Today we’d like to introduce you to Katina Murphy.
Hi Katina, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My story actually starts in a place I never imagined it would — prison. It isn’t something I’m proud of, but it is part of my story, and it ultimately played a huge role in leading me to where I am today.
While I was incarcerated, I participated in a program called B.A.R.K. That program introduced me to working with dogs and gave me the opportunity to see firsthand just how much patience, consistency, trust, and training can change a dog. It also changed something in me. What began during one of the hardest chapters of my life became something I genuinely loved and wanted to continue pursuing when I came home.
After my release, I kept learning, gaining hands-on experience, and building my skills. Over time, I earned certifications in dog training, dog behavior, grooming, and animal CPR and first aid, and I became an AKC Canine Good Citizen and Temperament Test evaluator.
Eventually, I built Murphy’s Bark N Boarding LLC, where I now provide boarding, daycare, and dog training. I get to work with dogs at all different stages — from puppies learning the basics to dogs who need patience, structure, confidence, and someone willing to understand them.
My path into this business was definitely not traditional, and it wasn’t perfect. But I’m proud of how far I’ve come and of the life and business I’ve worked hard to build. What started as a second chance for me became an opportunity to help give dogs second chances too.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges I’ve had to overcome was my own past. My journey with dogs actually began while I was incarcerated, through a program called B.A.R.K. It’s not a part of my life that I’m proud of, but it is part of my story, and in many ways it became the beginning of a completely different life for me.
Coming home meant rebuilding. I had to prove to myself—and sometimes to other people—that my past did not have to determine my future. Starting a business from the ground up came with its own challenges: finances, building and improving the facility, learning the business side of things, long days, very little time off, and carrying the responsibility of knowing that people are trusting me with members of their family.
There have been times when I’ve questioned myself, gotten overwhelmed, and wondered whether all of the work would be worth it. Running a boarding and training business isn’t just playing with dogs all day. There are early mornings, late nights, cleaning, training, emergencies, difficult decisions, and constantly continuing my education so I can give every dog in my care the best possible experience.
But every obstacle has also pushed me forward. Dogs gave me something positive to focus on during one of the lowest chapters of my life, and today I get to turn that into something meaningful. I’m proud that I didn’t allow where I had been to decide where I was going. Murphy’s Bark N Boarding is more than a business to me—it represents rebuilding my life, finding something I genuinely love, and creating something I once never imagined would be possible.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Murphy’s Bark N Boarding LLC is a small, owner-operated boarding, daycare, and dog training business located in Southwest Virginia. My goal has always been to provide a more personal experience than a large commercial kennel, where every dog is treated as an individual rather than just another reservation on the schedule.
I offer boarding, daycare, puppy training, basic obedience, manners training, and board-and-train programs. I work with dogs on real-life skills such as leash manners, recall, impulse control, place, stay, confidence building, socialization, and learning how to settle and function calmly in everyday situations.
One thing that sets my business apart is the amount of communication I provide to owners. I know how hard it can be to leave your dog with someone else, so I want clients to feel involved and reassured while their dog is in my care. I provide regular updates and report cards, and I make an effort to learn each dog’s personality, habits, likes, dislikes, and individual needs.
I also intentionally keep my operation smaller because I never want growth to come at the expense of the quality of care I provide. I would rather care for fewer dogs and know them well than overcrowd my schedule simply to take on more business.
Training is especially meaningful to me because I love helping owners understand their dogs better. I don’t expect every dog to behave exactly the same way. Some dogs need confidence, some need structure, some need patience, and some simply need someone willing to figure out what motivates them.
What I am most proud of is the trust I have built with my clients and the relationships I have developed with the dogs who come through my doors. Many of them return again and again, and they truly become part of the Murphy’s Bark N Boarding family.
I want people to know that this business is very personal to me. I have invested years into learning, continuing my education, improving my facility, and becoming a better trainer and caregiver. I am proud of how far the business has come, but I am even more excited about where it is going.
What are your plans for the future?
My plans for the future are centered around continuing to grow Murphy’s Bark N Boarding in a way that stays personal, intentional, and focused on quality care.
I want to continue expanding my training services, especially with puppies, obedience, confidence building, and eventually therapy and service-dog-related training. I’m also continuing my education and certifications so I can keep improving what I offer and become a better resource for the families I work with.
I’m excited about improving and expanding the facility as the business grows, while still keeping the number of dogs manageable enough that each one receives individual attention. I never want growth to mean losing the personal connection that has become such an important part of my business.
I also have plans to grow a responsible French Bulldog breeding program focused heavily on health, temperament, genetic testing, and responsible placement. That is something I’m taking very seriously and building slowly because I want to do it the right way.
More than anything, I’m looking forward to seeing where all of this can go. A few years ago, I never would have imagined that dogs would become such a huge part of my life and career. Now I’m building something I genuinely love, and my goal is to keep learning, keep growing, and create a business and legacy that I can be proud of.
Pricing:
- Boarding per day $30
- 2 week board & train $900
- 4 week board & train $1800
- 6 week board & train $2600
Contact Info:
