Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Cutshaw.
Hi Ashley , please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey with dogs started when I was 10 years old, when I took my very first dog-training class with my family’s dog. From that point on, I knew I wanted to work with dogs. That interest continued to grow as I got older, and in 2017, I got my first dog of my own, a Standard Poodle named Socks. She truly taught me so much from the beginning.
Socks eventually became my service dog and traveled with me, including living with me in Japan. She gave me a level of independence that completely changed my ability to function in the world. That experience is a huge part of why I hope to eventually train service dogs for other people, so they can experience the same sense of independence that Socks gave me.
As I continued learning and working with dogs, I noticed a need in my area for training that focused strongly on the relationship between dogs and their owners. I wanted to create an environment centered around communication, understanding and building a strong partnership. My husband always says, “See a need, fill a need,” and that really became the idea behind starting my own business.
Resolute K-9 officially started nearly a year ago. The name itself also has a personal meaning. When I met my husband, he was a Marine and had been involved in a military operation associated with the name “Resolute.” I loved the meaning behind the word fierce determination, purpose and unwavering commitment and it felt like the perfect name for what I wanted my business to represent.
Today, at 23, I’m fortunate enough to have turned something I’ve loved since childhood into my career. I’m continuing to learn, grow and further my education while helping dogs and their owners build better relationships. What started with a 10-year-old taking a class with her family dog has grown into Resolute K-9, and I’m excited to see where it continues to take me.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. There have been several points where I honestly wondered if I was ever going to be able to do what I had always dreamed of doing.
One of the biggest setbacks happened when I was around 19. I had been accepted into a dog-training school in Missouri, something I had saved for years to make happen. I had put money down on an apartment, was looking into buying my first vehicle, and was preparing to move away from my family and start that chapter of my life independently. I was also planning to use VA education benefits through my dad’s military service to help pay for school.
Then, during a phone call with the VA to confirm everything, I found out that the benefits weren’t going to cover my schooling the way I had expected. Instead, I would receive a monthly stipend, which simply wasn’t enough for me to afford the school and everything that came with moving away.
It felt like my entire future came crashing down in one phone call. I had to cancel the school, the apartment and the vehicle I had been planning to buy. I ended up living with my dad for about a year.
During that same period, I also developed some significant medical issues. There was a point where I had very little use of my hands, and for a while, I couldn’t walk because of problems with my spine. In the midst of everything, I was eventually diagnosed with a chronic illness called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, or EDS.
That was a difficult period physically and emotionally. Dogs had always been what I wanted to do with my life, and there were times when I genuinely felt like my body was telling me that dream wasn’t possible.
But I didn’t want my diagnosis to determine what I was capable of doing. I have learned that sometimes I may have to do things differently or take a little more time for myself. I might need to sit down more often, pace myself or adapt the way I do something, but I don’t let that stop me from doing what I love.
Eventually, things started to improve. I continued working on my health and decided I wasn’t ready to give up on my goal. I enrolled in a different dog-training school here in Texas, graduated and earned my certifications to begin working professionally with dogs.
But even then, I wasn’t done facing obstacles. My hands began giving me problems again, and I had to put my career on hold once more. I ultimately needed surgery on both of my arms, including my elbows and wrists, and the recovery took a long time.
After everything I had gone through, finally being able to open Resolute K-9 in January 2026 was an incredibly meaningful moment for me. It wasn’t just the beginning of a business it represented years of setbacks, recovery, learning and refusing to give up on something I had wanted since I was a kid.
There were definitely moments when I didn’t know if I would ever get here. But I kept finding my way back to the same goal: working with dogs and building a life around something I genuinely love.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Resolute K-9 is a dog-training business based in Central Texas, focused on helping dogs and their owners build a stronger relationship through clear communication, consistency and understanding.
I offer a variety of training options depending on what each dog and owner needs, including private lessons, group obedience classes, puppy classes and board-and-train programs. I work with dogs on everything from basic obedience, leash manners and household manners to more advanced obedience, distractions, public training and helping owners build reliable skills in real-world situations.
One of the things that is especially important to me is that I don’t believe dog training is a one-size-fits-all process. Every dog is different, and every owner has different goals, lifestyles and challenges. My goal is to teach owners how to communicate with their dogs and understand what their dogs are telling them, rather than simply expecting the dog to figure everything out.
I consider myself a balanced, relationship-based trainer. To me, training isn’t just about having a dog that knows commands. It’s about creating a dog that can successfully navigate everyday life and an owner who feels confident communicating with their dog.
I’m also proud that Resolute K-9 has become about more than just training individual dogs. Community is a big part of what I want the business to be. I’ve had the opportunity to work with rescue dogs, support dogs preparing for adoption and work toward helping more people and dogs through service-dog training in the future.
One of the things I’m most proud of about the Resolute K-9 brand is that it has been built from the ground up around something I’ve loved since I was a child. The business is still young, but seeing clients and their dogs grow together and watching owners gain confidence in their ability to communicate with their dogs has been incredibly rewarding.
Ultimately, I want people to know that Resolute K-9 isn’t just about teaching dogs to sit, stay or walk nicely on a leash. It’s about teaching people to speak the language their dog understands not the other way around. My goal is to help create a relationship where both the dog and the owner understand each other better, because I believe that’s where truly successful training begins.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I think one of the biggest pieces of advice I would give is to not be afraid to put yourself out there. Finding a mentor or building a network can feel intimidating, especially when you’re just starting out, but most people who are good at what they do had someone who helped them along the way.
For me, my path hasn’t necessarily been about having one specific mentor who guided me through everything. I’ve learned from a lot of different people and experiences throughout my journey. I’ve made a point of continuing my education, learning from other professionals, asking questions and being willing to admit when I don’t know something.
I also think networking is about building genuine relationships rather than simply trying to promote yourself. Get involved in your local community, attend events, talk to other professionals and look for opportunities to learn from people who have experience in the areas you’re interested in.
Most importantly, don’t be afraid to start before you feel like you know everything. You should always continue learning, but you don’t have to wait until you feel like an expert at everything before you take the first step. Be willing to learn, stay humble, and surround yourself with people who encourage you to keep growing.
I’ve found that some of the most valuable opportunities have come from simply being willing to introduce myself, start a conversation and say, “I’d love to learn more about what you do.” You never know which conversation might turn into a relationship, an opportunity or a lesson that stays with you for years.
Pricing:
- Group classes are 250$ for 6 weeks
- In home Private lessons are 70$ or 6 for 400$
- 3 week board & train is 2,200$
- 6 week board & train is 4,250$
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.ResoluteK-9LLC.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resolutek9llc?stkn=MXBoZWhlOHdlNzRvdQ==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1C4MT4pyAw/
