We recently connected with Kris Hale and have shared our conversation below.

Kris , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you as a business owner?

Much of my experience as a former high school social studies teacher has prepared me to be a small business owner and dog trainer. I spent 27 years in a classroom teaching. The last decade, I taught Psychology.
I have always loved dogs. In 2013, we adopted a dog from a local rescue organization. We started a training class and I quickly learned how much I already knew about dog training based on my understanding of psychology. From there we began fostering and volunteering with a local rescue. I realized that I had a knack for dog training and teaching others how to work with their own fosters and dogs.

Once I had the experience and credentials, it made sense to start my own dog training business.

Communication skills, multitasking, planning, flexibility, team work, managing people, and the knowledge from one’s content area are just a few things that teachers bring with them to the business world from the classroom.

The pandemic brought a lot of change to our society as a whole and specifically to education as an institution. Like other businesses and industries, teachers were required to pivot and adapt to the new normal. Autonomy in the classroom was difficult pre pandemic, but with the shift in culture and the attitude toward teachers as a whole, many are now looking for an alternative career path. Teachers have honed skills that make them ideal business owners. I encourage those that are looking for an alternative, to evaluate what you truly love doing and how you may be able to start your own business.

It is my love for teaching and my experience in the classroom that has allowed me to succeed as a dog trainer as well as a small business owner.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a certified dog trainer, CPDT-KA and owner of Best in Dog, LLC in Marietta, GA.

The path I took to get here a long and winding one. Reflecting on it now, it makes sense. While 10 years ago, I did not envision myself a small business owner, it has been a natural progression.

I am a career educator. I knew in high school I wanted to be a teacher and majored in education in college. Teaching and learning are an essential part of who I am.

Like many people, I also love dogs. After we adopted Dezra, a very social dog, we started fostering and volunteering with a local rescue. With my background in education and psychology, I really took to the training aspect and worked with my own fosters as well as adopters and fosters in supporting their dogs.

As I got more involved in training, it was important to me personally to become certified. Becoming a certified trainer, CPDT-KA, has given me confidence as a trainer.

The next natural step was to start a business. I started building a business in 2018 with the idea that I would move slowly and have something to transition to in 2023 when I retired from teaching. Well, I retired early, in November 2020. This has allowed me to get a jump start on my business.

As a trainer I have a lot of experience with rescued dogs and fosters. I love working with puppies and their families to set everyone up for success. I enjoy working with the over excited adolescent dogs as well as shy and fearful dogs.

Enrichment is a key component to my approach to training. It is important to see each dog as an individual and to figure out what they enjoy and find rewarding.

I am a certified dog parkour aka urban agility instructor. I find dog parkour to be a great confidence builder for shy dogs and it helps over excited dogs learn impulse control.

I provide personalized training to my clients and their dogs. My goal as a trainer is to teach people how to communicate with their dog and learn how to meet their dog where they are at so everyone’s needs are met.

I am most proud in being able to help people develop a relationship with their dog. I love seeing people have confidence it what they are doing and trying new things with their dog.

Education is still an important part of my career, I’m just doing it a little bit differently now.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Honestly, word of mouth. Former clients, my veterinarian, and the local shelter recommend me. It means a lot to me to have former clients recommend me.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

There are several things that have helped build my reputation. First are the training techniques I employ. I use positive reinforcement in training. The use of positive reinforcement in training is effective.
Secondly, I have strong communication skills, a wide knowledge base, and experience.
Third, I take the time to get to know my clients, their goals, and their dogs and personalize training for them.
Lastly, I help to make training applicable to real life. For example, we may take a trip to a local park to work on a specific goal.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bestindog.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestindog_training/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bestindogtraining

Image Credit:

As for the picture credentials, the only picture that was taken by Monkey See is the one with me and Hank doing some nosework.  I am putting a treat on a box and there is someone else take a picture in the background.  The rest of the pictures were taken by myself or my husband.