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

Marsha , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I’ve always believed to treat others exactly the way I wanted to be treated. This is also my philosophy when it comes to training dogs and their owners. My passion for dog behavior and training started over 18 years ago when I adopted a shelter puppy that included a free training. The trainer at the shelter opened my eyes of what not to do as I saw her dragging and yanking my little puppy around by her leash. It was at this moment I knew there had to be a better, safer and humane way to train a dog. This was the beginning of my journey into dog behavior and training.
I was fortunate enough to be able to work and learn from many of the top trainers around the world. It was from these great trainers that I not only learned some of the best techniques in training a dog and learning a dogs behavior, but I learned from their leadership, guidance and beliefs the best way not only to train dogs, but how to run a successful business with integrity and care from the client with the problem dog to the new hired trainer.
One of the most important lessons I learned from training dogs that I apply to my business is , no two dogs are the same, each has different personalities, weaknesses and strengths. Therefore you train each dog as an individual not a cookie cutter training plan. When it comes my company and people we work with ,it’s important to treat each client as an individual, because they are. We listen to their concerns, fears, expectations and celebrate each of their successes.
It is because of our companies work ethics, integrity, integrity and commitment, that many of our clients and those we have helped in and outside our community, consider us friends and family.
Our company has been blessed by wonderful people in our community, and we feel it is important that our company gives back and does what we cab to help in any possible way

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

We offer all levels of obedience training from puppy kindergarten yes young puppies greatly benefit from learning at a young age to be handled, socialization, playing on equipment.

As well as adult obedience that teaches more complex skills , such as sitting and waiting at doors, gates, sitting at sidewalks ( not to rush out into the street) how to work around low and high distractions.

We also do fun things like teaching dogs to do tricks. Such as sit pretty, roll over, wave, ride a skateboard just to name a few.

Our newest programs are Search and Resuce Dogs for live tracking and cadaver work to help families when loved ones go missing. And Detection Dogs Narcotic, Weapons. Arson to name a few.

Dog training is our business but more importantly they are our life.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

We are up front and honest with our clients, we do not promise to fix a dogs behavior when the behavior can only be managed.. we invite possible new clients out for a meet n greet with us to see our training center this is very important as it is a good way to break the ice. We also let new clients try any training tools before they buy them so they can see what is the best one for them and their dog. By doing this we have found to have the best reputation as the honest dog trainers around.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

When we start with a new client they always end up becoming a friend we tell them on day one that if they have questions during the week to text us. And on the last day we tell them the support doesn’t end here and I will say they most of the time a new friendship will have formed. We stay in touch via Facebook, texting they even come out to events to give support and our help out.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.k9pawsbehaviordogtraining.com
• Instagram: k9pawsdog
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/K9PAWSTRAINER?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Image Credits
Photos by Randy Durfee