A Veteran’s Battle with PTSD Inspires New Dog Training Elite Franchise in Corpus Christi, Texas

Anuj and Jessica Kainth, a couple united by their shared military background and a profound love for dogs, have recently embarked on a new venture as franchisees with a dog training franchise Dog Training Elite* in Corpus Christi, Texas. 

Before franchising, former combat medic Anuj battled PTSD, which led him to discover the healing powers of service dogs through his own experiences as a client of Dog Training Elite. The effectiveness of Dog Training Elite's process and the bond he developed with his service dog motivated him to help others experiencing similar challenges. 

"It helped me so much that I decided that is what I wanted to do with my life," Anuj said. “We actually trained with another franchise at first, but we enjoyed Dog Training Elite so much more. We love how they build relationships with clients, their follow through and their approach. It really meant the world to me, and we knew it could do the same for other people.”

Jessica, who was a lab tech in the military, was also driven by her own personal passion for animals, most notably, a recently-rescued stray dog who has shown remarkable improvement after receiving training from Dog Training Elite.

“He was so fear-reactive when we first got him last year — it was hard to take him on walks or around other people,” said Jessica. “Now, thanks to this training method, he has come so far and is even being trained as a service dog. We really believe in this brand and are excited to bring it to our community.”

Looking ahead, the Kainths have ambitious business plans. They aim to expand by opening a dedicated facility within the next three to five years and intend to collaborate with organizations that assist military veterans through service dogs.Their long-term vision includes establishing a non-profit dog rescue to train and rehabilitate dogs.

1851 Franchise spoke with the Kainths to learn more about their inspiring franchise journey with Dog Training Elite and their plans for the future. 

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Anuj: I was in the Army for 18 years as a combat medic. Jess was also in the army for six years. When I left, I started doing consulting work. As I started the process of overcoming PTSD, I got my first service dog. We went through Dog Training Elite as a client to train the dog, and the whole process helped me so much that I decided that it was what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. We talked to the local franchise owner and they recommended becoming a franchisee ourselves.

Jessica: I was a lab tech in the military. We are married, so a big part of me getting involved with Dog Training Elite was just the desire to support Anuj in any way I could. But I have always loved being around dogs and the training process.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Jessica: I had always kind of considered running a business, so when we found Dog Training Elite and they recommended purchasing a franchise of our own, it all seemed to fall into place and made perfect sense. 

Anuj: The franchise model really made the whole process very easy. Rather than starting from scratch and trying to figure out every aspect, we were able to follow a proven model that we already knew worked from personal experience. 

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Anuj: When we were training my service dog, we actually used two different training franchises, but we enjoyed Dog Training Elite so much more. We love how they build relationships with clients, their follow-through and their approach. It truly meant the world to me, and we knew it could do the same for other people.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Anuj: We are definitely looking to open a brick-and-mortar facility within the next three to five years. We also want to get involved with organizations that help military veterans with service dogs at some point. Eventually, long-term, our dream would be to open a non-profit dog rescue shelter that also helps train them down the road through Dog Training Elite. 

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Jessica: We actually rescued a dog from the shelter last August. He was a stray, so he was so fear-reactive when we first got him — it was hard to take him on walks or around other people. Now, thanks to this training method, he has come so far and is even being trained as a service dog. We really believe in this brand and are excited to bring it to our community.

1851: What advice do you have for others thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Jessica: Sit down, find other franchise owners and people who have been through it, grab a coffee and ask all the questions you can. Take in as much information as possible so you can see both the good and the bad. 

For more information on franchising with Dog Training Elite, please visit: https://1851franchise.com/dogtrainingelite/.

ABOUT DOG TRAINING ELITE

With more than four decades of experience in dog training, Dog Training Elite is one of the country’s leading obedience and specialized training franchises. Offering a comprehensive suite of customizable training programs, Dog Training Elite works with dogs and owners to meet any and all training needs, including therapy dog training and advanced service dog training for PTSD support, psychiatric support, mobility support, autism support, diabetic alert training and an array of other services. In addition to the wide breadth of services offered, Dog Training Elite differentiates itself from competitors through a uniquely human-focused approach to dog training, which focuses on helping owners and their families learn to effectively and consistently support their dog’s training needs. To learn more about franchising with the Franchise 500 Dog Training Elite, visit https://dogtrainingelite.com/franchise.