Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Bennett.
Hi Stephanie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started working with dogs about 20 years ago, and during that time, I’ve served as the Director of Training at LA Dogworks in Los Angeles, started an in-home private training company, co-founded Peace Love and Dogs in Houston, and pretty much run the gamut in the pet dog business. I’ve been so lucky along the way, especially with all the terrific teachers, experiences and education I received along the way. I always knew I wanted concentrate solely on training and strengthening the connection between dogs and their guardians. In 2017, I had a new vision and dream: to develop a place for fresh and innovative ways to offer dog training, enrichment, and overall wellness. In essence: a place for the ultimate dog training experience. Thus, Believe in Dog was born.
I created Houston’s first all-encompassing puppy-focused training programs in 2008 with the help of my mentor, Dr. Ian Dunbar. Believe in Dog is now recognized as Houston’s Original Puppy Experts. My unique and effective puppy programs have been emulated by other trainers and facilities around the world, and it is my mission to educate new puppy owners and veterinarians on the importance of safe, early puppy training and socialization.
I do regular television segments on Channel 2’s Houston Life, where I became the resident “Puppy Whisperer” after training KPRC’s station dog, Tex. Houston Press named me Best Dog Trainer and I frequently write for Houston Pet Talk Magazine. I have had wonderful opportunities to work with and train dogs for The Alley Theater, The Astros, The Houston Ballet, and Texas Children’s Hospital.
I’m appreciative for opportunities to pay it forward and frequently mentors new trainers. I’ve taught my positive puppy training methods and fun & games group class curriculums to dozens of trainers, as well as helped guide them towards their certification through the Council of Certified Pet Trainers.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Owning and operating a business is full of hardships and rewards. I saw something recently that said, “Working for someone is hard. Running your own business is hard. Choose your hard.” Since I started my first business in 2008, it has been like a roller coaster ride; thrilling and terrifying at the same time.
I have studied and trained for 20 years to be a dog trainer, but I didn’t really understand or prepare myself for everything that goes into actually running a business.
The first steps alone, of writing a business plan, trying to raise money, and construction nightmares are enough to make anyone want to give up.
In 2011, I met my former business partner and we opened my second venture. We had a great 6 years, but as the business grew, our visions changed, and we ultimately decided to split. I made the gut wrenching and seemingly impossible decision to walk away from the business I had poured my heart and soul into. At the time, it was devastating and the thought of starting over was terrifying and exhausting. Now 8 years on the other side of it, I couldn’t be happier and more proud of my current business, Believe in Dog, and the work my team and I do every day.
I think the one thing that is a constant struggle for every business is staffing. It’s truly daunting to employee 20 people! Our staff undergoes many hours of training and education, so it’s very disappointing when it doesn’t work out. Maybe he hardest lesson for me, has been to learn not to take business relationships personally.
On some days the obstacles and challenges can seem overwhelming, but realizing my life’s purpose makes it worth it. I am one of the lucky ones that loves getting up and going to work every day. I love my job, and trying to make the world a better place, one dog at a time.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Believe in Dog is Houston’s only centrally located dog training center offering a wide variety of positive training services and group classes for everyone. We help guardians strengthen their connection and bond to become the center of their dog’s universe! At our beautiful, Zen-like training and enrichment center, enhancing your dog’s mind, body, and spirit is our one and only priority. The development and training of dogs and their people is our passion and our purpose. It’s what we do.
At Believe in Dog, we practice positive, science-based methods that emphasize communication, mutual respect, consistency, and real-life training. We believe that methods that focus on techniques or tools that cause pain, intimidation, or fear, are outdated, can do more harm than good, and are never necessary. It has been widely proven that the most effective way to teach and motivate dogs is with a mixture of rewards like food, praise, play, affection.
As Houston’s original puppy experts, our signature program is our renowned Puppy Day School and it is like nothing found anywhere else. The program is an exceptional, comprehensive private school, created to take advantage of a puppy’s most crucial imprinting and learning period. Puppy Day School is an all day, drop off training program developed for puppies from 8 weeks to 6 months old. Puppies spend the whole day with our highly trained puppy experts, learning, socializing, and playing. This is not a doggy daycare, but rather, a very structured environment with custom curriculums created especially for puppies. Our Puppy Day School is recommended by veterinarians across Houston and has is established as a clean, safe, and reliable experience for all puppies.
We offer group classes for every dog, including Basic Manners, Tricks for Treats, Confidence Building, Intro to Nosework, Canine Good Citizen, and many more! We even host an Annual Fall Festival and Spring Hike, which are every dog’s idea of heaven!
More specifically well-known for our Reactive Rover classes that were created to help dogs that are leash reactive. Believe in Dog is the only training center in Houston to offer a positive training group class for this extremely common behavior
At Believe in Dog, we take pride in treating every dog client like they were are own. All of our staff goes through hours of required training and education. We are highly skilled, certified trainers that go above and beyond. We will never sacrifice quality for quantity.
Believe in Dog is open 7 days a week, including our extraordinary retail boutique that specializes in all sorts of unique products for dogs that you won’t find in big box stores. Each product is curated specifically by myself and my team, including staff dogs. When possible, we choose to purchase our products from small, local, and women owned businesses. We also research the source of all our treats and chews, and pay close attention to sustainability. Every product is trainer tested and dog approved!
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
I have always loved wordplay and the idea that DOG is GOD spelled backwards has always seemed apropos. The two words go hand in hand in my mind, inasmuch as they both represent unconditional love. Our logo of a happy dog sitting in the middle of a lotus flower came to me while traveling in India and Bali, where dogs and lotus flowers are everywhere. The lotus flower, which symbolizes patience, purity, and love and compassion for all things, is a perfect representation of our training methods. The combining of the name and logo epitomizes our ultimate purpose: to use positive and kind training methods to balance your dog’s mind, body, and spirit.
While socialization, training skills, and teaching basic manners to dogs is very important, the most important thing to me is teaching dog guardians learn how to understand, communicate effectively, and fulfill their dog’s needs. There are still too many outdated and debunked punishing and harsh training methods being taught. We teach people to train with curiosity kindness, patience, empathy, and fair leadership (not dominance!). It’s my job to be the dog’s advocate and teach their parents how to read their dog’s body language and understand how dogs see the world. The parents are then much less likely to punish and confuse their dogs. They will be much more likely to take responsibility for their dog’s needs, and more understanding of their dog’s emotions and behaviors. If we are successful, the people and dogs will co-exist peacefully and harmoniously. Our goal is to make the world a better place, one dog at a time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.believeindog.com
- Instagram: @believeindog
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/puppyexpert
- Youtube: @Houstondogtrainer
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/stephanie-bennetts-believe-in-dog-training-houston-3?osq=dog+training
- Other: https://business.google.com/v/stephanie-bennetts-believe-in-dog/01882758527681461326/78dd/_
