We recently connected with Stephanie R. Smith, M. Ed., CHES, CCDT and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Stephanie R. thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
I offer heart centered holistic canine behavioral support, training, and nutrition counseling. My journey to become who I am and offer the services I do is a myriad of puzzle pieces collected over decades of experience, studies, and gritty hard work.
The problems I solve for clients is empowering them to help their canines live a happier life through a better understanding of their canine, their needs, the inputs of their environment, and steps in which to make adjustments in all the aspects of their lives, which in turn, helps everyone live a much more mindful, happier, healthier, and more harmonious life together.
I am most proud of the 15 year old, 20 year old, 25 year old, 30 year, and 35 year old Self who so many times felt like she was lost, unsure of what was next, unsure of how I would be able to better support humanity and beyond. I am grateful she never allowed external experiences to derail her from continuing to follow her heart and soul, leading us to exactly this moment in time.
I would want future clients to know that they have what it takes to mindfully and compassionately train, care and otherwise support their canines in a way that best reflects themselves and their goals. Understanding their canine will indeed help them better understand themselves and will impact their lives in spectacular ways!
Stephanie R., love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I offer heart centered holistic canine behavioral support, training, and nutrition counseling. My journey to become who I am and offer the services I do is a myriad of puzzle pieces collected over decades of experience, studies, and gritty hard work.
The problems I solve for clients is empowering them to help their canines live a happier life through a better understanding of their canine, their needs, the inputs of their environment, and steps in which to make adjustments in all the aspects of their lives, which in turn, helps everyone live a much more mindful, happier, healthier, and more harmonious life together.
I am most proud of the 15 year old, 20 year old, 25 year old, 30 year, and 35 year old Self who so many times felt like she was lost, unsure of what was next, unsure of how I would be able to better support humanity and beyond. I am grateful she never threw allowed external experiences to derail her from continuing to follow her heart and soul, leading us to exactly this moment in time.
I would want future clients to know that they have what it takes to mindfully and compassionately train, care and otherwise support their canines in a way that best reflects themselves and their goals. Understanding their canine will indeed help them better understand themselves and will impact their lives in spectacular ways!
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Gosh, life has been FULL of pivots!!!
At one point in my life, I co-owned and operated two businesses. I left my teaching career in Massachusetts including an Adjunct Professor position at Worcester State University and moved to Cornish, Maine to follow my deep passion to help humanity and beyond in any way I could. Our businesses were Mind Body Soul Holistic Wellness and The Root & Tea Tea Shoppe and Apothecary. Under our roof we had almost 30 holistic practitioners including, acupuncture, massage, Reiki, Shamanic healing, clinical herbalism, yoga, sound healing, and so much more! We also has in house a myriad of teas, herbs, tinctures, and other natural remedies.
A year in, we had to close our businesses. I felt completely and utterly devastated. I felt lost. I felt like a failure. I felt like I let everyone down.
Two years later, as we prepared for Bar Harbor, Maine, opening a canine health business, we were shifted hours before in a completely different direction.
My huskies, Ashe and Ember, and I embarked on an unexpected 7 month travel adventure in a 60sf tiny house (really an ice shanty on wheels). We ended up in Texas for a period of time preparing to cross over into Mexico for our next leg. A massive shift occurred, again hours before our departure, when Sweet Pea entered our lives (an abandoned German Shepard mix). I knew exactly then, we were meant to head back to Maine and begin dog training school opening a holistic behavioral and canine nutrition consulting business.
As I work my way to becoming a Ph.D., and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, I can only imagine how many more incredible pivots there will be!
I am so grateful I trusted my heart every step of the way despite its turmoil, confusion, and heartache.
I would not be here unless I leaned in whole heartedly and with absolute trust that what is for my highest good would unfold with complete perfection!
Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?
In my opinion, integrity; clear open and honest communication; holding a compassionate container; and being present with my clients is the most important components of my business.
When a client enrolls in my services, they get life long support. I connect with them in various ways including follow-up texts and emails, check-ins periodically throughout the year, and help them stay up to date through newsletters and soon vlogs, webinars, workshops and more.
Brand loyalty happens when the owner and their employees show up fully themselves, serving and supporting their clients to the best of their ability in accordance with their needs for as long as they need.
I feel this is critical component of my business
Contact Info:
- Website: www.oursacredpaws.com
- Instagram: @oursacredpaws
- Facebook: Sacred Paws
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/holisticcaninebehavior
- Youtube: @oursacredpaws