Meet Cassidy Nyenhuis of Frankie & Friends Dog Training

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cassidy Nyenhuis.

Hi Cassidy, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey into the world of dog training started when I began fostering rescue dogs from high-kill California shelters. A significant number of the dogs placed in the shelter system are dumped due to lack of training and understanding of dog psychology and behavior. Many of these dogs are in desperate need of guidance. Simple changes to a dog’s mindset and behavior lead them to become highly adoptable and potentially a family’s next companion! I fell in love with the impact fostering dogs made. I felt I made a difference to the rescues who relied on fosters, to the shelter (who cheered the dogs on as they got their second chance), to the families who grew upon adoption, and of course to the dogs who came into my life. All of the dogs I have encountered have taught me something. I have always had a deep love for animals but once I discovered this new found passion, I went ALL in. I immediately wanted to expand my knowledge and education. In addition to getting my hands on as many dogs as possible, I began shadowing trainers and attending dog training workshops and seminars. Dog training is an art to me and every trainer is an artist. There are thousands of ways to communicate with and train dogs. We all have differing philosophies, techniques, and methods. There is no one way to train a dog and that is what I find so beautiful about my job.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I decided to take the scary leap and go full time with Frankie & Friends Dog Training when we moved to Denver from Southern California. Once I was able to put all my focus and energy into Frankie & Friends, we have seen such incredible growth. While growing quickly and keeping busy is technically a good problem for small business to have, it happened very fast and faster than I was prepared for. I struggled early on trying to juggle wearing all of the hats. Working with dogs came naturally to me. Managing and scaling a business of my own did not come as naturally to me. Once I saw that I was not going to be able to keep with the increase in business and continue to give the quality time needed to work with dogs, I asked my partner Orion take a scary leap with me. I had some significant learning curves along the way. I faced challenges figuring out how to scale and grow Frankie &Friends, but have been lucky enough to add two wonderful members to our team in the last year. During training sessions, I tell my clients to give themselves and their dogs grace. They are both learning something new. I try to talk to myself in the same way and give myself grace. After all, growth does not happen in the comfort zone.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Frankie & Friends Dog Training?
We strongly focus on empowering dog parents to enhance their bond with their dog through education, teamwork, and communication in order to transform the relationship between dog and human. We take our time getting to know our clients, their daily life, their dog training goals, their hobbies, etc. We customize our approach for every dog and human. We offer a variety of services such as Private Sessions, Group Training Classes, and our Board &Train Program. Our Board and Train Program is one of our most sought after programs as it is an immersive experience for both dog and human. Although the dog is with us for three to six weeks (this depends on the behavior of the dog and the owner’s goals), we have clients meet us 1-2 times weekly during the program so that they are learning the techniques to better communicate with their pup. It can be easy for a trainer to get handed a leash and achieve results but translating that to the owner is key to ensuring sustainable success. I want my clients to feel that they have all the tools they need to get the most out of the foundation that we are building with their dog. Unlike other programs out there where dogs are typically dropped off and then not seen until their pick up date, we pride ourselves in having owners participate in the weekly check-ins. Not only do owners then get to see their pup that they love dearly, they are also able to learn along side their dog. Dog training requires human training too! Our training programs are not a one size fits all. We take into consideration the dog and people in front of us. Whether dog parents are seeking guidance with their dog’s reactivity, looking to achieve a peaceful walk that allows them to hold a cup of coffee or their baby’s stroller, working towards an off leash Colorado adventure buddy, etc. we want to be able to approach dog training in different ways for different people and different dogs. We pride ourselves on giving back and getting involved in the community that has given us this platform. Frankie & Friends will collaborate with local rescues and lead group training classes, host pack walks/fundraisers, and continue to foster shelter dogs.

What’s next?
In the future we will be launching an online platform for those looking to further their understanding of their dog(s) and gain access to the various techniques we utilize. I hope that this online platform will establish a virtual Frankie &Friends community so that we can bring dog owners together like we have in person here in Denver. Of course, we hope to continue to grow our Denver family. They are the reason for our purpose and success. We are excited to get a company van that will expand the mountain adventures we enjoy bringing to the dogs in our Board and Train Program and our Day Camp Program.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.frankiefriendsdogstraining.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frankieandfriends_dogtraining?igsh=MXU4bWp0NmJ4anJ4eA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr