By Jill McDonough
There are many side hustles for pet lovers. Brooke tells us how she created an entire business around her love of dogs.
What is your side hustle, K9 Level Up?
I teach people how to train their dogs; and I train dogs. I do online and in-person classes.
How did you get into this particular side hustle?
I have been training my own dogs since I was 16. I have raised service dog foster puppies. I have taught my daughters how to train their dogs. After helping many of my friends train their dogs, I decided I might as well get paid for it.
How long have you been doing this side hustle?
I have been helping people with training their dogs for about two years. I started teaching online training classes in December, 2019.
What are the startup costs for a side hustle like this?
The startup costs were pretty minimal. I applied for a certification from the AKC to administer some dog tests. Years of studying dog behavior and years of teaching my kids’ homeschool classes gave me the confidence to start teaching other people about dogs.
Do your kids help you with this side hustle?
I have one daughter who helps with the dogs we train in our Doggy School program. She is developmentally impaired and has Autism, but loves dogs. She is one of the main reasons I started this business. I wanted to teach her more dog training skills.
What are the pros of this side hustle?
- I can set my own schedule.
- I decide what days to take students and what days to do Doggy School.
- My online classes are up and running so they don’t require any more time.
What are the cons of this side hustle?
Brooke doesn’t have any. I would guess there would just be cons if you did not like dogs!
How do you juggle homeschooling and this side hustle?
My youngest child is 14, so my kids work on their schoolwork pretty independently. I am available to answer questions and keep them on track during Doggy School days. I do private lessons with clients when I’m not busy.
How long have you been homeschooling?
I have been homeschooling for 17 years.
What homeschool curriculum do you use?
My neuro-typical kids did Classical Conversations. My special needs daughter does a combination of things that fit her needs and interests.
Would you recommend that other homeschool moms should start a side business like yours?
I would recommend this type of side hustle for people who are passionate about helping other people have well-behaved dogs.
Would you like to learn more about Brooke’s side business? Or do you need your dog trained? Check out Brooke’s website at www.k9levelup.com
