In August 2020, dog trainer Annie Johnson began Venture Out Dog Training, based in Norfolk, CT. Originally from the Poconos in Pennsylvania, the 32-year-old discusses her Board and Train program, wherein Annie takes clients’ dogs into her home for a two-week training session and then shows owners how to maintain what their dogs have learned.
How did you come up with your business’ name and branding? What inspired you to start this business?
I love to be outdoors, exploring the woods and mountains with my dogs, so I wanted a name and brand that communicated that feeling of going on adventures, hiking, trying new things, and overcoming challenges.
My first dog, Bailey, was the inspiration. She was a terrible, terrible dog because I got her as a puppy, and I had no clue what I was doing. She was way too smart for me, and I needed to find a way to make our life together enjoyable. After all, I got a dog to enjoy her!
I started working at a dog kennel, put her into obedience classes there, and fell in love with dog training. Within just a couple weeks, I noticed a massive shift in my relationship with Bailey. We were actually able to do things like hike off leash and hang out calmly around other dogs and people without her going crazy, jumping up, or biting everyone’s clothes. It was amazing, and Bailey turned into the world’s greatest dog. I began teaching my own classes there, but eventually that kennel was sold, and I decided to start my own business. I wanted to show other owners that they can have an enjoyable life with their dog, just like I did.
Are your educational background and past experiences influential in how you operate your business?
Yes and no. I have a degree in early education/special education. I worked as a preschool teacher for a few years while I lived in Vermont, and honestly, a lot of the general concepts about how to influence behaviors are similar for raising dogs and children. In that way, my past education does have somewhat of an impact, but I wouldn’t say it is very influential on how I operate my business because obviously the way you communicate with dogs is different from with children! I have worked with dogs on and off professionally for 15 years.
How did the first year of your business go?
Fantastic! I was able to work with over 40 families and help them communicate better with their dogs, teach the dogs what was appropriate behavior, and help stop the unwanted behaviors.
Is there someone who has been an instrumental part of developing your business?
My husband, Ryan. He has always believed in me and encouraged me to follow my dream from the day I told him I wanted to bring other people’s dogs into our home to live with us for weeks at a time. He didn’t even bat an eye at that proposal. He has always been there when I’m worried about any piece of being a business owner, and he’s the first to remind me that I am more than capable of doing all of this. I couldn’t have done it without him.
What was your plan when you started your business, and has that plan changed since?
My plan has always been to help owners live the best life they can with their dogs and that has never changed.
What is one of the most important things you learned starting this business?
I learned that everything is worth a try. I had no idea if this was going to be successful or not, but I knew I had to at least give it a shot because it had been something I had dreamt about for years while working for other people. The only way to find out if it would work was to just go for it.
What was the most challenging thing about starting this business? What was the most fun?
I struggled to give myself a little bit of grace as I was learning all the “office” pieces of owning a business: keeping track of expenses, ensuring things are all up to date, doing all the paperwork, researching the laws where I live about home businesses, etc. That was challenging for me.
Meeting so many dog-loving families and watching the people and dogs thrive after training has been the most fun. I do really love the two weeks I get to spend with each dog because we do so many fun things, but my favorite part is showing the owners how to maintain the training once their dog comes back home. That’s where the real magic happens and seeing the look on an owner’s face when their dog finally listens to them is so much fun for me.
How has your business changed over time?
There are a few things I no longer offer like group classes, and there are also some new programs I’ve started such as my Puppy Foundations program and Virtual Sessions. I have slowed down a lot this past year because our daughter was born, so I work with fewer dogs per year than I used to. I used to take around four dogs per month for my Board and Train, but now I typically only work with one, maybe two, dogs per month.
How do you manage a work-life balance when your business is literally in your home?
It can be a challenge for sure. Having someone else’s dog in my home means I never truly have a break while they’re here. I try to schedule enough “dog-free” time for myself each month so that I don’t get burnt out. Typically, after finishing training and sending a dog home, I’ll schedule the next few days without any client dogs staying with me. That gives me time to focus on my personal life and have a nice little “reset” in between training dogs.
Is there anything you wish you knew before you started?
I wish I would have known more about social media. Instagram is a huge part of my business because I share so much information there and I spend a lot of time on Instagram showing the training process with each dog who comes through my program. That has been a learning curve for me over the years – just figuring out how to make graphics or videos and learning the best ways to share information online that will be helpful to dog owners.
Is there anything else you’d like share?
I truly love this job. I know what it’s like to have a challenging dog and feel like there is no hope. But there really is. It’s so possible to live an awesome life with your dog and helping people do that is what fuels my passion for this work. I’m so glad I took the chance to start this business in 2020 because it changed my life, and I love helping people change theirs for the better as well. •
To learn more about Venture Out and Annie’s dog training resources, visit ventureoutdogtraining.com. You can also get in contact via email at ventureoutdogtraining@gmail.com or phone at (860) 710-1552. Support the business on Instagram at @venture_out_training!
