Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Stanton.
Hi Rachel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I guess my story began when I was a kid… I grew up in Burlington, VT and I was always outside playing with friends, playing with our family dog and always playing sports during every season. So I was just always active, naturally I guess. One day my mom told us that we were going to raise a puppy for guiding eye dog for the blind.
My first thought was awesome we get a new puppy to play with… My mom then explained more about what that meant having one of these puppies living with us. We were raising this puppy to be a service dog, he isn’t “our” puppy. We are responsible to teach him how to walk on a leash, to practice riding in cars, we got to take in into stores to get experience them being in new environments.. things like that. I thought it was really cool. We only had a year with the dog to get him ready for the guiding eye program where they do the real specialized training to be a service dog. Growing up, we raised three puppies for the program. And we had our own family dog during this time.
One of the puppies we raised did make it into the program to complete the training to be a service dog. We were really excited and proud that he made it. So when I was in my early 20s, I was in my own place and my family decided to move to Georgia. I stayed in Vermont and I got my own dog (a Rottweiler that I named Ellie) she was my bff, ride or die, she went everywhere with me. Shortly after getting her, I decided to move to Georgia to be closer to family. With Ellie in the front seat and all the stuff I could fit in my car, we hit the road. And over the years, I met my now husband and we got two more dogs added to the household. We had Ellie, Pippin, a Boston Terrier, and Bruce, another rottweiler! So my love of a pack was in my everyday life. We would get my dogs together with my other family members and their dogs and do a huge walk through Piedmont park every weekend. So at times, there was 6 of us walking 9 dogs.. haha The dogs LOVED it!! They were hanging with dog friends and walking in a pack. That’s when I first noticed how happy and thrilled it made them being with their pack.
And during this time, my friend back home in Vermont started a dog-walking business Vermont Dog Pack. I thought it was so cool and interesting having dogs in a pack setting that walk together and have the best time ever. But, also at this time, I was starting a new career as a hairstylist. So I was working hard to build my career but always had my pack at home. I followed my friend and her business on social media over the years, and she now teaches people how to make this in a career and start their own dog camp. Well, as a few years have passed, I now have an eight years old daughter, going through the pandemic made me really look at what I’m doing, asking myself what do I want? What truly and honestly makes me happy and fulfilled? My love for my family and my love for DOGS!! So I took a course on My Dog Camp to understand how to make this dream into a reality. It has also opened more doors, like training as well. Which has been amazing!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has been smooth… ish… I have a great understanding of already being my own boss as a hairstylist for years. So I understand business… But the struggles I’m finding is getting my camp info out there. Yes, there is social media which is great, I see it every day. But I don’t know how to put it to better use… It’s been a struggle to get the name out there but it’s slowly happening.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My career… I have been a hairstylist for almost 20 years. I love doing hair, I love my clients. I’m just ready to do what truly makes me happy to my core. Dogs have always been my happy place, I am always the one who plays with the dogs at parties, I just feel I have a connection with them. Dogs have always brought me so much sincere joy and happiness. I think what I am most proud of is being able to listen to people and to dogs. And to really take the time to understand them and have patience with them. I love my dog camp and it doesn’t feel like work at all.
How do you think about luck?
I’m not sure about luck… but I have been really focusing on changing my mindset and truly being honest with myself. For the last few years, my anxiety and depression have gone through the roof… Every morning, I would wake up, get myself ready for work, get my daughter ready for school, and help my husband get out the door. And as we all give hugs and kisses and say our goodbyes when it’s time for us to go our separate ways to get to our responsibilities my anxiety and dread would skyrocket. And I would tell myself that I went to school for cosmetology, I was still paying off student loan for it. I have a pretty successful career in it. I kept thinking I was not in a position where I can make a career change. But!! When I saw that My Dog Camp was having their last course of the year, I just knew it was my time to actually do it. To actually listen to myself and follow my gut, my heart, a dream I didn’t realize I really wanted. So I signed up! I felt so HAPPY! so EXCITED!! I felt relief that I was finely taking the first step for myself and do what I really want to do. At that time, I only told my husband and my daughter what I’m doing. I was thinking they were going to think I’m crazy for taking this chance. But, they were just as excited and thrilled for me that I’m doing this. Once I finished the course, I have been taking my time getting things in place. Really making sure everything is exactly how I want it to be. Now, it’s time to grow!! Ready to reach my goals that I have in my mind and heart. So I don’t know if it’s luck, but I am listening to myself. Truly being honest with myself, and realizing that my mindset really gave me my confidence back, my determination, my happiness. Plus having the support and love from my husband and my daughter makes it all seem easy.
Pricing:
- 1 camp session is 75$ pick up and drop off included
- 2 camp sessions per week 135$ pick up and drop off included
- Boarding 55$ per night for camp members, pick up and drop off included
Contact Info:
- Website: www.urbandogpack.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/urban_dog_pack
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085297522028
