BusinessPaws Spotlight: One Smart Dog

One Smart Dog is a full-service dog training facility with a state-of-the-art agility program that opened in 2019. Led by Linda Randall, DVM, KPA CTP with eight instructors who practice the responsibility of reinforcing animals and people positively. Linda and her team provide Behavior services, Canine Essential classes, Fitness & Conditioning for dogs, Junior Handler class, Agility, Scent, Rally, and Trick courses. Their 12,000 square-foot facility sits on 100 acres of land with an adjacent 9 acre pond perfect for their client’s agility cooldown or post-training fresh air outing. Their goal is to ensure a positive experience, utilizing positive reinforcement (R+) within their training and approach to life.

The story behind the founding of One Smart Dog is a testament to passion and purpose. Linda Randall, a seasoned veterinarian with decades of experience, was driven by a desire to enhance the lives of dogs and their owners. Linda realized that while veterinary care was crucial, there was a significant gap in dog training—a field she believed had the power to transform lives. She saw the potential for dog training to not only solve behavioral issues but also to forge stronger bonds between dogs and their families. She opened One Smart Dog focusing on creating a nurturing environment where both dogs and their owners could thrive.

Like many fledgling businesses, One Smart Dog’s journey began with a series of challenges, such as issues with the installation of turf flooring for the agility area at their new facility to the onset of the COVID pandemic shutdown during their opening week. While running a large dog training business has proven more complex than anticipated, Linda identified the differences among the needs of pet care niches: sports, daycare, and training and worked diligently to incorporate these into the overall program so that the training journey would be smooth for new and existing clients. The support within her community paired with her experience in veterinary medicine helped to guide her through initial rolling openings. As demand for One Smart Dog's services increased, Linda faced difficulties in scaling her operations without compromising the quality of training. Finding and training qualified staff who share her philosophy and approach has been key to their success.

A key aspect of Linda’s method is her willingness to meet clients where they are. Linda is a staunch advocate of R+ methods and recognizes that clients may come to her with a history of different methods and practices. By remaining flexible and open-minded, she aims to guide her clients toward an understanding of their dog’s emotional and physical states through positive training.  Her clients who want to solve emotional or behavioural problems in private coaching sessions and her group classes focus on building a bond, reducing myths about dog guardianship, and provide the tools for pet parents to practice dog training effectively based on scientific evidence. This balance is crucial in fostering a positive relationship with clients and advancing the broader goals of the industry.

Unique to One Smart Dog, Linda’s combination of veterinary expertise and a passion for agility training had an impact on many owners within their first year. Being a veterinarian, Linda was able to identify underlying medical issues with dogs brought in to receive training, and recommended the tests and treatments which may uncover and remediate those same issues. Using this knowledge of often overlooked health issues in dogs with behavior problems, she's been able to help dogs regain their energy and enthusiasm, and decrease their reactivity, allowing them to enjoy activities like long walks with their favorite people and agility once more. This holistic approach not only improves the dogs' well-being but also brings immense joy and relief to their owners. For Linda, these moments of seeing dogs thrive again are the true victories, and has enabled her to gain the trust and confidence of community members.

What does evolving within the industry mean for Linda and One Smart Dog? They are dedicated to helping reduce barriers to dog care and training by offering some free and low-cost services and webinars to provide services for everyone, including marginalized communities. One Smart Dog often provides crucial emotional support, especially for those torn between finding the right trainer or surrendering their dog to a shelter. Linda and the One Smart Dog staff address the caregiver’s anxieties and fears. They are supportive of the struggles many dog parents face when their pet has behavior issues; the staff is  knowledgeable and creative in helping them find a way forward.

Linda  is hopeful that there will be a country-wide adoption of state certified dog training professionals, and realizes the importance of continuing education for her team. She is confident animal training will move towards increased specialization,possibly  in individual  focus segments, such as dog sports, therapy, behavior, and service training.

For Linda, a notable milestone was invoice number 3000 - a testament to her business’s growth and success. This achievement, while seemingly modest, symbolized the dedication and perseverance required to build a thriving training business. It serves as a reminder that success is often measured in small, meaningful milestones that reflect the ongoing commitment to providing exceptional service. While the number 3000 came up quickly, Linda is a lot more excited to see how quickly she can reach her next milestone as One Smart Dog continues to provide a great example of community service.

Linda continuously contributes to professional training events and publications including Clicker Expo, One Mind Dogs, The Bitey End of the Dog, The Lemonade Conference, and the Association of Professional Dog Trainer’s annual conference. By embracing flexibility, seeking support, and remaining committed to continuous learning, trainers can build successful practices that make a meaningful impact on both dogs and their owners.

One Smart Dog also supports the local community, and the dog training community diaspora, by educating their clients through social media. You can find them on  Facebook, and learn more about One Smart Dog’s mission by visiting their website or Instagram. As One Smart Dog grows and evolves, it will remain guided by a vision of a compassionate future and a better balance for dogs and their families.

One Smart Dog is a valued client of BusyPaws, making use of our booking, CRM, communications, and payments systems. We’re pleased to share a small part of their story with the pet care community.