Karen and George Duet launch franchise built on more than 45 years of experience training service and therapy dogs and family companion dogs, with initial expansion targeted across 10 states
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — More than four decades after Karen Duet started a dog training business at age 18, she and her husband, George Duet, are preparing to take K-9 Companions – Boot Camp into its next stage of growth.
K-9 Companions – Boot Camp has launched a national franchise expansion that will allow entrepreneurs to open and operate specialized dog training facilities based on the training methods, operating systems, and business model the Duets have developed over more than 45 years.
The company’s current focus includes developing highly trained service and therapy dogs for qualified individuals and organizations, as well as providing professional training for family companion dogs. K-9 Companions – Boot Camp works with state and national nonprofit organizations that help fund service dogs for qualified individuals, creating opportunities for the company’s facilities to participate in programs that can make trained service dogs accessible to people who need them.
“We’re excited about the opportunity to grow a business that is not only financially sustainable, but also has a meaningful impact on people’s lives,” said Karen Duet, co-founder of K-9 Companions – Boot Camp. “Service dogs can give people greater independence, confidence, and quality of life. We want our franchisees to be part of that mission while also serving families who want a better-trained, more reliable companion.”
The Nashville-area company is initially targeting franchise growth in Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Arkansas. The company is open to considering additional markets based on franchise regulations and territory availability.
The expansion builds on a business Karen founded in California in 1979.
Karen began training dogs at age 12, when she competed in American Kennel Club obedience trials with her Labrador retriever, Sunny. The pair regularly placed in competitions, earning scores as high as 199.5 out of 200.
After graduating from high school early, Karen completed a professional dog trainers’ course and continued her education through apprenticeships and the study of European dog sports. By age 18, she had started K-9 Companions as a home-based business.
As demand grew, Karen hired assistant trainers and expanded first into an office and later into a dedicated kennel facility. Her career has included training family pets, service and therapy dogs, military and police K-9s, and dogs belonging to celebrity and high-profile clients.
Karen met George in 1985. George served 20 years in the U.S. Army and was involved in the military K-9 program, including serving as kennel master at Fort Benning, Georgia, in 1965. His military career also included service in Special Operations.
Together, Karen and George continued studying advanced canine training methods, including French Ring Sport, which incorporates obedience, agility and protection work. They brought one of the first trainers from France to California to help introduce others to the sport. From 1994 to 2016, the couple operated a K-9 Companions training facility in Lake Mathews, California. They sold the facility in 2016 and relocated permanently to Tennessee, where they established K-9 Companions Nashville in Mt. Juliet.
The Tennessee business was designed as a smaller, more personalized training operation. That concept, combined with the systems and experience developed throughout the Duets’ careers, became the foundation for the K-9 Companions – Boot Camp franchise.
“We know what it takes to build this business because we’ve spent more than 45 years doing it,” said Karen Duet, co-founder of K-9 Companions – Boot Camp. “Franchising gives us the opportunity to take what we’ve learned and help other owners build something of their own.”
Beyond operating K-9 Companions, Karen has built a reputation as an authority on professional dog training and the business of dog training.
She has authored five books on dog training and the business of dog training. Her early books include “The Home & Family Protection Dog” and “The Business Security K-9.” In 2000, Macmillan Publishing’s Howell Book House published “Advanced Schutzhund,” which was nominated for a Maxwell Award for excellence in writing.
As K-9 Companions grew to a staff of 19 employees, Karen wrote “Dog Training 101” in 2007 as a manual for employees and students enrolled in her Dog Trainers Course. Her most recent book, “Million Dollar Dog Trainer: Making Millions in the Billion Dollar Pet Industry,” was published in 2021 and focuses on the business side of professional dog training. She later developed an online course for aspiring professional dog trainers.
The K-9 Companions – Boot Camp franchise model builds on that emphasis on education, providing owners with training in both the company’s approach to dog training and the systems required to operate the business.
“I’ve spent my entire adult life building this business and learning what works and what doesn’t,” said Karen. “We have an opportunity now to pass that experience on to other business owners.”
K-9 Companions – Boot Camp locations are designed as destination dog training facilities rather than traditional retail storefronts. Each location requires a minimum of five acres of well-maintained land and includes premium boarding facilities and dedicated training areas.
No previous professional dog training experience is required to become a franchisee. Owners receive training and support covering K-9 Companions’ training philosophy, operating systems, customer experience, and business model.
The company is looking for franchisees with leadership and business capabilities, a commitment to customer service, and a willingness to follow its established systems and standards.
“My military career taught me the importance of preparation, consistency, and accountability,” said George Duet, co-founder of K-9 Companions – Boot Camp. “Those principles have always been part of how we operate K-9 Companions, and they’ll be important as we grow.”
The estimated initial investment to open a K-9 Companions – Boot Camp franchise ranges from $91,850 to $768,700, depending on the franchisee’s existing property and facilities. Franchisees with an existing facility or build-to-suit location may qualify for an estimated initial investment starting at $91,850, while those with existing land may expect an estimated initial investment starting at $276,440. For franchisees starting from scratch, the estimated initial investment can reach $768,700. Costs vary based on factors including existing facilities, real estate acquisition, construction and other startup expenses. The initial franchise fee is $60,000 for a single territory agreement. The estimated initial investment also includes a one-time $30,000 training fee and a $1,850 technology setup fee.
While K-9 Companions – Boot Camp is beginning its franchise expansion across 10 states, the Duets plan to be selective about the owners and markets they pursue as the system grows.
“We’ve spent more than 45 years building the K-9 Companions name, and we want to be intentional about how we grow,” said Karen. “Our focus is on finding the right franchise partners and entering markets where we believe the brand can be successful for the long term.”
K-9 Companions – Boot Camp is currently seeking qualified franchise partners in select markets across the U.S. To learn more about available territories and franchise opportunities, visit www.k9companions-bootcampfranchises.com.
About K-9 Companions – Boot Camp Franchise
K-9 Companions – Boot Camp is a premium dog training franchise built on more than 45 years of experience in professional dog training and business operations. Co-founders Karen and George Duet have spent decades developing the training methods and operating systems behind the brand. Karen began K-9 Companions in 1979 and has worked with family pets, service and therapy dogs, military and police K-9s, and celebrity and high-profile clients. She is also the author of five books on dog training and the dog training business. George served 20 years in the U.S. Army and has experience with the military K-9 program. The franchise provides entrepreneurs with training, operating systems and ongoing support to establish and operate K-9 Companions – Boot Camp facilities in their local markets. No previous professional dog training experience is required.
Disclaimer: This franchise offering is made by prospectus only. Investment figures and franchise terms are subject to the applicable Franchise Disclosure Document and state-specific requirements. The franchise economics, 10-state initial growth footprint and five-acre facility requirement remain consistent with the supplied franchise materials.
###
