Today we’d like to introduce you to Betsy Gunter.
Hi Betsy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am Betsy Gunter, your local dog trainer and behavior expert. Becoming a dog trainer has been incredibly rewarding, and I am happy to share my story with you. Helping dogs and their people is my purpose in life; it is how I am giving back and making a difference in the world.
From a very young age, I had a special connection with dogs. Despite attending college and getting a bachelor’s degree, I knew working in the dog industry was my true passion. After college, I bounced around, exploring different options in the pet industry. I also volunteered with dog rescues. I began my career as a dog walker and noticed more of a need for training over time.
As my interest in dog training began in 2013, I adopted a rescue dog with severe behavior issues. I knew that I had to help him and that training could also be helpful for the dogs I walked and help the rescue dogs get adopted. I received a dog training certification covering all the basics. I also attended seminars and continued my search for more knowledge.
After quickly learning that basic obedience doesn’t get to the root of behavior issues, I began mentoring with a world-renowned dog behaviorist. Her specialty is in dog psychology and dog rehabilitation. Her gentle yet effective methods resonated with me on a deep level. These methods explain the “why” of things, which helps motivate people to implement the training. The focus is building a relationship based on communication, trust, and leadership. After implementing these methods and seeing progress in my dog, the dogs I walked, and the rescue dogs, I decided that a career as a dog trainer/behaviorist was my calling!
After a few years of learning, mentoring, and attending workshops, I officially began my training business in 2015 in Los Angeles, where I was living. I worked with many rescue organizations and helped newly adopted dogs succeed in their forever homes. My business spread through word of mouth, and within a few years, it was busy! I had some fantastic opportunities and worked with many different personalities. I worked with all walks of life, from inmates in prison dog programs to the rich and famous, which helped me develop communication skills with various people and personalities.
In 2022, I decided to bring my skills and services to Dallas. My past networking opportunities and previous time assisting at dog training workshops in Dallas made moving my business much easier. Everyone was welcoming and grateful to have me! Business is better than ever, and the people and dogs here are a joy to work with. I couldn’t be happier to call Dallas home.
Today, I have my own successful dog training business, and I assist my mentor at training workshops and educate dog trainers and dog owners from around the country and even the world. It didn’t happen overnight, but I continued to take steps forward to learn, grow, and develop as a trainer. Each new dog and human I worked with taught me new lessons and how to better my skills. Over the years, I have had plenty of opportunities to work with a variety of dogs and some extreme behavioral issues. I have also been able to help your everyday dog and human who just needed a little help with some of the basics, from puppies to older dogs. I am forever grateful for all the challenges and see each case as an opportunity to grow and improve my craft. My connection and relationship with my clients are remarkable; many still connect with me to give me updates and thanks. I am truly blessed to be fulfilling my life’s purpose of helping dogs and their humans.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Any business owner will tell you that running a business can be challenging. I look at the difficulties and bumps in the road as learning experiences that allow me to better myself and my business. Doing difficult things can give you a sense of achievement and build resilience.
The biggest struggle I have had is work/life balance. I currently own and manage everything for my business, including bookkeeping, business planning, scheduling clients, taking phone calls, and training the dogs and their humans. It can be highly time-consuming. I also want to help everyone as much as possible, and sometimes, I book myself with no days off. Thankfully, I love what I do and am getting better at scheduling vacations and time off. I have learned that I must have downtime and practice self-care to show up even better for my clients.
Another struggle was moving my business to an entirely new city and state. It took courage and faith to start over and build new clientele, as word of mouth has been my most prominent way of advertising. It took a little time, but it has been easier than expected. I am grateful for the clients and connections I have made here in Dallas. Everyone has been super supportive and helped spread the word.
I have had other small struggles on my journey, but I try to look at the bigger picture every time I go through something. What can I learn from this experience, and how can it help me grow and improve? With each struggle comes growth. This perspective has helped me through all the struggles of having my own business.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Betz K9 LLC?
At Betz K9 LLC, you’ll find more than just exceptional dog training and behavior services. You’ll find a trainer who understands the unique bond between you and your pet. I specialize in individual private consultations and follow-up sessions, empowering you to work more effectively with your dog. This personalized approach helps address your dog’s behavior and strengthens the bond between you and your dog. My role as your dog trainer and behaviorist is to guide you through the training process, ensuring lasting success for you and your dog.
My training is not just about teaching dogs but also about understanding and addressing their behavior issues. We delve into dog psychology, viewing things from the dog’s perspective to understand the reasons behind their behaviors. This empathetic approach helps me to identify the root causes of the issues and develop specialized training strategies for each dog and owner. Each case is unique, and our training is tailored to the dog’s and the owner’s needs, ensuring a comprehensive and effective approach.
My initial consultations are private one-on-one training where we discuss behavioral issues and goals for training. I evaluate each dog, devise specific strategies to address the issues, and tailor training exercises for each individual. I develop a thorough plan and give homework exercises. From there, we have consistent follow-up sessions as needed based on the intensity of issues and goals for training. I design every aspect of training to fit your needs and help you achieve your goals. Looking at each dog as an individual helps to create specific plans to help you achieve your success as quickly as possible.
I work with a wide variety of issues, including leash walking, aggression/reactivity, fearfulness, anxiety (including separation anxiety), resource guarding, issues with multiple dogs in a home, and any other unwanted behaviors. I also teach basic commands and other foundational training exercises that are important for every dog. Another widespread need for clients is bringing new dogs into their homes and setting them up for success, whether they are puppies or rescue adoptions. This training ensures success from the very beginning. I work with any age, from puppies to older dogs, and any breed or mixed breed dog.
My training is all about helping you understand your dog and teach them what you want while preventing behavior issues. During training sessions, you will learn how to read body language, communicate effectively, understand personality traits and drives, build a relationship of trust, love, and respect, and become a good leader for your dog. These are skills and knowledge you will be able to use for the rest of your life and apply to future dogs. In addition to private sessions, I also offer virtual sessions, which can be helpful for long-distance clients. If more intensive training is needed, there is an option for board and train programs. I also offer shadow programs for other trainers.
My clients are like family, and I am proud to say I love and treat each dog like my own. My number one motivation for doing what I do is to help people and their dogs live extraordinary, happy lives together. Dogs bring so much joy to our lives; our bonds with them are so deep they are beyond words. Giving them the best life possible through training and truly understanding them is the best gift we can give them.
My ultimate goal at Betz K9 LLC is to help clients achieve their training goals and have the best relationship possible with their dogs. I am proud to say that my clients have gained such an education about dogs, dog behavior, and training that many have brought new dogs into their homes and trained them without ever needing me. While I offer continued support to my clients, my true aim is to teach them enough not to need me and know how to communicate effectively and guide their dogs through all scenarios. My training provides you with skills and knowledge that you can use for the rest of your life and apply to future dogs, ensuring a long-lasting and rewarding relationship with your dogs.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
My confidence, communication skills, and passion for what I do are the most important qualities that have contributed to my success.
I am confident that I can make a difference in the lives of my clients and their dogs. Confidence, a quality developed through practice and experience, is a cornerstone of effective leadership. I impart this lesson to my clients as well. To be a true leader for our dogs, we must first be confident in our role. This confidence inspires trust in my clients and motivates them to take charge of their dog’s training.
Connecting and communicating effectively with people is also at the top of the list. As a teacher and service provider, to have lasting success in training dogs, you must help clients understand the why of everything, motivate them to do the work, and follow through with your recommendations. Many clients come to me frustrated, upset, discouraged, and hopeless. They don’t have the life that they want with their dogs. Many have been in training before with little to no success. Helping clients work through their emotions, giving them hope, and connecting with them on a deep level are essential aspects of success.
Passion, the fuel that drives me, is a non-negotiable quality for the success of my dog training business. This passion enables me to weather the challenges and adapt to the unique needs of each dog and owner. Dogs, like people, are individuals, and training them requires a flexible, adaptive approach. This ability to think outside the box and try different methods sets successful trainers apart. My life purpose is to help others and their dogs; the rewards of my success drive my passion more and more every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.betzdogtraining.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betsygunterdogtrainer/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betsygunter/
