Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Knight
Hi Elizabeth, 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’ve always been connected with animals. They seemed as drawn to me as I was to them when I was little. I started volunteering at animal control as a dog walker as soon as I realized that was allowed as a teen. I was also one that could connect with the dogs others couldn’t even approach.
As I got older I always thought I’d be a veterinarian. But the realization I couldn’t euthanize an animal was pretty strong. But I also was extremely good at making dogs do things others struggled to do. So I looked into being a professional dog trainer.
I discovered Animal Behavior College after I’d done some work with dogs in rescue and was working steady with helping the rescue dogs make great changes. I finished the schooling and discovered started working with a trainer that I did an externship with. I discovered quickly she was more in it for the look and free things she was receiving from company sponsors she was getting and I broke off relations with her and went out on my own.
I’ve built my clientele heavily on word of mouth alone. My clients see a difference. And I can see a difference.
I can teach a dog basic obedience. But my main love when working with dogs are the dogs others couldn’t even trainers are scared to take on. The reactive and aggressive dogs. The dogs that feel threatened by life and want to react first and scare away people and other dogs. These dogs are my passion. I’ve been bitten, but I’ve also noticed that those dogs that are willing to bite are also scared, and if I show that them biting doesn’t mean I will run, but that I’m still going to help them and I will stand my ground with them, then they always relax with me and learn very quickly they can trust me.
I’ve had many clients say they never thought their dog would be able to be calm around a stranger as fast as they were with me. It’s my favorite thing. I love having clients be so afraid that their dog will hurt me, then see them completely relax as their dog relaxes because their dog can actually fully trust me within minutes. It’s the best feeling.
I love training. I love seeing dogs learn to put things together and understand what is being asked.
This has been 13 years of word of mouth clients, one by one. Learning from each person, each dog I meet. Everyone I meet I learn something new.
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?
Getting new clients is always a struggle when you are relying on other people to help build you up. Some people lie. Some people forget to spread the word as they have said they would. Many people I’ve thought were friends have been people that have truly turned their backs on me and hurt me and my ability to do the work I love.
I was given an opportunity at one point and then it was harshly taken from me with no remorse or regret and it was unjustly done. It shattered me to my core and made me not want to train any more. There are days I fully regret working with dogs and think I am not doing any good. But then I see a dog that came to me with zero confidence and in one week is jumping around and running up and down in a pet friendly public space and I realize I am making a difference for that dog and her family. But remembering the friends I’ve lost because of the choices they made is still hard on me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I am a professional dog training company. I specialize in reactive dogs. I also specialize in service dogs. I myself am disabled and have a service dog that helps with my disabilities.
What sets me apart are my experiences with dogs. I come from a background of not only owning a service dog, but many years of working with reactive dogs and dogs that came from rescue backgrounds that needed help with confidence building. I also have a background in canine search and rescue. My oldest dogs are trained search dogs and I trained with Washington and Kane counties before becoming too disabled to keep up with the physical needs of the work.
I am extremely proud of my ability to come face to face with a dog that is reactive and getting the dog to trust me within g the first meeting. There have been so few dogs that haven’t been able to trust me enough to take control of their leashes in the last 13 years. It makes me extremely happy. I’d love people to know that I adore working with hard case dogs, building their confidence. I also love helping disabled people to gain some independence with a working service dog. Their is nothing better than an actually well trained, task trained service dog helping with your disability.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I’m not much of a risk taker. But going out on my own as a dog trainer without any financial backing has been a leap of faith this year. I am relying mostly on my clients and mild advertising to keep me working. I love word of mouth because I feel like it’s the most true way to gain clientele. But it’s also extremely risky. But I love my clients and their dogs and I want them to be happy with me and with the way we work together and it’s a risk I’ll take to have them share my name if they feel I deserve the praise.
Pricing:
- $2000 for Board and Train + Six Private Lessons
- $800 for Six Private Lessons
- $100 Individual Sessions
- Free Evaluations
Contact Info:
