Dog Training Elite, the leading dog training franchise that creates happier communities through better-behaved dogs, has kicked off 2024 with nine new territories opening and deals signed for another eight, including its first franchisees in Oregon and Arkansas. As it grows, Dog Training Elite is also leveling up its community impact, partnering with Vets Helping Heroes to support veterans in gaining access to free service dog training.

“There is a persistent need for high-quality dog training nationwide, and we’re excited to be taking steps to bring our intentional, evidence-based model to more major markets,” said CEO Betsy Feaster. “We have already opened six new territories in Los Angeles and another three in Corpus Christi, Texas, and we have another eight territories on the docket to open this year.”

These newly signed agreements are for Dog Training Elite’s first territories in Oregon, with a franchisee who will serve the Portland and Bend communities, and Arkansas, with a franchisee who will serve the Little Rock area.

“We’re excited to be establishing a flagship business in Oregon that will support growing brand awareness and expansion along the West Coast,” said Director of Development Kelley Rosequist. “Little Rock is an exciting one, too, because it’s a really fast-growing area that will illustrate how Dog Training Elite can succeed in more rural areas.” 

These developments are part of Dog Training Elite’s larger expansion strategy. After awarding 30 territories in 2023, the team is working to do the same this year, focusing on establishing new territories along the West Coast, throughout the Mid-Atlantic and in Boise, Idaho.

“This year, Betsy and I are going to be more involved in the franchise development process, and one of the things we’re very excited about is the opportunity to attend major franchise conferences like the International Franchise Expo in New York City,” Rosequist said. “We both own Dog Training Elite franchises, so we can speak to prospective owners with both ownership and leadership perspectives. And we’ll have our dogs with us, so it’s a fun opportunity for people to get to see the product, too.”

As it works to grow its footprint, Dog Training Elite is also reaching out to support members of the communities it serves. Earlier this year, it became a partner of Vets Helping Heroes, a nonprofit organization that works to provide service dogs to wounded veterans and active-duty military personnel free of charge. While Vets Helping Heroes is connected with breeders and trainers, a partnership with Dog Training Elite means the organization can now support veterans who would like to train their own dogs to be service animals.

“The opportunity to help a veteran train an animal they already own and have connected with is so meaningful,” said Feaster. “The process to obtain a service animal from an organization that breeds and raises the puppies is a reliable one, but it requires a longer timeline. Not all family pets are suited for service work, but for those who are, additional training is a great pathway that we’re excited to support.”

Because Feaster herself is a veteran, she has been very involved in the establishment of the partnership and the training program that select Dog Training Elite franchisees will participate in to be eligible to train dogs for Vets Helping Heroes candidates. With an emphasis on psychiatric service animal training, the program provides franchisees insights into dog training methods and additional guidance to ensure they are interacting with the veterans in a way that allows them to glean the information they need for training purposes without overstepping any boundaries.

“Vets Helping Heroes supports veterans who need mobility assistance, which we do as well, but they also have a focus on reducing the suicide rate among veterans with the help of dogs,” Feaster said. “The ‘invisible disability’ component of PTSD still isn’t widely accepted, but when a veteran wakes up with a psychiatric service dog, it’s a game-changer. We’re proud to play a part in reducing stigma and providing veterans the tools they need to respond proactively to environmental triggers and avoid mental health crises.”

The growth achieved in the first quarter is reflective of Dog Training Elite’s plans for the remainder of the year. Through collaboration and connection, the franchise will continue to better communities across the country, whether that’s through local partnerships or the work of passionate business owners.

“With every new franchise owner, territory expansion and community partnership, we add more passionate advocates to our system who can go out into their communities and help people better understand how dogs can fit into our lives,” Feaster said. “We firmly believe that strong relationships between dogs and their handlers are the foundation of better dogs and better communities, and we plan to keep up the growth we’ve seen recently and double down on that impact.”

To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit www.1851franchise.com/dogtrainingelite/info.