The pet services industry is booming. People love their pets, and they’re willing to spend big bucks to prove it. But that’s not the reason Matt Whitson opened his own dog training business.

Matt found his calling when he adopted a dog for his wife. In his words, the new pup was a “handful.” If you’ve ever seen the movie “Marley and Me,” you have an idea of what this dog was like. When his mother chipped a tooth trying to walk the energetic pup one weekend, he knew they needed professional help.

So, Matt and his wife enlisted a dog trainer. Weeks later, his experience with the dog trainer had impressed him so much, he began pestering the owners to give him a job. With his natural talent and deep passion for dog training, Matt soon became the ‘dog whisperer’ of his locale. Just last September, he and his wife opened their own business.

At Whits End Dog Training offers obedience training, behavior modification, and advanced off-leash training either in-home or in a boarded environment at their facility in Center Line, Michigan.

In “Winning on Main Street” Episode 7 – At Whits End Dog Training, we sat down with Matt to discuss how his business works, what drives him to succeed, and the unique marketing strategies for dog trainers he employs to find clients who need his help.

Sneak Peek

What makes At Whits End Dog Training so remarkable is their crazy-fast growth, which stemmed from client referrals on social media. Overwhelmed their first month, Matt and his wife found a way to streamline their dog trainer business with technology and software. Since opening, they’ve worked with well over 250 clients.

This success has been a direct result of Matt’s passion for what he does. It shines through whenever he speaks about his business.

“I go in because I want to help people with whatever it is they want help with. I love getting my hands on their dogs, to see the happiness in the person’s face when they see that their dog can do the things that they didn’t think they could do.”

This unwavering desire to help is combined with smart dog training business sense (and the right tools). In this episode, hear how he:

  • Harnesses the power of Facebook reviews, earning a perfect 5 out of 5 rating
  • Employs unique marketing tactics like lunch and learns and impromptu demonstrations at dog-friendly businesses
  • Streamlines their scheduling, paperwork and payments to give clients a top-dog experience

About “Winning on Main Street”

“Winning on Main Street” isn’t your everyday business podcast. We share stories of real small businesses that are winning using today’s modern technology. We talk with relatable, nose-to-the-grindstone entrepreneurs about starting and running their businesses.

“Winning on Main Street” is available wherever you love to listen including Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Simplecast and Stitcher. Tune in to hear from business owners like you in roofing, healthcare, transportation and more.

About Gordon Henry

Thryv Chief Marketing Officer Gordon Henry hosts “Winning on Main Street”. An expert in the tools small businesses use to market themselves, Gordon asks podcast guests about the challenges they face and technology they use to get ahead. Learn more about Gordon.