From Solo-Trainer to 7-Figure Dog Training Business: Insights from Andre Yeu

When most dog trainers think about growth, the first thing that comes to mind is more clients. But what happens when you reach the limit of what you can do alone? How do you go from a booked-out solopreneur to running a full-scale business that serves more clients—without sacrificing your sanity?

In a recent episode of the Digital Dog Trainer Podcast, we sat down with Andre Yeu, founder of When Hounds Fly and faculty member at the Karen Pryor Academy. Over the last 15 years, Andre has grown his business from a one-person operation into one of Canada's most recognized dog training companies—with five locations, over 20 staff members, and close to $1M in annual revenue.

Here's what we learned from our conversation about what it really takes to scale a dog training business sustainably.

Start With a Solid Foundation—Then Build Beyond It

In the early days, Andre focused on creating an excellent client experience. That alone led to consistent word-of-mouth referrals and organic growth. But he realized over time that being a great trainer wasn't enough—if he wanted to grow, he needed to learn the business side of things, too.

"We grew because we were awesome at what we did. But eventually I realized we were leaving so much potential on the table by not investing in marketing or building systems."

The #1 Thing He'd Do Differently?

Start marketing sooner.

Andre shared that if he could go back to 2010, he would have invested earlier in deliberate marketing—especially in channels like Google Ads, SEO, and building out systems to measure return on investment.

Most dog trainers focus solely on referrals and organic traffic (which absolutely matter), but Andre encourages trainers to think bigger:

"If you spend $100 and it makes you $101 in gross profit, you should do that every day."

Hire (or Automate) Before You Burn Out

One of the most powerful shifts in Andre's business came when he stopped doing everything himself. That started with outsourcing tasks like admin and client communication, and eventually led to bringing on a General Manager so he could focus on vision and strategy.

Whether you bring on a virtual assistant, hire a local support team, or automate using tools like Clicks!—the takeaway is clear: your time is limited, and not every task needs your hands on it.

Know What to Let Go Of

One of the biggest mindset shifts Andre made was learning how to let go of control—especially around how things are done.

"If you can't let go of the idea that your way is the only way, you probably shouldn't scale. But if you can let go, you unlock incredible potential."

That included allowing his instructors to teach in ways that still aligned with company values, even if they weren't exactly how he would do it. It also meant trusting his team to lead day-to-day operations so he could focus on long-term growth.

Build a Team That Shares Your Values

A huge part of When Hounds Fly's success comes down to culture. Andre emphasized the importance of clearly defining company values so his team knows how to make decisions even when he's not around.

That kind of leadership creates consistency in client experience, boosts staff retention, and builds a business that's bigger than any one person.

Focus on What Works (And Keep It Simple)

Andre's biggest advice when it comes to marketing?

"Focus on the simple things that work. Your Google Business profile. Your website. Your reviews. The rest is just fuel to pour on that fire."

He shared that most of their growth has come from making sure their local SEO is strong, their website is clear and effective, and their copy speaks directly to their audience's problems.

And while social media has its place, he doesn't believe it should be your top priority unless you have the bandwidth to treat it like a media channel.

Advice for Trainers Looking to Grow

If you're a solo trainer trying to scale, Andre recommends starting with a "love it or loathe it" time audit. Write down everything you do in a month, and look at what drains your energy. Then, begin outsourcing or automating one task at a time.

From there, build systems that support growth:

• Start measuring your marketing efforts
• Build out a team—or tech—that can support your vision
• Don't wait until you're drowning to get help

Final Thoughts

Scaling a dog training business takes more than passion and skill—it takes strategy, systems, and a willingness to let go. But as Andre has shown, it's possible to grow a values-driven business that supports both your clients and your team, while giving you the freedom to do the work you love most.

Ready to get support building a business that works for you?

At Digiwoof, we help R+ dog trainers simplify their marketing, streamline their systems, and attract more of the right clients.