Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Diaz.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jamie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I have always been a dog lover, ever since I was a little girl. I had three dogs growing up and always felt a special connection with each one. I used to always say I wanted to be a veterinarian, at the time, that was the only real job I knew about that I could work with animals. We didn’t use dog trainers growing up, we just kind of did what we thought was best. All of my friends and family would ask me for advice about their pets, I would even then know how to train basic commands which I did for anyone that asked. When it came time to go to college, I made the decision to get my bachelors in Elementary Education. I didn’t know it then but the skills I learned to use for teaching would later carry over to dog training. Once I graduated, I started teaching in New Jersey where I grew up and loved it! I decided I needed a change and moved to Florida when I was 25. I made the unfortunate realization that teachers in Florida were making much less than what I was making in New Jersey. For the next few years I turned to bartending until I figured out what I wanted to do. This job would, too help me later with my dog training career. I can remember the exact moment that I realized what I wanted to do with my life. I was watching “Its Me or the Dog” with Victoria Stilwell. She was a dog trainer that I began to follow. Her training style and way with the people was amazing and inspiring! I said to myself “I can do that”, and it was then that I decided what I was going to do, become a dog trainer! I started researching on the web and discovered there were actual schools for dog training. I immediately enrolled and started my journey. I told my friends and family, “I’m going to be a dog trainer”. They would say “i think that will be a great hobby”. Little did they know nor me for that matter, that in a few years from then I would have made my dream a reality and actually made my passion my career. As soon as I graduated, I knew I wanted to have my own business, that’s when Dynamite Dog Training was born. I started off slow, but very quickly things began to pick up. I realized that my teaching skills with children were actually exactly the same with dogs. I used the same positive reinforcement techniques as I did when I was teaching. What about bartending? Being a bartender you have to have excellent social skills. I quickly saw that I was using those skills to connect with the people. Dog training is as much about the pet parents as it is the dog. If you cannot connect and coach the people in a way they can understand, then you are not going to be able to help their dogs. This was an invaluable lesson I learned very early on and part of the reason I am so successful. As time went on, I continued to grow. Today, with two training centers, a transport van, and fifteen employees, I am very blessed to be able to wake up and do what I love every day.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not always been a smooth road, owning a business is hard! When I first started Dynamite Dog Training, I had zero experience or knowledge on how to successfully run a business. It is easier for the most part now, yet harder in some ways. Easier because I actually do know now how to run a successful business. I am not playing the guessing game anymore seeing which puzzle piece fits where. I know what works and what has failed. It’s harder in the sense that the more you grow, the more you have to do. The more employees you need, the more delegating you have to do to make sure things get done the right way. Balance, the balance of life gets harder. When I first started over 10 years ago it was just me to worry about. Now, I have a husband, two kids, one and three and my own dogs to care for. That, alone is a full-time job. Its finding the right balance to keep the business thriving and my family happy. I think that is a struggle that as a business owner I will always have, but its totally worth it to do what I love!
Please tell us about Dynamite Dog Training.
Dynamite Dog Training has it all! We have group classes including puppy class, basic/intermediate/advanced obedience, agility, K9 nosework, therapy classes, tricks and games, off leash obedience, loose leash walking, and the list continues to grow as the needs and wants of our pet parents grows. We offer in home private training. These sessions are totally catered to the issues you are having inside and out of the home. We have gone to airports, veterinarians office, Starbucks, home depot, malls, and many other places depending on what our clients goals are with their dogs. The private sessions are invaluable for the dog but mostly for the pet parent because they are focused on coaching you individually for you to succeed with your dog. I am also a licensed Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Trainer (VSPDT). World renowned trainer Victoria Stilwell created this community of hand picked trainers world wide that only use force free methods of training. This means, NO CHOKE COLLARS, NO PRONG COLLARS, AND NO SHOCK COLLARS. Although, I am the only VSPDT at Dynamite, I try to instill these qualities and training methods to all of my trainers on a daily basis. We at Dynamite do not use any type of training that involves aversive corrections. We at DDT deal with some of the hardest aggression cases and would never use any of these measures to train a dog. Force free methods are the only methods to safely and effectively help save these dogs. I am honored to be part of the VSPDT team, coming full circle from the woman who inspired me to get into the field, Victoria Stilwell. The last unique service that I need to mention is Day Training. When I started the program, I could never have imagined the difference it would make in some of these dogs lives. Day training is where you drop off your dog for a full or half day of training with other dogs. You will receive a daily “how to” video showing you what your dog has learned that day. The surprising part of day training is that I didn’t realize what an impact it would have on the many non socialized dogs we train every day. These dogs world is very scary and through positive experiences with out trainers and other dogs they realize, “Hey this world really isn’t as scary as I think” and “these other dogs really aren’t that bad”. We are not really a fan of dog parks and not every dog is a candidate for doggie daycare. Day training gives the skills the dogs need to cope with every day life. Our unique program, I have yet to see anywhere else. Finding it hard to get your dog to training? We have that covered too! We will pick up your dog in our transport van and drop them off after a fun day of training! Dogs that train with us at Dynamite are living very happy fulfilled doggie lives!
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to start over, I would not have done anything differently. Every mistake I made, I have learned from and it has taught me to be the business woman I am today. I learned a lot of hard lessons, but have grown from them. I have learned to treat the business like a business and to not always lead with my heart. I save my heart for the dogs and pet parents and put my business hat on when handling everything else. There was a point my business almost didn’t make it, not because we weren’t busy, but because I was not making good decisions for the business. Now, I strive to be the best boss I can be while making smart decisions for the business to continue to grow and succeed.
Contact Info:
- Address: Deerfield Beach – 1809 S Powerline Road Unit 106 33442
Delray Beach- 5180 West Atlantic Avenue Suite 101-102 33484 - Website: www.dynamitedogtraining.com
- Phone: 954-515-6411
- Email: info@dynamitedogtraining.com
- Instagram: dynamitedog
- Facebook: dynamite dog training
- Twitter: dynamitedogtrng
Image Credit:
Mary Harman
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