Meet Denise Mange of Pet Prana in Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Denise Mange.

After a decade working at some of the most prestigious advertising agencies in New York City, Denise left the glitz and glamor of Madison Avenue to pursue a true sense of fulfillment and soul’s purpose, which she found working with dogs. Upon certification through traditional dog obedience training programs, she felt there had to be more that could be done to honor the connection between pups and their humans.

Looking for ways to foster those deeper connections, Denise studied with some of the top animal communicators and intuitive in the field, and eventually developed her own unique brand of intuitive dog training to help pet parents forge a loving partnership with their pups through the lens of mind, body, and energetic connection.
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Denise’s proprietary process Translating Beyond Behavior(SM) provides a roadmap to how your pet’s behaviors can give you specific insight into the healing that is ready to take place for humans and their animal companions alike, including limiting beliefs that are ready to be released and the corresponding chakras they affect.

Denise’s integrative approach helps foster true partnerships and heart-centered connections that deepen the compassion and understanding of the lessons your animal companions are here to share with you, using methods such as meditation, energy work, pet numerology, and animal communication in conjunction with the fundamentals of traditional obedience training. Think of it as self-help, for Pet’s sake!
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Denise received her dog trainer certification from Animal Behavior College, is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), and is a certified Animal Communicator and Intuitive Energy Reader through top experts in the field.

Denise, can you give us a little background on your philosophy of how energy applies to dog obedience training:

As a dog obedience trainer I have had the privilege and pleasure of observing how dogs best respond to learning commands and new behaviors, beautiful ways in which pet parents and their animal companions learn from each other, and ultimately whether or not they are effectively communicating.

Our most basic and primal way to communicate with each other, and especially with our animal companions, is energetically. But somewhere along the way it seems to have been forgotten as being a basic building block of dog obedience training.

Whether we are practicing commands with our dogs, going for a walk, or even simply watching TV together, we are communicating with our dogs on an energetic level. We are just not always intentional or conscious of what is being conveyed. Our dogs capture our thoughts and emotions like antennas, so it is important that we be tuned into what we are broadcasting.

Energy matters, and we want to be sure we are transmitting messages that are in line with what we are asking of our furry friend in the moment. If we are asking for a SIT, we must ensure we are communicating so with our voice, with a precise and consistent gesture, and that our energy is also calm, directing him or her to rest their tush upon the ground. Not through aggressive or bossy energy, frustrated if we do not feel heard, but through cohesion and presence, ensuring that your mind, body, and energy are all leading your dog to the same end point.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve been relatively lucky, with the occasional bumps along the way. Here are some of the challenges I faced, and how I approached them. The upside of being able to wake up and do something you love that contributes to the betterment of humans and animals alike is priceless, and worth any entrepreneurial headache that may come my way.

BUILDING A CLIENT BASE
Having come from a marketing background, I launched my brand using broad strokes marketing tactics to advertise my services, such as fliers, yelp, and google ads. One particular experience (which I affectionately refer to as “The Murder House” session) taught me that the best way to market one’s self as female dog trainer is via direct referrals from vets and, eventually, existing clients. Not only will the client be more open to the value you bring as a trainer (and more willing to pay the fee vs being a price-shopper), but it is safer for the trainer. A vetted prospect who has rapport and a pre-existing relationship with another respected professional provides a better ROI than any online ad could ever get you.

SCALABILITY
As a trainer, I have limited hours in my week and reach most pet parents on a one on one basis. As business becomes more predictable and stable, my current challenges are 1) creating opportunities for passive income, and 2) finding ways for my messaging and techniques to reach a broader audience. I created affordable online training videos ($35.99 a class) that discuss the philosophy behind traditional basic obedience techniques, along with step-by-step how to training videos. To honor the energetic aspect of training, each video comes with mediations and energetic considerations of pet guardianship. I also am in the process of developing workshops for pet parents and other trainers interested in the energetic aspects of pet behavior to leverage my time more efficiently, and as a means to get my message out more broadly via other trainers and their work. Additional goals for 2017 include increased visibility of my philosophy/messaging/pet education through leveraging audiences from publications, podcasts, and/or broadcast. I would like to provide content/expert opinions for articles, explore a regular column, and potentially do appearances as a pet expert on podcasts and local morning shows.
The Murder House experience:

In the beginning of my career, I received a call from a client who had found me via one of my online ads. We spoke over the phone, and he mentioned that he was looking for training services for his dog. He used the term “we” quite generously throughout the conversation, and there was reason to believe he meant that to mean him and his wife. Upon arrival at the client’s home, I was met by a very dodgy, sketchy man inviting me into a dark apartment. Not only was it poorly lit, but there were stacks of newspapers and magazines everywhere on the floor, complemented by eerie-looking dolls and puppets hanging on the walls. He was alone – with a very quirky dog who did indeed need training – and although I wanted to run, I entered the home and completed the training session. That evening I removed all my online ads, and decided that I would rather patiently build my business via referrals from vets and other clients. And as a thank you to my clients who recommend my services to friends, I drop off bottles of wine and doggy treats. It’s a win-win situation.

Can you tell us a little more about Pet Prana – what should we know? What are you known for, what sets you apart, what are you most proud of?
WHAT I AM KNOWN FOR
Although Pet Prana is technically a company that provides dog training services, clients have said that I am more of a dog trainer/life coach/therapist. I take into consideration the entire scope of what your pet’s behavior is reflecting back at you, but I always respect the pet parent. We can go as traditional or as integrative with the training experience as they would like, which is important to emphasize. Leveraging energy in training can happen in varying degrees – it can entail everything from exuding more confidence, because you have a protocol in place to manage an unwanted behavior, to uncovering and healing limiting beliefs that may be affecting you and your animal companion on a deeper level.

WHAT SETS ME APART
To the best of my knowledge, I am one of the very few dog trainers (if not the only dog trainer) who offers the option of combining methods such as meditation, energy work, reiki, pet numerology, and animal communication with the fundamentals of traditional obedience training. For those pet parents who want to go deeper in the relationship dynamics with their animal companions, I created a proprietary process. Translating beyond Behavior (SM) provides a roadmap to how your pet’s behaviors can give insight into the healing that is ready to take place for both humans and their animal companions alike, including limiting beliefs that are ready to be released and the corresponding chakras they affect. The idea is that when you are in a place of self-love, harmony, and balance, your pet’s behaviors and attitudes will reflect that.

I also throw complimentary, whimsical doggy events such as Midsummer Night’s Dream themed get-togethers complete with handmade floral crowns and bubbles, Halloween Spooktaculars where pets chose costumes to wear and be immortalized by a professional pet photographer, or even Doggy Yoga events on the East River Esplanade in NYC. The goal is not only to unleash my inner party planner, but to provide added value experiences and create a sense of community within my own little pack of clients.

Last but not least, education is extremely important to me. I love it when pet parents are dedicated to their animal companions, so strive to provide pet parents with free educational resources, whether suggested products on my website or complementary Pack Calls, where anyone is free to join, learn about a particular topic relating to pet guardianship, and even get their specific questions answered live.

WHAT AM I MOST PROUD OF
I am most proud that my clients consider themselves my friends, and sometimes even part of the family. They trust me with things they may not even have shared with their closest friends or family members. Often after intuitive energy readings or pet numerology readings, clients tell me they are moved to tears by the information, clarity, and affirmations that came through for them. Best of all, I get the incredible opportunity to witness this beautiful bond they share with their animal companions, and through my work, help foster more understanding and harmony among animals and their humans, all the while doing something I am absolutely passionate about. I am proud to be forging a new path forward in pet guardianship alongside my wonderful human and furry clients.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Authenticity. Whether with humans or dogs, if what you are verbalizing does not match your body language and your energy, they will sense a lack of authenticity and you lose credibility. Authenticity is the most essential quality to possess in order to be accepted and respected in the animal kingdom.

Pricing:

• In Person Training Session | $150 for 120 minutes / $85 for 60 minutes
• Intuitive Energy Reading (aka Animal Communication Session) | $85 for 60 minutes
• Pet Numerology with Personalized Energetic Portrait and Write Up | $85

Contact Info:

• Address: 4049 Via Marina
  Marina del Rey, CA 90292
• Website: www.PetPrana.com
• Phone: 617 480 3927
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @Denise_Trainer
• Facebook: Denise Trainer | Pet Prana
• Twitter: @Denise_Trainer
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/pet-prana-marina-del-rey

Image Credit:
Anike Niemeyer