Strive K9, Philadelphia

What services does your business offer and what makes your business stand out from the competition?

I help people all over the country improve their pet’s behavior through training methods that focus on building communication and trust. I show my students proven training methods for immediate results, based on teaching their pets how to make good behavior choices that a customer wants them to make instead of constant micromanaging. I would love to show how easy it is to have that relaxing, joyful pet someone envisioned when the first thought of bringing one home came up. I work with people of all backgrounds and disabilities.

What was the inspiration to start or run this business?

My childhood dream was to help people utilize the remarkable skills that dogs have to mitigate disabilities. Through training service dogs, helping scared dogs gain confidence in shelters, and competing with my own dogs in sports early in my career, I have helped families solve all kinds of behavior problems wrecking their homes.

When I started adventuring with my cat I had so many requests for help with cats that I developed cat training programs with feline-specific methods to improve the health, happiness, and enrichment of a pet. Cats are so under-appreciated in the world and I know cat owners love their pets just as much as dog owners.

What do you love most about your job?

Sometimes this job requires creative problem-solving in order to reach the goals my students set for themselves! I love the process of applying proven training techniques to each individual situation that a student brings to the table. Watching my clients find success, where other trainers have given up on them, is my jam!!

What is the best reaction you've ever gotten from a customer?

Every time I hear from a student about how much success they’re having is “the best reaction” to me! I love updates telling me how much happier everyone is now that we’ve solved all the stressful problems they’ve been living with. Seeing all the adventures my cat students are having is also really fulfilling!