From Passion to Profession: Kindle Aseltine’s Journey in Dog Training

What’s your weekend passion?

Maybe you find joy in carving wood figures, sculpting clay, or even training your dog. These hobbies often bring us joy and satisfaction, but they might also hold the potential to change your life in ways you never imagined. For Kindle Aseltine, what started as a casual hobby—training her own and her friends’ dogs on the weekends—unexpectedly transformed into a successful business venture.

Kindle never planned to become a business owner, but her entrepreneurial spirit and creativity pushed her to explore new opportunities. Her knack for turning unruly pups into well-behaved dogs led to the launch of her first venture, “Freedom K9,” in 2017.

Fast forward to today, Kindle is the proud owner of “Freedom K9 & Siskiyou Pet Care,” a thriving business that represents the culmination of years of hard work and determination. In 2023, she merged her original dog training business, Freedom K9, with Siskiyou Pet Care, a luxury boarding and daycare facility in Mount Shasta, which she purchased that same year.

The acquisition and merger allowed Kindle to expand her business significantly. She nearly doubled her staff, growing from five to nine employees, and her business experienced a remarkable 18% growth rate between May 2022 and April 2024. This growth was made possible through a combination of a TriCounties bank loan and SBA financing, which Kindle leveraged to fund the purchase of Siskiyou Pet Care. Despite her success, Kindle remains forward-thinking, recently hiring a social media contractor to help her continue to grow, even though word of mouth has kept her busy.

Kindle attributes much of her success to the support she has received from her community:

“Could I do this by myself? Yes, but the reason my businesses are so successful is because I have so many people in my corner. The WBC at JEDI has been a huge part of that.”

 

The expertise of WBC at JEDI consultants has been invaluable to Kindle, particularly during the merger. While the consolidation of her businesses has streamlined her daily operations, the guidance she received from WBC at JEDI was crucial in navigating the complexities of managing liability.

“Meeting with WBC at JEDI counselors made everything clear—taxes, insurance, workers’ comp—everything became less muddled and more straightforward.”

 

Since 2022, Kindle has benefitted from six hours of business consulting through WBC at JEDI, which she credits for giving her the confidence to merge her businesses quickly and smoothly.

Kindle’s journey from hobbyist to successful business owner is a testament to the power of passion, community support, and determination.

For more information about Kindle’s businesses, check out:

• Freedom K9: Website

• Siskiyou Pet Care: Website

• Instagram: @freedomk9_mtshasta

• Facebook: Freedom K9 Dog Obedience

Location: 5821 Truck Village Drive, Mount Shasta, CA 96067

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your business to the next level, the Women’s Business Center at JEDI is here to support you every step of the way. If Kindle's story has inspired you, or if you need guidance with your own business journey, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Until Next Week,

The WBC at JEDI Team
Call us at 888.926.6670 or email us at [email protected]

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