We’re only two weeks into 2021 and Dog Training Elite is already off to a tremendous start, having already brought on two new Franchise Owners. To celebrate, we’re sharing an exclusive interview with our last Franchise Owners to join us in 2020, Shawn and Sharon Gantowski! Keep reading to learn all about the franchise-owning power couple and discover why they decided to bring a dog training business to Charlotte, NC with Dog Training Elite!

What is your personal/professional background?

Shawn: I have spent 26 years in the automotive industry, in both independent shops and large dealerships. I started my career working on vehicles and climbed the ladder to Master Technician. From there I advanced to an Assistant Service Manager where I really learned what it meant to build rapport with customers and establish long relationships with clients. After working with the customer relationship side of the business, I moved on to a Service Manager role where I got the experience to lead employees to be the best version of themselves. All the roles I played were rewarding in their own way. Personally, my favorite was dealing directly with the customers, helping them with their service needs, and building those relationships. While I was in the automotive industry, I was truly interested in the people and their stories, their vehicle was just the vessel that brought them to see me!

What are your personal hobbies or interests?

Sharon: I love to learn and explore new things. My favorite areas to learn about are psychology, neuroscience, human behavior, and understanding what forces are inside of us and how we operate. Also, what propels us forward in life and what keeps us, prisoners. I am very Spiritual and spend lots of time looking inward to constantly strive to be a better person. I have been able to overcome obstacles in my life and now try to help others through a small life coaching practice we have set up to help those who need some clarity and direction on their journey in life. I am currently enrolled in a life coaching certification program to further my knowledge and to be better equipped to help others through learning more about human psychology. This should be a great skill with our new Dog Training Elite business. I enjoy teaching others how to see things differently and to break their compulsive behaviors to external stimuli. Other hobbies include; reading, walks with our three dogs, and going to new parks or dog-friendly establishments. Spending time outdoors while just being with the environment is truly a blessing for us to participate in. I enjoy learning about other people and their stories. I love getting someone who is not smiling to smile just by getting them to talk about something they are interested in.

How did you first learn about Dog Training Elite?

Shawn: Our family was looking for a franchise to get involved with as we dream of building a legacy for our family, something we can all get behind, yet we had no idea what industry. After looking at local employment opportunity websites, we saw a large need for those in the pet industry. We came across a local dog training franchise looking for trainers. After going to their site and performing some research, I soon discovered the opportunity for dog training franchise ownership. Once we hit the Dog Training Elite website, our searching came to an end. The “high end” training that Dog Training Elite provides was leaps and bounds over anything else we had come across (and we looked at them all). We were immediately drawn to the family energy that came through everyone we interacted with from the start, beginning with our initial phone calls and inquiries. There was an instant calmness and understanding that this was what we have been looking for. Our top three objectives we were looking for were: support, initial cost, and territory availability. Dog Training Elite had everything we needed to be able to start our family’s dream business.

Why is Dog Training Elite the right fit for you?

Sharon: The culture and environment they have created are exactly what we want to build for our family’s future. The staff at Dog Training Elite are the type of people we want to be associated with. The integrity that they have shown us through this entire process has been wonderful. We want a duplicatable business model that we believe in and Dog Training Elite nailed it!

What did you like about Dog Training Elite’s dog training business model?

Shawn: The “high level” training to be more than just the cookie-cutter local dog trainer. The service and therapy dog training is something we are excited to learn so we can go out and help others get past some of their obstacles. We love that we get to go to the client’s home and train the family in the dog’s own environment and this is sure to be the best opportunity for the training to “stick”. And of course, the people at Dog Training Elite are simply amazing and only enhance the business model!

What did you like about meeting Dog Training Elite’s Founders?

Sharon: Wow, where to start? It truly felt as if we had known them for a long time. They were so inviting, open, and very transparent with their answers and their questions. We felt very comfortable and at home the entire time we were with the Dog Training Elite staff. From the Founders to the staff, we could tell the values were parallel. All were so warm and accommodating. We left saying to the Executive team that this was almost “too smooth” as everything just was seamless. Something on this type of platform should surely give you some anxiety or nervousness, yet we had none throughout this entire process. It’s just a great family and we can’t wait to meet the rest of the team and the other Franchise Owners.

What did you like about the Dog Training Elite Approval Day?

Shawn: We learned so much about the business from the marketing piece with the Ninthroot staff. So many questions were answered before I could ask them. The attention to detail was phenomenal. We were left with the impression that each person within this organization and its partnering companies would not allow us to fail. We got to participate in some live training where we learned some of what we will be doing out in the field. We got to play with a puppy!!! We also got to enjoy a group session where we learned what is involved in that component of the training. The entire time the executive team was there explaining things that we might have otherwise overlooked and was eager to answer all of our questions. It was also great to sit down and enjoy a meal with Kelley and Aidan (Rosequist) and learn more about each other and our stories which led us all to this point together. We cannot wait to get back for training and spend more time with the Dog Training Elite family.

What was the “a-ha” moment that made you want to start a dog training business with Dog Training Elite?

Sharon: This one is simple...the transparency in every detail. Never did I have to look around closed doors to find any information I required. Never did we feel that something was being missed. Everything was in the open for us to look at and ask questions. The efficiency was demonstrated by each member of the team. Their professional website, the uniforms, the elite training program that we get to offer our clients… they just performed at a very high level!

Why did you want to become an entrepreneur?

Shawn: We want to build a legacy for our family. We want to get out of the corporate circle of the “working to pay bills” modality. We want to be creative and work with beautiful human beings. We want our two daughters to be able to do it differently from the way we had to do it. We want to be able to give back to our community through the different training offered to us through Dog Training Elite such as the fundraisers, therapy dogs, service dogs, and the Malinois Foundation. We want to be part of something larger than ourselves yet feel we are able to participate, to have creative ideas, and feed off of each other’s successes both in regards to our family and the entire Dog Training Elite family. I want to put in all the crazy hours this requires and feel like it mattered and I also want our children to experience that freedom for themselves.

What do you think will make you successful?

Sharon: The Dog Training Elite culture and environment that we get to be part of. Being open to learning and receptive to feedback and advice from those who have been where we are. Knowing that the support piece has only started both from Dog Training Elite, their Franchise Owners, and affiliate partners. Willingness to do whatever is required of us to get this off the ground. Having a sales background and people skills will only enhance the foundation we are starting from. I love learning about people and building rapport with them. We will be successful because we don’t know how to think any other way :)

What sets Dog Training Elite apart, in your eyes, from other franchise opportunities in the Pet Care Industry?

Shawn: The people and the training modalities. Their professionalism from the website, to the vehicles they drive, to the open communication. They are not the cookie-cutter board and training franchise opportunity. The word elite says it all and everything we have seen has validated that word.

What has been the best part of your experience with the Dog Training Elite corporate team so far?

Sharon: Getting to spend the entire day with them during Approval Day was the best part. Being there in that space with them and learning so much in a short period of time was the highlight for us!

What advice would you give to a potential Franchise Owner?

Shawn: Look no further! Save yourself the time. If you are looking for well-rounded performance, support, openness, accommodating franchise that is not going to let you fail, this is it. If you are looking for a family-structured franchise that is going to be there every step of the way, yet allowing you the freedom of your own dog training business, give Dog Training Elite and their staff the opportunity to show you what they believe in. You won’t be disappointed.

How important are dogs in your daily life?

Sharon: We have never lived without one and could not imagine doing so. They are like children to us. We are excited to train them and open up an entirely new world for them. When asked if we had previous dog training experience, I always say that we do as our dogs have trained us!! While we currently own three dogs, we are looking at future possibilities for a fourth as another demo dog.

What do you look forward to about owning your own dog training business with Dog Training Elite?

Shawn: The opportunity to give everything we have and seeing the results of that labor in the form of our daughters’ personal growth as well as our entire family’s future. To help those who are suffering with their dog ownership and being able to provide the services they need to reconnect that dog with their family once again is exciting to think about. And of course, being part of what Dog Training Elite has built and paved the way for us Franchise Owners to build on is highly motivating! Bringing Dog Training Elite’s dog training modality to the Charlotte, NC area really brings a sense of pride and we are looking forward to serving this community with this level of service. Thank you, Dog Training Elite!

Whether it’s the Gantowskis’ strong work ethic, tons of background knowledge, or simply just their passion for dogs, we have no doubt here at Dog Training Elite that their family will see huge success with their new dog training business. We’re ecstatic to bring them on board with us and can’t wait to see what the future brings!

Does Shawn and Sharon’s story sound familiar? We thought so. Leave your boring corporate career behind and set yourself up for long term success as a dog training business owner. Visit our franchising website to get started!

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