Creating A Thriving Animal Business

juanpadasay
Aug 8
6 min read

Updated: Aug 25

Starting an animal-based business — whether with dogs, horses, or another path — is one of the most rewarding journeys you can take. It’s also one of the most introspective. Working with animals already asks us to grow, but running a business doubles that invitation.

Your business will reflect back to you every fear, every limiting belief, and every place you hold yourself small. And learning to face those patterns — instead of avoiding them — is

what creates a business that not only thrives, but feels aligned with your purpose and values.

My Journey to Dog Training

For most of my life, I thought I’d be a veterinarian. It was the only path I knew that allowed me to work with animals. But when that door didn’t open, it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me — because it led me to the thing I was actually meant to do: dog training.

Like so many people, I didn’t even know that training could be a real career, or that I could build a business around it. And if you’re reading this thinking, “That would be amazing, but it’s not possible for me,” I get it. I’ve been there.

That’s where mindset comes in — and why it matters so much more than most of us realize.

Mindset Shapes Everything

Starting a business forces you to confront the beliefs and patterns you’ve been carrying, often since childhood. By the time we’re seven years old, most of our core beliefs about the world are already formed — and they shape how we see ourselves, other people, and what we believe is possible.

If you grew up thinking you had to work harder than everyone else to be worthy… guess how you’ll run your business?If you learned to stay small to avoid criticism, you might avoid marketing yourself or showing up online.And if you believe money is “bad” or “selfish,” you’ll struggle to charge what your work is worth — even if you desperately need that income to grow.

These patterns aren’t your fault. They were created to keep you safe. But in business, they can hold you back — unless you learn to work with them instead of letting them run the show.

Updating Your Wiring

Our nervous system plays a huge role here, too. It’s designed to favor anything familiar because familiarity equals safety. So when you step into entrepreneurship — where everything feels new, uncertain, and a little risky — your nervous system may push back hard.

That’s why growing a thriving animal business isn’t just about learning better skills or perfecting your craft. It’s about understanding yourself, noticing where fear or self-doubt drives your decisions, and learning how to regulate your own nervous system so you can move forward with clarity.

Because here’s the truth: you can have the best marketing strategy, the most beautiful website, and incredible skills — but if you’re too afraid to be seen or charge for your work, your business will stay stuck.

Playing Small Doesn’t Serve Anyone

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that playing small doesn’t help anyone. It feels safer, but it serves no one — not you, not the people you’re meant to help, and not the animals who could benefit from your expertise.

There’s a beautiful poem by Marianne Williamson that speaks to this:

“ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. You're playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others”

WOW - seriously gives me chills every time I read this.

When you embrace your gifts and take the leap to share them, you give others permission to do the same. Your work matters, and there are people — and animals — who need what you have to offer.

Building Your Vision

Thriving doesn’t mean hustling yourself into the ground. In fact, building a sustainable business starts with getting clear on the life you want to live:

How many hours do you want to work each week?
How much income do you want to create?
What kinds of clients light you up, and which ones drain you?
What values do you want your business to reflect?

From there, you design your business around your vision, instead of letting hustle culture or other people’s expectations dictate how you work.

Attracting the Right Clients

When you’re clear on your values and your approach, you naturally attract the people who align with you — and gently filter out the ones who don’t. Not every client will be for you, and that’s okay. The people who value your expertise and approach will be the ones who get the best results.

And here’s something important: valuing yourself means charging enough that your clients are invested. That investment shows up in their commitment, and that commitment is what creates real transformation for them and their animals.

Growth Is the Work

Creating a thriving animal business isn’t just about learning to train better, teach better, or market better. It’s about learning to grow — both as a person and as an entrepreneur.

It’s about:

Facing fears instead of avoiding them.
Rewriting outdated beliefs that no longer serve you.
Honoring your nervous system while gently stretching your comfort zone.
Staying persistent and showing up, even when things feel uncertain.

Your business will evolve as you evolve. The more you step into your purpose, the more your work ripples outward to impact the people — and animals — who need you most.

If you’ve been dreaming about starting your own animal-based business, or you already have one but feel stuck, know this: thriving is possible. You’re capable of creating a business that supports your values, lights you up, and allows you to make a real difference.

You just have to take the leap — and keep taking it, one small step at a time.

Valerie and her other best friend "Dusty"

About Valerie Naegele | Founder of Venture Doggie LLC

Valerie Naegele is a professional dog trainer, behavior specialist, and founder of Venture Doggie LLC. She helps dog owners who feel overwhelmed, unsure, or stuck finally find clarity, confidence, and connection with their dogs. you're tired of second-guessing your training, avoiding walks, or feeling like your dog just isn’t “getting it”—you’re not alone. Val understands what it’s like to love a dog deeply and still feel frustrated, embarrassed, or unsure of what to do next. Her work is designed to give you the tools, insight, and support you need to turn things around—not just on the surface, but in a way that feels good and lasting.

Val’s approach is relationship-based, emotionally intelligent, and rooted in practical science. Whether your dog is overly friendly, reactive, anxious, or just doesn’t listen, she helps you shift the dynamic—not by forcing obedience, but by building communication, structure, and trust. Her own journey started with a deeply sensitive and reactive dog, and that experience opened the door to a lifetime of study in behavior, psychology, and the human-animal bond. With a background in vet clinics, shelters, ranches, and intensive mentorships with leading trainers, Val brings a rare mix of expertise, heart, and down-to-earth support to her work.

She’s not here to judge or pressure. She’s here to walk alongside you—to help you feel more capable, more connected, and prouder of the relationship you’re building with your dog.