Dean Watkins, the President of Dog Guard, witnessed a heart-wrenching sight when the family German Shepard was run over by a speeding car. Then a 9-year-old child, watching the beloved family dog die was traumatic and continued to impact Dean for a long time. Seeing Dean hurt by the tragic death of his beloved Sheba, his father who was an entrepreneur and an avid dog lover decided to use this tragedy to do something meaningful for other dogs and their owners. With a mission to protect both large and small dogs while providing complete peace of mind to their owners, in 1988, he launched Troy, New York-based, Dog Guard.
When pain becomes motivation
Having seen and heard of many such incidents where dogs were run down by a speeding vehicle or had died in some other type accident, Dean’s father had his team come up with products which were a perfect match for every dog owner and were easy to use. The products were based on research and focused on containing larger breed dogs, from going into places where they could get hurt or worse.
In 1990 the company rolled out their first products Branded ‘DOG GUARD® Out of Sight® Fencing’. It is a veterinarian-approved combination of animal training and state-of-the-art electronic dog fencing. Since then, Dog Guard has been consistently producing top quality, long-lasting and reliable pet containment systems. Their product line includes various products such as transmitters, receivers, chew protectors, remote training collars, and the No Pull Leash that allows you to enjoy walking with your dog without the dog walking you. All their products are a perfect mix of innovation and amazing features, which not only ensures the convenience for the dog owner but also ensures that dogs remain safe without their freedom getting hampered. The best part of their products is that they are all designed and assembled in the United States.
As an organization, Dog Guard has overcome many barriers and obstacles in its history only to see significant growth and now has a vision for the future. When asked about the secret ingredient for the brand’s success, Dean says, “Our relentless desire to serve our Dog Guard Dealers well and support them allows our Dealers to better serve their dog parents. That is the number one factor helping drive us to keep more dogs safe.” Everyone at Dog Guard relates to the fear dog parents feel and believes that it is their responsibility to protect dogs from getting hurt and protect dog parents from the excruciating emotional pain of seeing their beloved pet suffer.
“Our relentless desire to serve our Dog Guard Dealers well and support them allows our Dealers to better serve their dog parents. That is the number one factor helping drive us to keep more dogs safe.”
How Dog Guard is the best opportunity?
The pet tech industry which was a 4.5-billion-dollar industry in 2018 is expected to grow to over 20 billion-dollar a year industry by 2025. With every pet parent looking out for automated options for the safety of their pets, it’s clear the growth is not a short-term trend. Moreover, in the era of wanting to stay safe at home, it is becoming increasingly important to keep your pets contained, Dog Guard provides the most relevant solution.
Led by Watkins, Dog Guard understands the pulse of the containment business. Having gone through the highs and the lows, they understand what it takes to succeed in the dog fence industry. As they understand the emotion behind the need, their primary focus is to design and promote the right product and target the right audience. Offering people exactly what they need, not only keeps them satisfied and assured, but also helps build referrals when customers like them enough to tell their friends! Dog Guard is not just about numbers, but about catering to the practical and emotional needs of its customers.
Though today’s dealership model is a successful model, this was a less popular route in the middle to late 20th century. However, today when someone wants to follow their entrepreneurial dreams it’s a proven path to the market. Some of the biggest brands are enjoying unbelievable success through franchising or dealership building. Having studied this closely, Dog Guard too relies heavily on building new dealerships for the expansion of its business. “The Dog Guard Home Office sells our products through an exclusive network of dealers. Our unique proposition is to provide the prospective entrepreneur with a low barrier to entry to a proven home-based business model. We focus on small, locally-owned exclusive territories, providing the dealer with the best opportunity to succeed,” shares Dean.
To be a part of the Dog Guard’s 33-year-old legacy, the key ingredient is a desire to succeed and a drive to run your own small business. The dealer partner needs to be entrepreneurial-minded and must have an undying commitment towards customer service. They must display the willingness to follow the business guidelines to the core and must instil the same mindset in their team. Though previous business and sales experience would be an advantage, it is not a must. The partner must love working with people and, of course, dogs!
The prospective dealer needs to have very simple yet crucial traits of being honest, committed, and willing to work hard and learn. As soon as one joins Dog Guard Dealer network, they are considered part of the family. The dealer receives the initial training where they get to learn the basics of the business. As the dealer is going to be a part of the dynamic pet industry, they are prepared to face the real business world and are taught the skills needed to overcome all sorts of challenges.
At Dog Guard, they understand the crucial role training plays and how it can determine anyone’s success and failure. Beyond the initial training, new dealers are connected to the existing Dealership network and given the access and support needed to succeed from the Home Office as well. Then as it’s time for the dealer to enter the world of business, they’ll be armoured with that ongoing support for everything from troubleshooting, marketing, and business services. At Dog Guard, they do everything it takes to groom the dealer to serve their customers, remain calm & confident when challenges present themselves, spot the opportunity in the problem. “Our purpose is to enable people to simultaneously become entrepreneurs and help others protect their family pet,” says Dean.
To be a part of the Dog Guard’s 33-year-old legacy, the key ingredient is a desire to succeed and a drive to run your own small business. The dealer partner needs to be entrepreneurial-minded and must have an undying commitment towards customer service. They must display the willingness to follow the business guidelines to the core and must instil the same mindset in their team. Though previous business and sales experience would be an advantage, it is not a must. The partner must love working with people and, of course, dogs!
The prospective dealer needs to have very simple yet crucial traits of being honest, committed, and willing to work hard and learn. As soon as one joins Dog Guard Dealer network, they are considered part of the family. The dealer receives the initial training where they get to learn the basics of the business. As the dealer is going to be a part of the dynamic pet industry, they are prepared to face the real business world and are taught the skills needed to overcome all sorts of challenges.
At Dog Guard, they understand the crucial role training plays and how it can determine anyone’s success and failure. Beyond the initial training, new dealers are connected to the existing Dealership network and given the access and support needed to succeed from the Home Office as well. Then as it’s time for the dealer to enter the world of business, they’ll be armoured with that ongoing support for everything from troubleshooting, marketing, and business services. At Dog Guard, they do everything it takes to groom the dealer to serve their customers, remain calm & confident when challenges present themselves, spot the opportunity in the problem. “Our purpose is to enable people to simultaneously become entrepreneurs and help others protect their family pet,” says Dean.
