1851

Before entering the world of franchising,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-zimmermann-68500915/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=dog-training-elite-franchisee-pursues-passion-full-time-backed-by-20-years-of-animal-massage-and-akita-training-2726499" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Debbie Zimmermann</a> spent over two decades as a senior supervisor in a manufacturing company's customer service department. She has also spent over two decades working with animals through animal massage and agility training, especially with Akitas. Zimmermann recently decided it was time to transition to pursuing her passion for working with dogs full time as a franchisee with&nbsp;<a href="https://dogtrainingfranchising.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=dog-training-elite-franchisee-pursues-passion-full-time-backed-by-20-years-of-animal-massage-and-akita-training-2726499" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dog Training Elite*</a> in Little Rock, Arkansas.Although Zimmermann has pursued various ventures before — animal massage, a small secretarial business, art — she has decided it’s time to bet on herself and dream bigger. She found that franchising offered a path to growth that she had previously been too afraid to pursue independently.&nbsp;“I’ve always been accused of thinking too little,” she said. “That’s what I enjoy about the franchises. They’re already bringing you in and you’re looking at growing bigger with their help.”1851 Franchise spoke with Zimmermann about her journey into franchising with&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/dogtrainingelite/info">Dog Training Elite</a> and her plans for the future.1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us.&nbsp;What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Debbie Zimmermann:&nbsp;I was a senior supervisor in a manufacturing company for a customer service department before this. Things were pretty good during COVID, but after COVID they started returning back to the old ways and I just decided I’d had enough; I was there for over 20 years. It was time to move on.I’ve also done animal massage for 20 years and I work with Akitas in agility training. I've had Akitas for about three generations now and I like how stoic they are. They're very majestic. It takes a strong person to deal with an Akita. Each one I’ve had gets me a little bit closer to understanding what Akitas are all about. I am always trying to figure out what I need to do to motivate them, whether it's food or a toy or just being more directional. Having such a difficult breed has actually set me up to work with other dogs.Even with the animal massage, not all dogs want your hands on them, so you need to be really intuitive and feel like their energy is shifting.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?Zimmermann:&nbsp;What first came to mind was McDonald’s and all the fast-food chains. But when I learned more about franchising, I realized almost every company is a franchise. It’s so much easier to go with the franchise model because they’ve already paved the road.&nbsp;I’ve always been accused of thinking too little. I run my own secretarial business. I’ve done the animal massage. I’m an artist. I’ve done all these little things and I was too afraid to go bigger. That's what I enjoy about the franchises. They’re already bringing you in and you’re looking at growing bigger with their help.1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Zimmermann:&nbsp;I am most excited about working with service dogs and emotional support dogs. As I’m so into the dog world. I hear a lot of people who are upset because they’ve got their service dogs with them and they encounter another person with a service or emotional support dog that is not well behaved.I understand that our animals are so close to us. They know when you’re upset and they do try to make you feel better, but that doesn’t make them a service dog automatically. I think we’ve got to come up with a way to make it so that people can take their animals with them and those animals are well behaved.1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;Zimmermann:&nbsp;Everything I touch, I give 110% — I want to change the world. I want to train people to train their dogs so they can take them out with them. I am very excited about serving such a big community in Arkansas.1851:&nbsp;What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?Zimmermann:&nbsp;People think their problems are unique and they are, but Dog Training Elite is unique because we approach each problem individually. I’m here to help dog owners and I’m not willing to walk away until we get the situation corrected for the dog owner.1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?Zimmermann:&nbsp;I know it is a scary thought and investing money is scary, but jump; it’s worth it.I tend to be a jack-of-all-trades type of person, but this is my passion. I wish I had jumped faster, but I was so worried. We all are our own worst enemies and if I just would have done what I tell other people to do, which is put that fear up on the shelf, I’d have been better off sooner because it’s a fun ride and there’s so much out there to learn.ABOUT DOG TRAINING ELITEWith 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<a href="https://dogtrainingelite.com/franchise.?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=dog-training-elite-franchisee-pursues-passion-full-time-backed-by-20-years-of-animal-massage-and-akita-training-2726499" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">&nbsp;https://dogtrainingelite.com/franchise</a>.

Dog Training Elite Franchisee Transitions From 20 Year Career

1851 Franchise

Zimmermann has always been “a jack of all trades” but has decided it is time to take the leap and build a business around her passion for training dogs. 

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

Dog Training Elite Franchisee Pursues Passion Full Time, Backed By 20 Years of Animal Massage and Akita Training

dog-training-elite-franchisee-pursues-passion-full-time-backed-by-20-years-of-animal-massage-and-akita-training

Children's Lighthouse

How Children’s Lighthouse Stands Out Among Other Children’s Education, Childcare, and Daycare Franchises

how-childrens-lighthouse-stands-out-among-other-childrens-education-childcare-and-daycare-franchises

The Growth Coach

The Growth Coach Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

the-growth-coach-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-for-2025

One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning

Why One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning Sees People as the Power Behind Franchise Growth

one-hour-heating-air-conditioning-franchise-growth

Lawn Doctor

Design with photo of John Perry and Lawn Doctor logo

How a 20-Year Industry Veteran Tripled His Sales With a Lawn Doctor Franchise

lawn-doctor-franchise-success-story-john-perry

Fitness Premier

The Secret to Fitness Franchise Success? It's Not Just the Workouts

fitness-premier-franchise-marketing-support

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Design with American and Federal Reserve flags against light blue background

Federal Reserve Expected To Cut Rates by Quarter Point, a Move That Could Boost Franchise Growth

fed-rate-cut-boosts-franchise-growth

Potbelly to be Acquired by RaceTrac in $566 Million Deal 

racetrac-acquires-potbelly-in-566-million-deal

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities - 1851 Franchise Agg

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities 

health-care-hiring-slowdown-in-home-care-franchise-opportunities

Caribou Coffee Names Scott Kennedy CEO, Eyes Continued Growth

caribou-coffee-names-scott-kennedy-ceo-eyes-continued-growth

McDonald’s Launches New Extra Value Meals as Consumer Demand for Value Continues to Climb

mcdonalds-launches-extra-value-meals

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Multi-Unit Wendy’s Operator Signs 12-Unit Deal With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

ricki-oberoi-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth

graphic image of an 1851 franchisee spotlight brayden and johnny steven of teriyaki madness

Father-and-Daughter Team Bring Teriyaki Madness to Wichita, Kansas, With Big Expansion Plans

johnny-brayden-steven-teriyaki-madness-wichita

photo-of-laynes-chicken-fingers-dalton-dennis-southern-oregon

23-Year-Old Entrepreneur Brings Soon to Be Famous Chicken™ to Southern Oregon With 3-Unit Layne’s Chicken Fingers Franchise Signing

laynes-chicken-fingers-dalton-dennis-southern-oregon

1851 Keyword - The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

part-time-franchises-picking-the-right-model

DevHub - Meet the Supplier - 1851 Franchise

DevHub: Scalable Digital Marketing for Franchises and Multi-Location Brands

devhub-meet-the-supplier

1851 Franchise Deep Dive graphic with Sparkle Squad logo

Sparkle Squad Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-sparkle-squad-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Design with school-aged child standing on pencil with text "Education Franchises" and "<$500K"

Top Education Franchises Under $500K To Explore in 2025

top-education-franchises-under-500k

Dog Training Elite Franchisee Pursues Passion Full Time, Backed By 20 Years of Animal Massage and Akita Training

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS