Today we’d like to introduce you to Aleysia Leonor.
Hi Aleysia, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I didn’t know I wanted to be a dog trainer at first. But I have always loved dogs and the comfort they’ve provided me growing up. My first dog, Max, was a Scottish Terrier. Taking care of Max taught me so much about unconditional love and responsibility. He made me aware to how intelligent these animals really are. Fast forward to 2017, I had been living in San Jose for a little over a year and I started walking dogs through the app Rover to make some extra cash. After a few months, I started thinking about how I wanted to make a bigger impact in my community by educating families to properly train their dogs. I really want to prevent families from giving their dogs away because I believe they help make life more enjoyable. I received my certification from Animal Behavior College online and did an externship at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley.
Then I started my dog training business by myself in September of 2019. Even though I had very little knowledge of how to run a business, I felt confident that I could figure things out. I have always wanted to be able to work for myself and follow my own rules. I started my business with enough money to cover start-up costs and then the pandemic hit. I am very fortunate to have survived that and will reach four years of being open this coming September! Things haven’t been easy, but teaching people how to efficiently communicate with their dogs has been so fulfilling. I’m really grateful for all the wonderful people I’ve met along the way. My clients and other supporters have connected me with so many awesome people to work with. I hope to continue cultivating and creating new bonds while also opening more people up to viewing their dogs not only as animals but complex and intelligent creatures.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been a rollercoaster of a time! I started Doggie&Me right before everyone went into quarantine. I was only open for about five months until we went on lockdown. The uncertainty of what was going to happen was so nerve-wracking but I was fortunate to work from home through my old job as a case manager for this ophthalmology surgical implant device company. My lack of knowledge in how to run a business and pursuing this venture alone made it hard to get all the work done and the word out. There were so many moments where I wasn’t sure I’d be able to stay open. But I kept my faith and I feel so blessed to still be around and steadily growing every year.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Doggie&Me LLC?
I am a one-woman army that provides families with dog training, walking and sitting services. I specialize in basic obedience and house manners training. I work best with first-time dog owners who are looking to have a strong, basic foundation in caring for their new family members. People know me for being compassionate, patient, understanding and invested in my clients and their dogs. I make sure that I really listen to my client’s concerns and make lessons easy to follow and understand. If one way doesn’t work, we work together to find a solution that gets the desired result. I take pride in treating the dogs I work with as my own and provide a trustworthy service that not only helps keep families together, but the humans come out even more considerate and understanding of their dogs as animals with thoughts and feelings.
I have a holistic approach to training. I believe that just as people need to have a balanced mind, body and soul, dogs also need to have balance to lead more fulfilling lives together with their families. I take on any age, breed and temperament so long as I feel confident that I can make a difference. In addition, even though I specialize in basic obedience, I have a lot of experience in dealing with dogs that have fear-based aggression towards other dogs and humans without using any aversive training tools/techniques. Every dog learns differently and there are so many different ways to teach our dogs how to behave and listen to commands without inflicting pain or fear.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I would like to thank my friends and family who have helped spread the word about my work, consoled me during times of doubt and have come to the events I’ve hosted. I would also like to thank my clients who have given me so much validation and confidence in my work. Without their continued support and trust, I wouldn’t be able to stay in business or have the courage to continue working on my own. Whenever I worry if I am on the right path, my loved ones remind me of all the good I’ve done so far and encourage me to keep going.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.doggieandme.net
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/doggieobedience
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/100063500054853/
