Today we’d like to introduce you to Abby McKay.
Hi Abby, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have always had an obsession with dogs and animals in general. When I was 13 years old, my parents let me adopt a dog for my birthday. I adopted a 1-year-old Australian Shepherd who I named Angel. Dogs are the best teachers and I learned so much from Angel.
I had pictures posted all over my room of different dog breeds and I devoured all the books I could find about dogs. I first got hooked on dog training when I took Angel through a Basic Obedience group class. It was so fun! Throughout high school, I took Angel to agility classes and ended up competing with her in agility. From the time I was about 14 years old, I knew I wanted to be a dog trainer. Right out of high school, I went to a four month dog training school and was then hired as a dog trainer at a kennel in Houston.
While working and improving my dog training skills over the next four years, I attended Wharton Community College and then University of Houston-Victoria where I graduated with a degree in Business Administration.
In 2012, I completed a six month course through Karen Pryor Academy and became a Certified Training Partner. After that, in 2013, I opened up Sweetwater Bark Dog Training and it has been a steady growth from there. I am passionate about people and dogs, so dog training has been the perfect career for me. It’s wonderful to be able to say 12 years into my career that I still love what I do!
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?
With any small business, it takes time to grow. It was a slow but steady growth in the beginning and, three years in, I was able to see all of my consistency and hard work paying off with faster growth. For any entrepreneur, there is a fear of failure and analyzing if this is going to be a wise decision in the long run and if you will make it.
I’ve learned that you just have to roll with the punches, continue providing excellent service, do the best that you can with the things that you have control over, have faith and trust God that it will all work out in the end. For my company, I felt like there were markers that I was trying to pass. At first, I just focused on getting through the first year, then the third year, then the sixth year and now I’m looking forward to the tenth year which will be in 2023.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Sweetwater Bark LLC?
We provide dog training services through in-home private lessons, group classes and other customized training options. We are especially experienced in puppy training, basic obedience and trick training. Training should be fun for both the client and the dog!
We use positive reinforcement force-free training methods. We focus on teaching our clients how dogs learn and how to clearly communicate with their dog through training. Our ultimate goal is for clients to see just how smart and awesome their dogs are!
What was your favorite childhood memory?
One of my favorite childhood memories is rollerblading with my Australian Shepherd, Angel. I would strap on my rollerblades, clip the leash to her harness and go for the ride of my life as she would pull me down the street. It was an exhilarating experience! Not the safest experience, I got a few sprained/fractured wrists from falls, but I loved every minute of it!
Contact Info:
- Email: training@sweetwaterbark.com
- Website: https://sweetwaterbark.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetwaterbark/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swbark
Image Credits:
Ashworth Imagery
