Chase Martin’s work colleagues can be temperamental at times.
That’s OK.
He realizes he often doesn’t know much about their backgrounds, or their upbringing.
Communication and patience are key. A firm but friendly word makes a world of difference, Martin notes.
It also helps that his colleagues — his “students” — are of the four-legged variety.
Martin has taken his lifetime of experience around animals and turned it into Chasin’ Tails, a dog obedience program for pet owners in Allen, Anderson and Neosho counties.
In just a few months time, and largely through word of mouth, Martin has carved out a niche among area dog lovers.
“It’s been picking up more and more every month,” Martin said. “A lot of my clients have been really good at recommending me to others.
“It’s been great because it really doesn’t feel like work,” he chuckled. “I enjoy it.”
MARTIN offers basic and advanced dog obedience, behavior training, problem-solving and advice for pet owners, and special training for aggressive animals.
But his centerpiece is what Martin describes as his “Puppy 101” training.
“The puppy program is for someone who has probably just gotten their dog, who may be a few months old,” Martin explained. “I’m gonna come to your home and show you the proper ways to kennel train, crate train, potty train, socialization with people, socialization with other animals, getting them accustomed to vet visits.”
The key to his success, Martin noted, is that he focuses on training the pet owners as much as the animals.
“I don’t want to slam those other places, but I’m not one of those where you drop off your dogs for two weeks and come back with a well-trained dog,” he said. “He may come back well-trained, but you didn’t build that bond. He’s gonna test your boundaries at some point.
“Here, you’re learning how to manage your dog, you’re building a bond,” Martin continued.
With that in mind, Martin notes all of his lessons are shaped by the animal and owner, and aren’t dictated by a calendar.
“With my puppy program, it’s done when it’s done,” he said. “I’m not saying, ‘Hey after 10 lessons, you’ll have a trained dog.’ But I’m confident in doing what I know. What you pay me, you’ll get in return with a well-behaved dog.”
