1851

Joe Spencer’s background in the military spans 30 years, during which he dedicated himself to serving his country. Transitioning from active duty to the reserves, Joe and his wife Marlene looked for a business opportunity that could provide financial stability and allow them to spend more time together as a family.With Marlene’s deep love for animals and her experience as an assistant manager at a pet supply store,<a href="https://dogtrainingfranchising.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-this-military-veteran-and-his-animal-loving-wife-chose-a-dog-training-elite-franchise-2726474" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">&nbsp;Dog Training Elite*</a> offered the perfect fit. Now, Joe and Marlene can build a successful business in Kentuckiana, Kentucky, while enjoying the chance to be together, no longer separated by long deployments.1851 Franchise spoke to the Spencer’s about their franchise journey with<a href="https://1851franchise.com/dogtrainingelite/info">&nbsp;Dog Training Elite</a> and their 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?Joe Spencer: I'm a 30-year military guy. I wanted to take battalion command of the unit where I started at, which was a reserve unit. I had to come off active duty for that, so that left me with kind of a partial income — just a reserve type income — and we needed to find something to replace that. So we started looking into franchising. We went with a franchise coach and he gave us a few options of what could get us to where we needed to be. At the end of it, one of them was Dog Training Elite. Marlene is the assistant manager of a pet supply store here in Kentucky, and she loves animals, so that's how we picked this one.Marlene Spencer:&nbsp; I'm a big sucker when it comes to animals. We have a one-acre lot in the country and I tried to turn it into a farm with chickens and everything. Now we're just really excited about getting this opportunity that's been kind of presented to us and we're just kind of ready to run with it.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?Marlene: I think we were a little naive when it came to the knowledge of how many different franchise options are out there. You know, the first thing you think of is the restaurant industry — and there's just so much more out there — but we've always been interested in starting our own business. We kind of joked about our own franchise, but never really thought it was for us. We thought it was kind of out of our limits, maybe. And then when we spoke to our franchise coach, he quickly made us realize that it's not out of our reach and it's totally in our reach and so that's what we're doing.1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Marlene: There were a few choices. We did the personality test and stuff and, based on that, our franchise consultant broke down some different types of franchises that would be a good fit for us. And just kind of going over everything, DTE [Dog Training Elite] really just kind of seemed like the fit for us. It was something that we could have a little bit of knowledge going into starting it, not just going cold turkey with this 100%. And it's something that I have a passion for. And it's a moneymaker. So, we wanted something that kind of had all of that. We want to make money, but also provide great customer service.1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?Joe: Like Marlene said, we hope to make some money, but it's more than that. We want to be financially independent by our early 50s, which is just a few short years away. My goal has always been to retire around 53 to 55 years old, so we're on plan and we're on track to do that as long as we make this business profitable. When the business takes off, we will grow it and have more employees and eventually pass that off to an operations manager who can run the business.Marlene: Reputation with a legacy is probably the goal that we would really ultimately like to have.1851:&nbsp;What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?Marlene: For me personally, as a military spouse, it's finally a means to an end of him always having to be gone and for the kids having to adjust to different lifestyles. We're finally at a point in our lives where we can just be a family and stick together. He has worked so hard, just making sure that we've had everything we wanted and needed. And unfortunately that required him to be gone for sometimes years at a time — he just got back from a two-year separation. So, knowing that all the hard work that he has put in for that for our family, and now we're finally in a place where he can be home is just nice.1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?Marlene: It's not as scary as it appears. We really thought that it was something that was out of our reach. And it wasn't. We probably could have done this years ago if we’d had a little bit more knowledge. Don't be afraid of doing something that's just uncomfortable to you because great things can come from it. We own our own business now, we never would have thought we would have done that.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=why-this-military-veteran-and-his-animal-loving-wife-chose-a-dog-training-elite-franchise-2726474" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">&nbsp;https://dogtrainingelite.com/franchise</a>.

Dog Training Elite to Open in Kentuckiana

1851 Franchise

Joe and Marlene Spencer are combining their passions and experience to bring the franchise to Kentuckiana.

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

Why This Military Veteran and His Animal-Loving Wife Chose a Dog Training Elite Franchise

why-this-military-veteran-and-his-animal-loving-wife-chose-a-dog-training-elite-franchise

Paris Baguette

Photo of table of pastries and donuts in Paris Baguette

IndyStar: Bakery Café Paris Baguette Expanding to Indiana. What’s on the Menu?

paris-baguette-expands-to-indiana

CapitalSpring

CapitalSpring Acquires Coast Sign to Expand Support for Multi-Location Brands

capitalspring-acquires-coast-sign-to-expand-support-for-multi-location-brands

Sola Salons

Removing Obstacles Through Listening-First Leadership: Daryl Hurst’s Approach at Sola Salons

daryl-hurst-sola-salons-leadership-journey

Paris Baguette Canada

Photo of exterior of a Paris Baguette location

How Much Can I Make as a Paris Baguette Franchisee?

paris-baguette-franchise-disclosure-document-analysis

Busy Bee Jumpers

Busy Bee Jumpers: Where Proven Success Meets People-First Franchising

busy-bee-jumpers-franchise-culture-success

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 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

Homebuyers Keep Buying — And That’s Good News for Home Service Franchises - 1851 Franchise

Homebuyers Keep Buying — And That’s Good News for Home Service Franchises

homebuyers-keep-buying-and-thats-good-news-for-home-service-franchises

AI Could Push Unemployment to 20% — Fueling a Surge in First-Time Franchise Buyers - 1851 Franchise

AI Could Push Unemployment to 20% — Fueling a Surge in First-Time Franchise Buyers

ai-unemployment-impact-white-collar-job-loss

How To Sell Just One Franchise: What You’ll Learn at FranCamp NJ 2025

how-to-sell-just-one-franchise-what-youll-learn-at-francamp-nj-2025

House Passes Tax Relief Package With Key Benefits for Small Businesses and Franchises

house-passes-small-business-tax-relief-bill-2025

McDonald’s To Hire 375,000 Workers as It Prepares for Major U.S. Expansion

mcdonalds-to-hire-375000-workers-as-it-prepares-for-major-us-expansion

franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Melissa & Matt Johnson and Pigtails & Crewcuts logo

Building a Family-Friendly Business: How Melissa and Matt Johnson Grew Pigtails & Crewcuts in San Antonio

how-melissa-and-matt-johnson-grew-pigtails-crewcuts-in-san-antonio

franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Brianna and Matt Fitchett, Seniors Helping Seniors logo

Nonprofit Leaders to Bring Seniors Helping Seniors® Franchise to East Bay, California

nonprofit-leaders-to-bring-seniors-helping-seniors-franchise-to-east-bay-california

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Sean Phelan & Caring Transitions logo

From Tech to Transitions: Why This Caring Transitions Franchisee Left the Corporate World To Help Families Navigate Life’s Hardest Moves

sean-phelan-caring-transitions-franchise-austin

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Raj Pingili and Paris Baguette logo

How a Family Vacation Inspired Raj Pingili to Bring Paris Baguette to Towson, Maryland

how-a-family-vacation-inspired-raj-pingili-to-bring-paris-baguette-to-towson-maryland

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

How Car Sales Taught Buddy's Home Furnishings’ Mitchell Lee the Secrets of Franchise Development

how-car-sales-taught-buddys-home-furnishings-mitchell-lee-the-secrets-of-franchise-development

The Top 20 Handyman Franchises To Invest in for 2025

top-handyman-franchises-to-invest-in

The Top 20 Cleaning Franchises to Invest in for 2025

top-cleaning-franchises-to-invest-in

Why This Military Veteran and His Animal-Loving Wife Chose a Dog Training Elite Franchise

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS