Business Beat: It’s a Dog’s Life Academy

New Business

It’s a Dog’s Life Academy

1302 S. El Camino Real

619.767.8329

www.itsadogslifeacademy.com

Last October, It’s A Dog’s Life Academy opened to help train dogs and make them more obedient.

“We’re hands-on a lot with the dogs,” co-owner Alecia Nelson said. “We pretty much do doggy training and classes, and we’re finding a lot of people want one-on-one training. We start at the home because a lot of the structure is created at home, setting boundaries and limiting distractions from the outside.”

Nelson said the business is getting more calls regarding “troubled” dogs, and they also work with puppies.

Nelson, a dog trainer for more than 15 years, and her business partner Fiona Kemptin started the business in Maine but returned to their home of California. While in Maine they received accolades from trade magazines.

“We do daycare and doggy adventures, going on walks, hikes up trails,” Nelson said. “We can split up some of the walks for older dogs or if they’ve had hip dysplasia and things like that.” Nelson, whose dog surfs professionally and is sponsored by SONY and other companies, said she wants to do some dog surf training through the academy.

“It depends on if the dog loves the water, otherwise you have to adapt them slowly and see if the dog wants to get their feet wet,” Nelson said.

It’s A Dog’s Life also hosts boarding for dogs and offers retail items such as dog collars.