Today we’d like to introduce you to Abbie Volpone.
Hi Abbie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I once asked my family what came first, my love of art or my love of animals, and they couldn’t decide. Even my earliest drawings were of animals. I’m just a person lucky enough to have many passions. I went to Eastern Michigan University and got my fine arts degree, but, knowing that art isn’t the most financially stable field, I pursued my other biggest passion at the same time and became a professional dog trainer.
That was in 2019. Since then, I have attended academies, courses, seminars, and conferences and have become a very experienced and multi-certified dog trainer. I am a well-known and respected name in our community, partnering with organizations such as the Humane Society of Huron Valley, Friends of Detroit Animal Care and Control, Mikey & Me Foster Care, and many more. I train everything from basic life skills and socialization to more advanced training techniques, both in private, in-home sessions and group classes. My case types vary widely, including puppy training, rescue dogs, aggression and behavior cases, and working-dog training such as service dogs and facility therapy dogs.
My love for animals and behavior extends beyond dogs. I spend as much time as I can studying and working with animals of other species. I own a variety of reptiles and amphibians along with my own dogs and cat, and I currently provide training and enrichment for the Felix Foundation Fox Sanctuary and Wildlife Rehab.
As hard as it is at times to be a one-woman show running a business on my own, it’s worth it for what it allows me to provide. People work with me because of the passion I bring to every session, the care I truly have for them and their animals, and the personalized experience they get with me. I am not just a dog trainer, I’m an advocate, a friend, a resource, and a supporter. And this isn’t just my business, this is the community I have the opportunity to create, the narrative around pet guardianship, care, and training that I have the power to influence.
I’ll always be a passionate person. What truly makes me lucky is that I get to SHARE my passions with others, whether it’s through making art or helping you understand the fascinating animals you share your life with.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The most difficult thing about being a dog trainer is that it is an unregulated industry. This means that anyone can call themselves a “professional dog trainer” without any education or qualifications. It’d be like going to a doctor that isn’t even first aid certified. Because people believe they know enough to market themselves as a professional dog trainer, they spread misinformation and oftentimes make behavior problems worse. These are living creatures, “man’s best friend,” and they deserve better.
But, as dogs have become more common in the home, more people believe they know what is best for them. The general public doesn’t know that they have to ask a trainer for their education, ask them what certifications they’ve earned, and ask them what science supports their methods in order to be sure that the “professional” they’ve chosen is actually qualified to help them and their dog.
I juggle admin work with my actual training work, caring for other people’s pets as well as my own, continuing my education while battling uneducated trainers that spread myths, and trying to remain accessible in price while dealing with the rising costs of doing business. Running a small business it hard work!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I typically refer to my medium of choice as “old and forgotten.” Artmaking styles that are more traditional or aren’t as common anymore is what I love. Things like oil painting, printmaking, wood turning, and needle felting. My subject matter is often nature or animals because I have such a deep appreciation and understanding of those things.
One of my favorite pieces I’ve created is called Advice from Friendly Strangers, it is an ongoing project that captures the fleeting interaction of connecting with a friendly stranger. I carry a journal with me, and when I feel that connection with someone, or simply see someone that is clearly Good, I do a blind contour drawing of them (drawing them without looking at the page, meant to only record the general form and notable features of someone quickly, resulting in a more abstract picture), then ask them for their best piece of advice and stamp that below their portrait. The work as a whole is the collection of good people and a variety of advice, or as standalone pieces from individual interactions. I think this work is best representative of me as an artist. I want my art to make people feel more connected to one another, to spark conversation, and make you feel something.
You can view my portfolio at https://abbievolpone.wixsite.com/artsyabbiev, or @artsyabbiev on Instagram.
What does success mean to you?
I think success can be defined by how much good you bring into the world. I think being happy yourself is a very important part of success, but the most successful people seem to bring happiness to others, just by doing what they love.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://dogtrainerabbie.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbies.confident.canines/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/dogtrainerabbie/?ref=bookmarks
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigail-volpone-2b1b02170/
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/q7AA08imIeb
- Other: https://linktr.ee/abbievolpone?utm_source=qr_code
