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As a former school principal for more than 10 years, Orlando dos Santos always encouraged staff and students to achieve their dreams. When he identified a need within the community after witnessing a lot of pet stress, he knew it was time for him to achieve his own dreams.
With more than 50 years of experience in dog training under his belt, Orlando decided to build a business around helping troubled pooches and distressed families in his local area.
Backed by a raft of accreditations in dog behavioural training and experience managing people from his previous education career, Orlando established Results Dog Training in Mandurah. The business provides one-on-one training consultations for dogs with behavioural issues, and group classes to help owners create well-mannered dogs through education and training.
Goodbye pet stress
Orlando knows that pet ownership can be difficult, but he also knows that his skills can bring peace and hope to families that are struggling with their dogs.
“At the beginning of this journey I studied very, very hard so I could provide the best possible support,” Orlando said.
Now, Orlando works every day to free families from pet stress and encourage humans and dogs build happier relationships through clear, kind and consistent training methods.
“Pet stress is where there’s an incompatible behaviour between a pet and their family, and as a result of that there is a lot of stress,” he explained.
“When a dog is under-enriched and under-stimulated, they start becoming destructive in the home. They start barking, they get put outside, the neighbours start complaining and at the end of the day everyone suffers as a result.
I’m able to go in and help people with that situation which is absolutely fantastic.”
Get off the ground with SBDC
When Orlando started his journey to small business ownership, he realised that even though he had a vision and a dream, he didn’t know how to get there.
“I got help from SBDC because I knew I needed to get my message out to the community,” Orlando said.
“They really helped me to get started with my business planning, they helped me with branding and marketing, and they helped me look at my community in a new way.”
With the help of SBDC, Results Dog Training launched, turning Orlando’s dream into a reality.
Community is key
The driving force behind Orlando’s work has always been his love for the community.
“I love serving our community, we always need to look at serving something bigger than ourselves,” Orlando declared.
While Mandurah is sometimes considered part of the wider Perth metro area, the community support for local businesses makes it feel more like a regional town.
“Owning a business in a small community can be very unforgiving in some ways because if you make mistakes, everyone is talking about it,” Orlando joked.
“But in another way, it’s the best thing ever because if you provide a great service, your clients become your raving fans.”
“I suppose in more urban areas it might just be a business, but here it is part of the community.”
Dogged diversification
Orlando doesn’t just offer personalised dog training. He combined his deep understanding of dog behaviour with innovative design to invent the Complete Easy Walking System (CEWS). CEWS is a unique harness system that puts the owner back in control of dog walks, regardless of physical limitations or dog-handling experience.
“I realised that a lot of people couldn’t walk their dogs because it was too painful, either for themselves or for their dogs,” Orlando said.
“So, I invented a system for people to walk their dogs without pain, without pressure, without stress, without embarrassment and without fear.”
He has also just released a book called Walk Easy, Walk Happy, a guide that teaches dog lovers how to better connect with their dogs and transform their obedience skills.
From business learner to leader
After using SBDC services to help him start his business, Orlando has come full circle. He recently gave a talk on marketing for small businesses at an SBDC Regional event in Peel. His words really resonated with other business owners in attendance, and he made a lasting impression on everyone in the room.
While his business has already grown beyond his wildest dreams, Orlando is excited to keep providing important services to his supportive community, and making lives better for dogs and their families.
More information
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