Founders’ Story: Allison and Janie grew up right here in Charleston, SC. Allison went on to receive a degree in behavioral science from Charleston Southern University. Little did Allison know that her love of learning what made people tick would soon also help her in reading dogs. As a new dog owner, she quickly realized she had to overcome her extreme fear of dogs (yes, you read that correctly) to build her relationship with and help her puppy work through fairly extensive behavioral issues. The work she did with her heart dog, Hadley, turned into a lifelong passion and career. Allison has trained dogs professionally for over twenty years as the owner of Well Mannered Dog, LLC.
Janie started her career in the pet industry at seventeen, working as a bather in a grooming salon. While figuring out her passion, the call to work with animals kept coming back, leading her to explore other areas in the pet industry, spending time working in boarding facilities and veterinarian hospitals. She eventually managed the grooming salon, where she got her start. With the dream of owning a boarding and grooming facility, in 2012, Janie purchased a kennel. As the industry began to shift, doggie daycare became increasingly popular, and people were looking for lodging and a place for their dogs to socialize. This is where Allison and Janie found themselves working together! Allison needed a safe place for the dogs she had trained to lodge and play that would look out for not only the dog’s physical needs but their emotional needs as well. A place where the dogs could continue to receive the consistency they were getting at home. At the same time, Janie wanted the dogs in her care to have positive social experiences and learn the best ways to make their stay as calm and stress-free as possible. A vision was born!
