shifted so significantly, that Flynn seeks a break from his day to day job. About this time, Eric also seeks a change, and finds how much his own ideals about pet care have been influenced by stepping up to being a better pet parents through retail work in the pet care industry. The two put their heads together — could a fun, geek-centric theme surround an education based pet care company?

Flynn’s the name, and if it' sounds familiar, that’s because its from the movie series TRON (1982), TRON: Legacy (2010) and now TRON: ARES (October 10th, 2025). Or maybe you know it from Tangled (2010) ? Either way, I’m a huge DISNEY nerd.

Disney isn’t my only passion. I was a veterinary technician for almost 11 years before leaving the field to start Nerdy Dog Training with Eric. I worked primarily in specialty clinics and emergency hospitals during that time.

However, working with animals didn’t just become a passion — it was and interest from the start. My late Grandmother, Dorothy “Dot” Kutlik, was well known and respected as a Belgian Malinois owner, breeder, and trainer for over 40 years. She produced many champions and received multiple obedience and agility titles on her dogs. She was an active member of the American Belgian Malinois Club and her d le'Ferme Malinois dogs found homes across the US, to England and even Australia.

Her love and drive to care for the dogs taught me to respect these animals for what they are and what they can be. From my first dog, “Nurgle” who was an Australian Kelpie x Cattle Dog aka Blue Heeler mix — I knew to always do right by her. She always taught me to push myself because she knew I was meant to do great — My Gram would be proud to know I think about her every time I help another dog owner.

I also take a lot of pride in being a part of the reptile community as a crested gecko breeder and general reptile education geek since 2010 with my first leopard gecko Leonidas. I have been been so incredibly lucky to have mentored under two of the best reptiles minds of the time. I still vend at at least one Reptile Expo/Convention every year because it is always a blast.

For fun, I personally tend to do creative based activities; from making graphics and flyers for my local comic book and board game store, to being a Tournament and Event organizer for a trading card game called Lorcana, and also often go pottery painting with my mother; we started going when one of us was waiting for (hopefully) good news about something — like a superstition that if we went pottery painting on the day the information was supposed to be revealed, it would always be good news; new job, promotion, acceptance, negative sickness testing. I participate is all sorts of nerd culture, from Dungeons and Dragons, Magic: The Gathering (a trading card game), Disney Animation and Disneyland, gamer computer building, League of Legends, Stardew Valley and so much more.

​I’ve had pets my entire life, and have always had a really good rapport with dogs. My family adopted my first dog when I had started high school and I discovered why the phrase “man’s best friend” is a thing. Soon after I realized that training is the art of learning how to communicate, both from owner to dog and vice versa. As someone who didn’t have any experience doing that, having a trainer show us how to do that helped immensely.

• Prescott — Male Black with White Bombay x Domestic Shorthair Cat [Rescued locally]
  Born: October 31st, 2018
  Quirk: He is on anxiety medication, enough said.
  Fav Thing: FOOD FOOD FOOD More FOOD!

• Oswald — Male Deep Brown/Black Domestic Shorthair Cat from Paws that Matter
  Born: October 1st, 2020
  Quirk: He doesn’t meow. He yells.
  Fav Thing: Anything potato-related; french fries, hashbrowns, baked potatoes, etc (We have confirmed this with visual acuity. Things go missing. Mostly french fries.)

• Caroline — Female Tabby x Calico Domestic Shorthair Cat [Rescued from DeSoto, Texas]
  Born: August 21st, 2016
  Quirk: She likes one person. Sorry, you’re not it. (It’s Flynn.)
  Fav Thing: Unicorn Mascot Head turned cat hideout. Seriously.

From Left To Right:

• Lady Indominus LazerTRON 9000 aka “Indo” — Female Chocolate Tri Pomeranian from Charm City Poms
  Born: Jan 28th, 2024
  Quirk: Has a ‘lucky fin’ aka funky knee joint due to freak accident during play as a puppy.
  Fav Thing: Toilet Paper Tubes!

• Rinzlr — Male Tri-Color Australian Shepherd x Border Collie Mix rescued from NAASAR
  Born: ~ April 20th, 2020
  Quirk: While knowing over 50 tricks, Rinzlr cannot get out from underneath a blanket by himself.
  Fav Thing: He wants you to hold his paw. No no. Don’t set it down.

• Thibault - Male Beige and White Blaze Domestic Rat from Ley Line Exotics
  Born: Late July, 2023
  Quirk: He has things to do, can’t you see he’s busy? Places to go, things to nibble …
  Fav Thing: LICK/KISS.

• Indiana Bones - Male Beige and White Double Rex, Odd Ruby/Pink Eye Domestic Rat from Ley Line Exotics
  Born: Late July, 2023
  Quirk: Yes, can I sleep here?
  Fav Thing: SLEEP!
  

Moshpit Exotics started as Rhac Attack in 2012. After getting my first Leopard Gecko from long-time friend and fellow reptile nerd Brittney Mcconnell, who owns CornBred Exotics, I was overcoming with a hyperfixation for all things scaled. I spent several years mentoring under Marcia McGuiness, and later with Kasi Kraus-Faulkins before launching Rhac Attack. “Rhac” is short for Rhacodactylus, the previous genus of Crested Geckos, which is the primary species of gecko I’ve always worked with. Rhac Attack rebranded a few years later as Moshpit Exotics! I currently have around 40 geckos at any given time, and sell my geckos online or at reptile expos once or twice a year.

About Maddie

Hi everyone, I’m Meg!

I’ve been working with animals of all kinds since 2016. I started my journey on the outskirts of the industry in retail at a Petco, but soon found myself as an assistant in a general practice veterinary clinic. As my interest in my career path blossomed, I realized how taking care of animals helps me learn more about myself and shape me into the best version of myself.

Truly, I have an intense passion for all animals, and have years of experience caring for a multitude of species; not just dogs and cats, but birds, fish, reptiles and even the creepy crawly invertebrate friends. No animals was too small for me to be fascinated by their needs. I have truly enjoyed gaining knowledge about every new animals and appreciate each opportunity to learn more.