Today we’d like to introduce you to Enoch.
Enoch, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
It all started with Maze, a yellow Lab mix I found on a classifieds site.
At the time, I was struggling with depression, and training Maze became a personal lifeline. She thrived with the makeshift training plans I was cobbling together from YouTube videos, and in return, she grounded me when I needed it most.
I found myself peppering the local trainer at a big-box pet store with constant questions. She answered every one patiently until, one day, she suggested I become a professional trainer myself. I didn’t take the idea seriously at first. But the seed was planted.
Soon after, my partner brought home a second dog, Peaches, a tiny, terrified little Yorkie mix who was especially afraid of men. She would try to bite me any time I interacted with her when my partner wasn’t around. After eight tough days, we made the heartbreaking decision to pursue behavioral euthanasia. But our vet, Dr. Lee at Family Pet Hospital, refused. Instead, she helped us find Peaches a new home.
Though Peaches wasn’t with us long, her story changed everything for me. I was heartbroken that I couldn’t help her. Inspired by Dr. Lee’s compassion, I committed to learning how to help dogs like her so fewer families would have to face the same painful choice.
That moment launched my career in earnest. I found a mentor, began formally studying behavior modification, and got my first job working under a professional trainer. Before long, I was promoted to head trainer for the company.
Eventually, I started my own business out of my home and found new mentors. Shoutout to Emily Strong and Allie Bender of Pet Harmony for helping me build a practice grounded in science, ethics, and compassion.
One of the dogs who made the biggest mark on me was Bandit, a spicy little cattle dog with a serious bite history. My old company had taken him on as a foster, and I poured my energy into his training. But after I left, no one continued his program, and his progress unraveled. Once I had a suitable home, I adopted Bandit myself. He loved Treibball, fetch, and especially frisbee. I used his favorite games to rebuild his trust with people, reducing his stranger danger from weeks of fear to just a few minutes.
Years later, when I had the opportunity to buy out my former employer, I named the business Bandit’s Stay and Play in his honor. Bandit represents both what can go wrong when dogs fall through the cracks and what’s possible when they’re given the care they truly deserve. The name is our promise: to give every dog the support, enrichment, and understanding that Bandit, and all dogs, should have from the start.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Building a business is never a smooth road.
Some of the biggest challenges I’ve faced include establishing a strong reputation in a competitive industry and learning how to coach people, not just dogs. Dog training itself is rewarding and fairly straightforward, but teaching people how to train their own dogs adds an entirely new layer of complexity. Every person learns differently, and emotions are often running high when someone is struggling with their pet. Learning how to support, guide, and empower pet parents has been one of the hardest and most important skills I’ve developed.
On top of that, there’s the emotional weight of the job. You meet people in moments of stress, frustration, or heartbreak, and sometimes it’s hard not to carry those emotions home with you. There have been days I’ve questioned if I was cut out for it, especially early on when I was pouring everything into the business and still barely scraping by.
Financially, starting out was incredibly difficult. Like many small business owners, I wore every hat… trainer, admin, janitor, marketer, all while trying to build something sustainable. Hiring the right team has also been a challenge. Pet care is demanding, and finding people who not only have the skills but also share my commitment to compassionate care has taken time and a lot of trial and error.
Work-life balance is another ongoing struggle. When you’re passionate about what you do, it’s easy to let it consume every part of your life. I’ve had to learn how to create boundaries, delegate, and prioritize rest so I don’t burn out. It’s still a work in progress, but I’ve come a long way.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At Bandit’s Stay and Play, we’re committed to delivering exceptional care with a thoughtful, enrichment-based twist. We offer boarding, daycare, in facility training, and grooming, but what truly sets us apart is how we approach a dog’s day.
We believe dogs need more than just physical exercise. Our enrichment model is designed to meet the whole dog—mind, body, and heart. That means our daycare and boarding guests aren’t just running in a yard. They’re engaging in confidence-building games, scent-based adventures, arts and crafts, canine massage, and so much more. We create personalized experiences that support emotional well-being, reduce stress, and encourage healthy behaviors.
We’re also proud to offer in-home services like dog walking, pet sitting, and private training sessions for families who need a more flexible or personalized option.
What we’re most proud of brand wise is our unwavering commitment to the pets in our care. Everything we do is grounded in science, ethics, and compassion. Bandit, the dog who inspired our name, had a rough start to life, and we carry his story with us in everything we do; a promise that no pet in our care will be overlooked, rushed, or treated like just another number. Our goal is simple: to create a space where pets thrive, and people feel truly supported in their pet parenting journey. We help educate our community to better understand their pets and their needs, so that animals feel seen and understood. In doing so, we strengthen the bond between people and their pets, deepening the relationship in meaningful, lasting ways.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
You cannot do this job unless you feel it deep in your soul. Working with dogs, and more importantly, helping the people who love them, requires a level of emotional investment that can’t be faked. If someone is getting into dog training just for the money, I can say from experience there are far easier ways to earn a living that won’t weigh on your heart nearly as much. Passion is what carries you through the long days, the setbacks, and the emotional moments. It’s what keeps you learning, growing, and showing up fully for every dog and every client.
Pricing:
- Boarding $55/night
- Daycare $45/day
- Grooming Varies by Weight
- Training $75-3500
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Banditsstayandplay.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/banditsstayandplay/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/banditsstayandplay/
