Today we’d like to introduce you to Beverly Amsler.
Hi Beverly, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
It’s a long story so I’ll try to condense it. I lived in Utah when I worked as a journalist. I volunteered with a group affiliated with Best Friends Animal Society. Then I moved to Virginia and we ran a story on the Michael Vick dog fighting arrest. I was volunteering for the local SPCA and a service dog group at the time. One of my coworkers told me I might be interested in watching Dogtown, the documentary made about the Vicktory dogs. I watched 1 or 2 episodes and booked a flight for Best Friends Animal Society, where the dogs were staying. I visited 14 times over 7 years and even got to work with some of these dogs.
Workers at the sanctuary noticed that when I walked to an area where some of the other dogs were housed, they would become quiet. Shy dogs naturally gravitated toward me. They started requesting that I visit their area to help their dogs. I started to believe maybe I could make this a career. So I started researching and eventually opened my dog training business. However I wasn’t making enough to live on so I incorporated pet sitting and eventually dog walking and wedding pet attendant services into my business. I have a team of 12 and have been in business for 12 years. We have also won numerous awards for our work. I am a certified dog trainer and a certified pet sitter.
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?
Staffing! There is a HUGE turnover in this business. We are at the mercy of our clients-when they don’t want (or can’t afford) walks, there is no income. I have to have enough people to cover visits, especially when other staff members are sick or on vacation. But it’s only a part time job and not enough to live on.
COVID killed pet sitting but we still had essential workers as clients so we walked their dogs. Dog training picked up because everybody got a dog during COVID. Then pet sitting started picking up as the restrictions lifted.
It’s still difficult to have enough staff to cover visits and keep them happy with the number of visits they have-not too many, not too few.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I really like training puppies because they are so eager to learn (and so darn cute!) I help clients in their journey with their dog, coming to their home to help them train. I use only positive methods and am a graduate of The Victoria Stilwell Academy. I am attending seminars and webinars throughout the year to keep learning.
I’m proud of the awards we’ve won. . .Best Dog Trainer, Best In-Home Pet Sitting Service, and Best Wedding Pet Attendant Service.
We also attend community events, which sets us apart from similar companies in the area. We’ve been around for a dozen years so I think that helps, especially when a lot of these “companies” come and go.
We are licensed, bonded, and insured-unlike the Rover sitter. In addition to my dog training certification, I am also a certified professional pet sitter through Pet Sitter International which helps set us apart.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Every day is a risk.
I left my job to do this full-time.
I saw this company through COVID when many companies closed.
With the economy the way it is, we risk having enough clients to give our employees and thereby stay in business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thewell-traineddog.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/welltraineddog/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWellTrainedDog/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beverlyamsler/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7YGKu4bkpGbYIAORbiGNaQ
