We were lucky to catch up with Courtney Bentley recently and have shared our conversation below.

Courtney, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Your ability to build a team is often a key determinant of your success as a business owner and so we’d love to get a conversation going with successful entrepreneurs like yourself around what your recruiting process was like -especially early on. How did you build your team?

For many years, Bold City K9 was a one-person operation. When it came time to grow, one of the biggest decisions I faced was determining the right path forward: building a commercial training facility or creating a team of highly skilled trainers who could work with dogs in their own homes.

After purchasing our 10-acre property in 2023, I hired a couple of kennel technicians to help expand operations. What I quickly discovered was that finding people who genuinely care about doing an exceptional job, providing consistent support, and continuously improving themselves is far more challenging than most people realize. I hold my staff to a very high standard, and unfortunately, many candidates simply don’t meet those expectations.

That experience ultimately reinforced the direction I wanted to take the company. Rather than building a large team with multiple layers of staff, I chose to keep our programs small and exclusive, working only with highly qualified trainers who take dogs into their own homes. This approach creates a better training experience for the dogs while also reducing the number of people handling them throughout the process.

While some assume that a larger team automatically leads to better service, we’ve found the opposite to be true. The more people involved, the more opportunities there are for communication breakdowns, inconsistencies, and details to fall through the cracks. By maintaining a small, carefully selected team of educated and experienced trainers, we’re able to provide a level of consistency, accountability, and individualized care that larger operations struggle to match.

Our commitment to quality over quantity is what sets us apart—and it’s a big part of what makes us the best at what we do.

Courtney, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Courtney Bentley, and I am a formally educated professional dog trainer and the owner of Bold City K9. Since 2014, we’ve proudly served Jacksonville and the surrounding areas, and we’ve recently expanded our services to Atlanta, Georgia. We specialize in done-for-you training programs designed to deliver lasting results, backed by unlimited support for the life of your dog. We stand behind our training because we believe in the effectiveness of our process.

My passion for animals began at a young age, but my professional journey started in the veterinary field in 2012. Shortly thereafter, I adopted my heart dog, Rusko, who quickly challenged everything I thought I knew about dogs. He struggled with reactive aggression, poor impulse control, and a significant communication gap between us. It became clear that something needed to change—not only for his well-being, but for our future together.

Like many dog owners, I started with the training options that were readily available, completing every big-box store training class I could find. When those programs failed to produce meaningful results, I began searching for a deeper understanding of canine behavior and training. Within three weeks of finding my first professional training school, I packed my bags and moved to Texas.

Over the next year, I immersed myself in hands-on training, learning from experienced professionals and working with a wide variety of dogs. That experience ignited a lifelong commitment to education. In the years that followed, I completed multiple advanced training programs across the country, continually refining my skills and expanding my knowledge.

Everything I learned, I applied to my own dog. The transformation in Rusko—and in our relationship—was remarkable. We went from daily frustration and uncertainty to a level of trust, communication, and freedom that I never thought possible. That experience is what drives me today.

At Bold City K9, we believe great training goes beyond teaching commands. While clear communication through obedience is important, our focus is on addressing the root causes of behavioral issues rather than simply masking symptoms. We strive to help dogs develop true emotional regulation, confidence, and clarity, creating lasting change that improves their quality of life and strengthens their relationship with their owners.

The dog training industry is largely unregulated, which makes continuing education and professional development especially important. I remain committed to learning, growing, and improving my craft, and I encourage every trainer on our team to do the same.

Our dedication to education, individualized care, and meaningful behavioral transformation is what sets us apart—and it’s what we’re most proud of.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

I don’t have any revolutionary advice on this topic because, in our line of work, it ultimately comes down to finding people who genuinely care. When you find individuals who are passionate about what they do and believe in the mission you’re working toward, maintaining high morale, accountability, and consistent personal growth becomes much more natural.

That said, I believe I only reached this position because I was willing to carry the weight of the business myself for as long as necessary rather than settling for people who didn’t align with our standards and values. Finding the right people takes time, patience, and a commitment to quality over convenience, but in the long run, it’s worth it. The strength of our team today is a direct result of that philosophy.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Transparency is key. Showcase not only your results, but also your skills, knowledge, and understanding of the work you’re doing. The more authentic your content is, the more likely you are to attract the right clients. People want to see the real process, not just the highlight reel.

It’s also important to remember that a large social media following doesn’t necessarily indicate expertise, just as a smaller following doesn’t mean a business isn’t thriving. Some of the most talented and busiest trainers I know have relatively modest followings, but they consistently and authentically share what they do every day. That transparency helps potential clients understand their approach, build trust, and feel confident that they’re making an informed decision.

At the end of the day, authenticity and proven results will always carry more weight than vanity metrics.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.BoldCityK9.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/boldcityk9
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/boldcityk9
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@boldcityk9
• Other: Google Reviews: https://www.google.com/search?q=bold+city+k9&oq=Bold+c&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqDggAEEUYJxg7GIAEGIoFMg4IABBFGCcYOxiABBiKBTIGCAEQRRg5MgoIAhAAGLEDGIAEMgYIAxBFGDwyBggEEEUYQTIGCAUQRRhBMgYIBhBFGDwyBggHEEUYPNIBCDQxNDlqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#lrd=0x88e5ae97a979cb57:0xb532e3b0ddb12b78,1,,,,