After spending years in corporate America leading product management teams, Michael Krauss realized that while he enjoyed the work, he didn’t feel connected to the job itself. He wanted something more meaningful and rewarding. At his wife’s suggestion, he began exploring what a career change could look like. With the help of a career coach and a lot of reflection, he found himself drawn back to something that had been a steady part of his life for as long as he could remember: dogs.
Krauss had always loved dogs, and with a background in both psychology and teaching, dog training seemed like the perfect intersection of his interests and values. When he discovered Dog Training Elite, it checked all the right boxes — a mission-driven company, a strong support system and a model that didn’t require a large facility to get started. Just five months after opening his Westchester County location, Krauss is seeing rapid growth, strong word-of-mouth referrals and an overwhelming sense of purpose in what he does every day.
Now fully dedicated to building the business, Krauss plans to hire more trainers and potentially expand down the line, continuing to use dog training as a way to improve relationships between people and their pets. He’s passionate about the special bond between humans and dogs — one he believes goes far beyond obedience commands — and is excited to be helping families in his community build stronger, more joyful connections with their four-legged companions.
1851 spoke to Krauss about his franchise journey with Dog Training Elite. Here’s what he had to say.
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?
Michael Krauss: I’ve had dogs my whole life and have always been involved with them, but I was working in corporate America and not really satisfied with what I was doing. I was a software product management leader, and while I enjoyed the work, I didn’t enjoy the job. At my wife’s suggestion, I started looking for something I could be truly passionate about. I worked with a career coach and evaluated several different opportunities. This dog training opportunity rose to the top because it really resonated with me. It’s something I truly enjoy, something that allows me to give back to the community and help people have better relationships with their dogs. For me, it’s a win-win-win. The people are happier, the dogs are happier — everybody’s happier. That’s why I chose to pursue this.
1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Krauss: What I liked about the franchising idea was that I was going to have access to trainers with a wealth of experience — people who could cover topics and guide me through things I might not have encountered on my own. That was really one of the key things that moved me in the direction of franchising. One of my biggest fears was that I wouldn’t be able to do the job right. But with the support of the training team, I feel like I can.
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?
Krauss: My perception of franchising was really centered around fast food-type franchises and quick-service restaurants. I kind of thought of it as you’re basically working for someone else’s business. And while that’s partially true, it’s also really your own business. That’s one of the things that shifted my perception. It’s your business, but you’re not alone. I think that’s a common theme among new franchisees — realizing that you have the support of other franchisees in the system as well as the support of the corporate team.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Krauss: First, it was the dogs. The subject matter is really interesting to me. I’ve been around dogs for a long time, and I also have a background in psychology and teaching, so that combination made it especially appealing. From an economic standpoint, the upfront investment isn’t huge — you don’t have to start with a facility, and you can grow into that if it’s something you want to pursue. If you don’t, that’s okay too. That kind of flexibility was really appealing. And then, talking to the people in the organization, it felt like a good match. The mission resonated with me, and that’s ultimately what led me in this direction.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Krauss: This is my full-time focus. Ultimately, I want to hire additional trainers and grow the business that way. I may open a facility in the future, but I’m not 100% sure about that yet.
My goal is to move from being the lead trainer into a more strategic role — hiring people, building the business and scaling it. I’m not exactly sure what the final size will be — that remains to be seen. I went from being concerned that there wouldn’t be enough business to now being concerned that there’s too much, and that happened pretty quickly. I’m in month five, and I’m already seeing strong traction in the market. I’m getting referrals from existing customers and from other businesses like vets and dog walkers that I’ve built relationships with.
So, my two- to three-year plan is to hire three to four trainers and some office staff. I want to make sure I can transfer what I’ve built to other people effectively. That said, I still want to stay involved in the business — I’ll just focus on the parts I really enjoy, like handling consultations and helping move the business forward.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
Krauss: I think one of the interesting things is how I view the relationship between humans and dogs. A lot of people think, “Oh yeah, dogs evolved from wolves and became domesticated,” but they don’t always know the details of that story, which I think are important. It’s not like humans just went out, took some wolves and said, “Hey, watch our kids while we go hunting.”
Humans were actually in competition with wolves for prey animals. What likely happened is that certain wolves were naturally predisposed to be more friendly toward humans than others. Those wolves benefited from living near human encampments because their nutritional needs were more easily met. In a sense, they self-domesticated. They chose us. It’s not just that we chose them — they chose us, too.
That’s a really special kind of relationship. There aren’t many animals that have co-evolved with humans in that way, and I think that’s something truly meaningful.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Krauss: Do your due diligence. Talk to existing franchise owners and really try to understand what you’re getting into. You’re going to get busy, and you should enjoy the thing you’re busy with. I’d definitely recommend spending time with franchisees who are at different stages in the development of their territories. That perspective can be incredibly helpful.
I’d also recommend looking closely at the competitive landscape in your area. Know who your competitors are and understand what’s going to make you stand out. For example, maybe there aren’t many in-home training options available in your market — that could be your competitive differentiator.
Those are all things people should think about beforehand. And lastly, be realistic about how much time it’s going to take to ramp up a business. It’s not instant — you have to be ready to commit the time and effort it takes to get things off the ground.
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.
Dog Training Elite
SPONSORED
Michael Krauss traded product management for paw prints, launching a Dog Training Elite franchise in Westchester County that fulfills his passion for building better human-canine
After spending years in corporate America leading product management teams, Michael Krauss realized that while he enjoyed the work, he didn’t feel connected to the job itself. He wanted something more meaningful and rewarding. At his wife’s suggestion, he began exploring what a career change could look like. With the help of a career coach and a lot of reflection, he found himself drawn back to something that had been a steady part of his life for as long as he could remember: dogs.
Krauss had always loved dogs, and with a background in both psychology and teaching, dog training seemed like the perfect intersection of his interests and values. When he discovered Dog Training Elite, it checked all the right boxes — a mission-driven company, a strong support system and a model that didn’t require a large facility to get started. Just five months after opening his Westchester County location, Krauss is seeing rapid growth, strong word-of-mouth referrals and an overwhelming sense of purpose in what he does every day.
Now fully dedicated to building the business, Krauss plans to hire more trainers and potentially expand down the line, continuing to use dog training as a way to improve relationships between people and their pets. He’s passionate about the special bond between humans and dogs — one he believes goes far beyond obedience commands — and is excited to be helping families in his community build stronger, more joyful connections with their four-legged companions.
1851 spoke to Krauss about his franchise journey with Dog Training Elite. Here’s what he had to say.
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?
Michael Krauss: I’ve had dogs my whole life and have always been involved with them, but I was working in corporate America and not really satisfied with what I was doing. I was a software product management leader, and while I enjoyed the work, I didn’t enjoy the job. At my wife’s suggestion, I started looking for something I could be truly passionate about. I worked with a career coach and evaluated several different opportunities. This dog training opportunity rose to the top because it really resonated with me. It’s something I truly enjoy, something that allows me to give back to the community and help people have better relationships with their dogs. For me, it’s a win-win-win. The people are happier, the dogs are happier — everybody’s happier. That’s why I chose to pursue this.
1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Krauss: What I liked about the franchising idea was that I was going to have access to trainers with a wealth of experience — people who could cover topics and guide me through things I might not have encountered on my own. That was really one of the key things that moved me in the direction of franchising. One of my biggest fears was that I wouldn’t be able to do the job right. But with the support of the training team, I feel like I can.
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?
Krauss: My perception of franchising was really centered around fast food-type franchises and quick-service restaurants. I kind of thought of it as you’re basically working for someone else’s business. And while that’s partially true, it’s also really your own business. That’s one of the things that shifted my perception. It’s your business, but you’re not alone. I think that’s a common theme among new franchisees — realizing that you have the support of other franchisees in the system as well as the support of the corporate team.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Krauss: First, it was the dogs. The subject matter is really interesting to me. I’ve been around dogs for a long time, and I also have a background in psychology and teaching, so that combination made it especially appealing. From an economic standpoint, the upfront investment isn’t huge — you don’t have to start with a facility, and you can grow into that if it’s something you want to pursue. If you don’t, that’s okay too. That kind of flexibility was really appealing. And then, talking to the people in the organization, it felt like a good match. The mission resonated with me, and that’s ultimately what led me in this direction.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Krauss: This is my full-time focus. Ultimately, I want to hire additional trainers and grow the business that way. I may open a facility in the future, but I’m not 100% sure about that yet.
My goal is to move from being the lead trainer into a more strategic role — hiring people, building the business and scaling it. I’m not exactly sure what the final size will be — that remains to be seen. I went from being concerned that there wouldn’t be enough business to now being concerned that there’s too much, and that happened pretty quickly. I’m in month five, and I’m already seeing strong traction in the market. I’m getting referrals from existing customers and from other businesses like vets and dog walkers that I’ve built relationships with.
So, my two- to three-year plan is to hire three to four trainers and some office staff. I want to make sure I can transfer what I’ve built to other people effectively. That said, I still want to stay involved in the business — I’ll just focus on the parts I really enjoy, like handling consultations and helping move the business forward.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
Krauss: I think one of the interesting things is how I view the relationship between humans and dogs. A lot of people think, “Oh yeah, dogs evolved from wolves and became domesticated,” but they don’t always know the details of that story, which I think are important. It’s not like humans just went out, took some wolves and said, “Hey, watch our kids while we go hunting.”
Humans were actually in competition with wolves for prey animals. What likely happened is that certain wolves were naturally predisposed to be more friendly toward humans than others. Those wolves benefited from living near human encampments because their nutritional needs were more easily met. In a sense, they self-domesticated. They chose us. It’s not just that we chose them — they chose us, too.
That’s a really special kind of relationship. There aren’t many animals that have co-evolved with humans in that way, and I think that’s something truly meaningful.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Krauss: Do your due diligence. Talk to existing franchise owners and really try to understand what you’re getting into. You’re going to get busy, and you should enjoy the thing you’re busy with. I’d definitely recommend spending time with franchisees who are at different stages in the development of their territories. That perspective can be incredibly helpful.
I’d also recommend looking closely at the competitive landscape in your area. Know who your competitors are and understand what’s going to make you stand out. For example, maybe there aren’t many in-home training options available in your market — that could be your competitive differentiator.
Those are all things people should think about beforehand. And lastly, be realistic about how much time it’s going to take to ramp up a business. It’s not instant — you have to be ready to commit the time and effort it takes to get things off the ground.
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.
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