We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jennifer Holmes a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jennifer, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.?

I had burnout, compassion fatigue, and empathy distress after working 60 hours a week in a very busy canine rehabilitation clinic for 5 years. After completing my certified canine fitness training, I wanted a better life for me and dogs. I decided to leave the rehabilitation clinic and start my own dog fitness business to prevent injury in dogs. Everyone was excited for me and I thought the people would line up to work with me. Well …that did not happen. I went to networking groups, gave talks, and worked with business coaches through my local SBDC (Small Business Development Center). A big challenge was the place I got certified did not have any support or desire to help with marketing a business. I met another dog trainer and taught a couple classes through their business as an outside instructor. Although people were intrigued by the idea of fitness many were not signing up for classes. It gave me the experience of working in a new facility with supportive people. If I did it over I would have become an associate trainer with them to learn about the business side of dog training. My advice for someone wanting to pursue dog fitness training, is to find a mentor and decide if it is what you want to do before spending a lot of time and money.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

When dog owners experience confusion with their dog’s spinal or knee disease it can be traumatic for the relationship. As a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner (CCRP), I helped to improve their daily functional abilities by building balance for awareness, coordination to walk again, and strength to hold them when standing. In 2007 I had paresis on my right side from West Nile Virus neuroinvasive infection. Through my work as a CCRP, I watched my dog clients walk again from paralysis in the back legs through exercise, acupuncture, laser, and other modalities. It is my true passion to help a dog build body confidence with exercise for daily functions and a stronger relationship with their owner. As I have worked through my spiritual and energetic learning to heal my body, I can now bring these lessons to my clients. My canine fitness business was born in 2017 to help my clients find healthy perceptions of their dog to strengthen their relationship with a foundation of proper exercise that will prevent injury before the spinal disease. I currently have an inside studio and outside dog fitness park for a safe place to play and group agility parkour classes, energy healing workshops, and community events. The PAWsome dog fitness park is a place friends can bring their dogs to have fun and physically challenging experiences together. K9 Fitness Works is helping dogs evolve into having more body confidence and communication with their people, while at the same time helping humans be the best possible they can be.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

The first 2-3 years after West Nile Virus Neuroinvasive infection was met with doctors that questioned my sanity, left me in more pain than when I went into their office, and a body that did not function as it did before the mosquito bite. Every day I put one foot on the floor and in front of each other to make it to the next day. As I stood in the middle of my living room I realized the only thing that mattered in life was family and friends…love. Love was the only thing that mattered. Tina, my dog at the time, stood by my side no matter what crazy my body was going through. The dogs I worked with in rehabilitation showed me that unconditional love can help them walk again, me ride a bike again, and climb mountains I never thought possible. Today I am participating in bike competitions and group rides because I never gave up.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

The only thing I may have done differently, was look into animal behavior instead of blinders for Veterinary Medicine School. I had such a narrow focus of looking at how to work in the animal world. Although I grew up in a generation where volunteering in the animal world was hard to find, there were a few opportunities. When I look back at my animal interest I always loved the behavior of animals. Watching how they interreacted in an environment, with other animals, or people.

Contact Info:

• Website: k9fitnessworks.com
• Instagram: jenn_K9fitnessworks
• Facebook: @k9fitnessworks
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCldv5JowttA1PmBMnkHccMg

Image Credits
Pawsitively Purrfect Pet Photography https://pawsitivelypurrfectpetphotography.pixieset.com/ reaganweichold@gmail.com