The Great Franchisee: Alex Price, Dog Training Elite, Houston

Alex Price has built a career in franchising, working with sandwich chain Jimmy John’s for a decade, both as a franchisee and on the brand’s corporate team. But Price’s true passion has always been for animals. Now, price is combining his industry experience with his love for animals as one of the newest franchisees with Dog Training Elite*, the 30-plus-unit dog training franchise that is quickly expanding in markets across the country.

Price’s Dog Training Elite, which opened in Houston earlier this year, is the brand’s third location in Texas.

1851 Franchise: Tell us your story – what did you do before franchising?

Alex Price: I grew up in Northern Virginia on a cattle farm outside of Washington D.C., and I started training our family dogs when I was eight years old. I moved to Texas in 2003, where I attended Southern Methodist University. I met my wife when she was in law school, and we moved to Houston and got married. I am a big animal lover and my wife and I have two corgis. 

1851: How did you initially find out about franchising, and why did you pick Dog Training Elite?

Price: I have been in the franchising industry for the last 10 years, specifically in the restaurant space with Jimmy John’s. I’ve worked as a franchisee and for the corporate office, where I trained franchise owners and their teams. Most of my work with Jimmy John’s has been spent in the Houston and San Antonio regions. 

I’ve been trying to get into the pet industry, but I had a difficult time finding the right franchise that would allow me to own a specific territory while presenting growth opportunities as well. I always said that if I could live at a zoo, I would, but my wife won’t let me. 

When I came across Dog Training Elite, I saw how different their platform was from the competition. They focus on a unique, positive dog training program that empowers dog owners and their canines to work together, creating strong bonds and sustained obedience. I have always loved working with animals and now I get to help families build a better relationship with their dogs.

1851: How did you decide you wanted to pursue this opportunity?

Price: For me, this is a way for me to enjoy what I am doing and help people in need. In my opinion, the biggest differentiation point is the service training that the brand offers. Dog training is not just for the dog but for the owner as well. Our dog training services in Houston are personalized, and they are designed to teach owners how to train their dogs alongside a professional trainer in their home environment and in small group settings. We strongly believe that the key to sustained obedience and training is to empower owners to be an integral part of the training experience. Most training programs require minimal to no involvement from owners, and once the dog returns to their home environment, almost all progress is undone and owners feel just as helpless as they did before.

When I went into discovery day, I already knew I wanted to become a franchisee with the brand. After connecting with other Dog Training Elite franchisees, I saw how much of a family system the corporate team had built. My values aligned with their values and I knew this was the next best career opportunity for me. 

1851: What excited you most about the potential?

Price: Houston has a large dog population. The ability to positively impact the lives of dogs and dog owners is something I am very passionate about. I see this business having a lot of success due to the fact that communities west of Houston are rapidly growing. Katy is one of the fastest-growing communities in the United States. I also see Dog Training Elite as a brand where all of our local dog trainers are trustworthy and willing to be there for our clients and love what they do. We want to build a community for our clients that love their dogs just as much as we do.

1851: What are your dreams with the business? What does the future look like?

Price: We just opened a week ago and are in talks with our first clients. The goal is to run a successful territory in West Houston and explore further growth opportunities in the market. 

All of our local dog trainers are trustworthy, willing to be there for our clients and love what they do. We want to build a community for our clients who love their dogs just as much as we do, and once you begin the training process with us, you become a part of the Dog Training Elite West Houston family.

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, personal protection 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 Dog Training Elite, visithttps://dogtrainingelite.com/franchise.