The Great Franchisees: Cannady and Jack Fritzjunker, Dog Training Elite, Des Moines

Cannady Fritzjunker built a 25-year career in social work, but as much as she loves helping people, she says always wanted the opportunity to exercise her passion for animals. This year, Cannady found the perfect opportunity to turn that passion into a new career as the co-owner of a new Dog Training Elite* franchise, the 30-plus-unit dog-training franchise that has made a name for itself in the pet segment by focusing on training both dogs and their owners. Better still, her partner in the new venture is her 26-year-old son Jack.

The Fritzjunkers opened their Dog Training Elite in Des Moines — the first in the state of Iowa — in April, and they are expecting to tap into a growing demand for pet services in the area. 

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

Cannady Fritzjunker: My husband and I have raised four kids in Des Moines, and we’ve been here for 26–27 years. I was a social worker for 25 years, and I decided I wanted to do something different. I’ve always had a passion for working with animals as I’ve done foster care with local shelters in the past. I’ve also worked with service dogs and noticed a big gap in our community for dog training. We have always had two to three dogs at most times, so I figured there was an opportunity to bring my love of dogs to the community with a dog training brand. 

Jack Fritzjunker: I am 26-years-old and grew up in Des Moines. I attended Iowa State University and studied industrial design. I moved to South America and lived in Panama & Colombia for three years, where I was able to work with clients on various projects. Through this work, I realized I was passionate about working with clients and helping people achieve their goals and dreams. I was in South America until COVID-19 hit, and I moved back home. Right when I got home, I got an American Bulldog named Gus. I found myself in a similar situation as my mother as I was looking for the next step in my career. I love dogs as well, and we thought this was a great opportunity to pursue. 

1851: How did you initially find out about franchising, and what was your perception of franchising before becoming a franchise owner?

Cannady: I had been looking at franchises for five years as I knew I wanted to make a change and own my own business. I knew franchises did a great job of providing support to first-time business owners, and that was appealing to me. Buying into a brand that has success is something that interested me and made me feel better about taking the leap.

1851: How did you decide you wanted to be a franchisee?

Cannady: Jack and I narrowed it down to pet franchises because we both knew we wanted animals to be part of our next adventure. 

1851: How did you perform your research?

Cannady: We looked at different types of dog franchises but never ones that focused specifically on training. When we found Dog Training Elite and learned more about the brand, we were really excited to move forward. We attended the brand’s discovery day and were impressed with how professional and knowledgeable the team was. It truly checked all the boxes. 

Jack: Early in the vetting process, we noticed that many of the other franchise owners were a family team. That alone gave us a lot of confidence in approaching the franchise opportunity knowing that other family teams have been successful.

1851: Why did you pick Dog Training Elite? What excited you most about the potential?

Cannady: The biggest emphasis for me was the service dog piece. There is a huge gap in our community for service dogs, and I know Dog Training Elite will be able to fill that gap. 80% of our calls have been for service dog requests. We look forward to developing relationships with all types of people in our community as we know so many people in the Des Moines region love dogs. I will be doing most of the administrative work and handling inbound requests. 

Jack: It really goes back to what I am passionate about, and that’s working with clients 1x1 to help them improve their lives. As my mom mentioned, 80% of our calls so far have been for service dogs. Having conversations with clients on the phone and telling them what a service dog can do for them and how it will help has been really enjoyable so far. I will be the lead trainer and handle hiring new trainers in the area. 

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

Cannady: The goal is to build a strong business here in Des Moines and look to grow 30–40 miles outside of the region. We want to hire to meet the demand we are already seeing and see a strong opportunity to partner with many organizations in our community and fundraise so we can offer free service dogs to people who need it most in our community. 

Jack: Growing up here, we have strong connections. Des Moines is a big little city, and we are thrilled to fully integrate ourselves and believe we will have a lot of success. 

1851: What do you do in your personal time?

Cannady: I enjoy camping, running and hanging out with our dogs. I also like to listen to serial killer crime podcasts. When life gets back to normal, my husband and I are hoping to go to a few music festivals.

Jack: Any time I can spend outside is how I like to spend my time. Whether that be hiking, climbing or taking our dogs on a walk. 

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, visit https://dogtrainingelite.com/franchise.