Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Alvarado.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
I became fascinated with animal behavior in general and dogs specifically. At the same time, I was an animal science major at Texas A&M. I read everything I could get my hands on and took a few classes with my dog. I was working for a veterinarian while I was in school, and the dog training community in the College Station area was so welcoming and encouraging. I started teaching group classes a few years after I graduated, first part-time and then full-time. Since then, I have been involved in everything from service dog training with a prison dog training program to animal control work to helping pet dogs and their people learn together. I started my own business in 2020 and now primarily focus on my small-scale boarding and Board and Train programs. My newest adventure is competing in scentwork with my 5-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback. He’s so intelligent and fun, and he earned his first scentwork title in 2023!
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
There is not necessarily a clear path to getting into dog training as a profession in the United States, and educational opportunities were often cost-prohibitive early in my career. I was lucky to work for employers who valued education and invested in their employees’ development. As such, I was afforded opportunities to learn from some amazing trainers who have inspired me to keep going and always keep learning.
Thanks for sharing that. You could tell us more about your business.
I offer small-scale boarding and boarding trains in the central Texas area. I also offer a few private coaching lessons, either in-person or remotely. When dogs stay with me, they stay on my property where I live with my husband, 2 dogs, and 2 cats. We live on 15 acres, and I love that when dogs stay with me, they get the freedom to run, explore, and roll in the grass, supervised. My focus is primarily on helping pet dogs and their people. I am assisting people in solving and preventing behavior problems so that dogs stay in their homes and people are empowered to enjoy their relationships with their dogs. If people are struggling with a behavior problem with their dog, I am here to guide them to the right service to help them, even if the best service for them is one I do not currently offer. I also love to help puppies get off to the right start with a Board and Train that focuses on some foundation skills and healthy socialization opportunities. I offer positive reinforcement-based training programs focusing on the dogs’ complete wellness, including considering their physical, social, and intellectual needs.
How do you think about luck?
I have been so lucky to meet, befriend, and collaborate with many talented trainers. Their willingness to share their experiences has helped shape my business and the lens through which I view my role in assisting people to communicate better with the dogs who share their homes. I started a business early in 2020, a time when so many businesses and people were struggling, so I am fortunate that I was able to begin a successful business at that time. I also feel lucky to have many amazing clients who trust me to care for their canine family members. My clients are the ones who enable me to continue to make this my job every day, so the credit is theirs. The dogs who visit us regularly become our extended family, and I’m so thankful to the people who share them with us.
Pricing:
- Board and Train is $875 per week. I recommend a minimum of two weeks in most situations. Packages include pick-up and drop-off, depending upon location, and one private follow-up lesson per week of training. It also contains twice-weekly video updates during your dog’s stay.
- Boarding is $65 per night and is all-inclusive. I offer to pick up and drop off for an additional fee of $100
- Consult for private coaching sessions: $150
- Individual private coaching sessions: $125
Contact Info:
- Website: Theclassicalcanine.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_classical_canine
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063805763099&mibextid=vk8aRt
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@sarahalvarado2200?si=o2uzBdzHrj6Cces_
