Happy Howliday’s from Always Faithful Dog Training!

As the year end approaches many businesses will look back and ask themselves a very simple question.  Are we better off today than we were one year ago? 

This has been a year of rapid growth and major changes at AFDT.  We added 14 locations in just 10 months, we completely redesigned our website to a state-of-the-art design, we added custom CRM software, we trademarked and created the Leader Leash ™ (and other products) we hired the biggest names in the industry to consult and help train our franchisees and we sent the top 5 franchisees to directly train with the best in the industry, Cesar Millan.

I knew we were doing things right when two separate investment companies offered to buy into our company (which we humbly declined).  Our growth and leadership were noticed by people not only inside our industry but outside our industry and when investors want a piece of the pie that’s a great indicator that you have a very bright future ahead of you.

Some of the industry’s best kept asking me, what made you do all these things this year?  Did you hire an outside firm to guide you?  Who did you hire?  It was humbling to tell them that I did not hire anyone to do those things.  The leadership the franchise has seen has come from within, but it was inspired by several different things. 

1.       I chose to be led by only the best.  Cesar Millan and Todd Langston are two of the biggest names in the industry.  We have learned tremendously from them and added many tools to our already great toolbox.

2.       I removed the negative energy.  One thing I learned from the best is that you can’t have negative energy inside your system.  Wolves in sheep’s clothing, liars, cheaters, backstabbers, haters, and any other negative energy needs to be removed.  We lost a location or two doing it but that was the only path forward.  We were fortunate that some of the garbage took itself out as well. 

3.       We added support mechanisms that give the franchisees support 24/7/365.  No question goes unanswered, ever.  This is something I am very proud of.  I want my franchisees to feel like family.  We may not always see eye to eye, but we will respect one another and have the same goal of building a successful business. 

4.       I listened to the franchisees.  One of the best parts of being a franchisor is having people from all backgrounds buy into your business.  They always add value in areas that you need help in.

I’m sure there are more but these are the big ones.  I am very proud of what we have done this year and am even more excited about what our future holds with an international location on the horizon and an alignment with other like-minded companies in the industry. 

I want to give special thanks to ALL the franchisees in my system and an even bigger thanks to my manager Despy who has weathered the storms of change with me this year.  With that being said, I want to wish all our followers, clients, employees, and franchisees a very Happy Howliday season. 

We look forward to having an even more incredible 2023!