Somers Business Spotlight: Helping Dog Owners Train, Understand & Respond to their Pets

Every local business has a story worth sharing with the community. The plan behind this series at Patch is to shine the spotlight on all our favorite local businesses, and to learn a little about the ones we may not know that well.

This is as much about supporting local businesses as it is about celebrating the places and faces that make our community special. Click here to get to a simple form where local business owners can answer a few quick questions to be part of this ongoing feature.

Our spotlight today is on Steve Reid.

Business: S.R. Dog Training, LLC
Owners: Steve Reid
Website: www.srdogtraining.com
Address: I am a Somers based business that provides in-home dog training. I service not only Somers and Yorktown, but also all of Westchester, Putnam, and parts of Connecticut.

How did you come up with the name?
S.R. stands for the initials of my name, Steve Reid. I want dog owners to feel reassured that they will be working with the owner of my business and that I take such pride in the quality and service of my work that I want to put my name on it.

Why choose that location? Why start a business in this town?
I grew up and currently reside in Somers, so I wanted to keep my business here in order to support my local community. I specialize in at-home dog training, because I feel it is best to train the dog in the environment where the dog lives and where the owner typically faces their dog training challenges. This enables us to achieve the best results possible.

Briefly, what business are you in?
I am a professional dog trainer, but I do a lot more than simply teaching obedience commands. I bridge the communication/understanding gap between dog and owner. I help owners understand what their dog is trying to tell them and show how we should respond

What’s the most difficult moment or challenge you’ve faced as a business owner?
My most difficult challenge is that some owners think their dog is “untrainable” and they simply have to deal with their dog’s undesired behavior; I want owners to understand that is not the case. No dog is “untrainable”. We can start training puppies at 8 weeks old and we can train dogs 5+ years old. I use a clear system of training that works for all dogs regardless of breed or age. I want owners to realize they do not need to continue to struggle with their dog, they can live the happy and stress free life they have wanted with their dog.

Were there any challenges that made you second guess your decision to be an entrepreneur?
Fortunately there have not been any challenges that have made me second guess being an entrepreneur. Granted, life and business are never perfect and without bumps in the road. My passion is helping owners and working with dogs, so any challenge that comes up is superseded by my love for what I do.

What’s been your favorite moment or proudest achievement since opening?
My favorite moment is when I see owners no longer struggling with issues that have been plaguing them for years or ones they thought would just be something they have to deal with. I also love to see new puppy and dog owners who take initiative to start proper training from the start. They are able to solve common challenges such as housebreaking and obedience training quickly, so they can enjoy their new puppy/dog without the worry and hassle that can develop.

What’s the most innovative idea your employees or customers have had that you put into practice?
Unfortunately there is a lot of inaccurate and ineffective information out there on how to train a dog. After taking part in my training and seeing the results they achieved, many of my clients suggested that I get my information out to more people in order to help more owners. In order to do this, I conducted several dog training presentations at local venues, and have been published by many online resources both locally and globally. I have an upcoming free dog training presentation that will be held at Mahopac Library on Saturday September 27 at 10:00 a.m. This presentation is entitled, “Addressing Common Challenges with the Family Dog”. All are welcomed to attend.

How do you deal with difficult customers?
I don’t view any of my clients as “difficult”. Owners often come to me because they are struggling with their dog or frustrated because they worked with a previous trainer and did not have a positive experience. I understand how difficult that can be, so I encourage clients to follow my advice and we will succeed at helping their dog and eliminating the stress they are experiencing.

How does your business give back or get involved in the community?
I volunteer weekly at my local humane society and rescue organizations. I encourage anyone who is looking for a new puppy or dog, to please visit the terrific animal shelters in both Westchester and Putnam Counties. There are so many amazing dogs looking for a loving home and family to call their own. If anyone needs assistance in choosing a potential dog for their family, please contact me and I will help guide them with this free of charge.