The Wag Pod
Episode 50: Cornerstone K9 (feat. Jeff Allen)
Richmond Griner of Wag Works sits down with Jeff Allen, founder of Cornerstone K9, for part two of their conversation. Jeff shares his journey into professional dog training, his decision to leave his career at Caterpillar to pursue training full time, and the work that went into developing Cornerstone K9. Jeff discusses his years of experience training dogs, including his involvement in Protection Sports Association (PSA), where he has competed as a handler, worked as a senior decoy, and served as a judge. He also takes us through the early stages of Cornerstone K9, from offering private lessons to expanding the business and bringing other professional trainers onto the team. Jeff explains what he looks for when hiring trainers, the extensive process they go through before joining Cornerstone, and why finding people with the right combination of training experience, people skills, and passion for dogs is so important to the company. The conversation also dives into what Cornerstone K9 offers and the philosophy behind its approach to training. Jeff discusses creating programs around the individual needs of each dog and owner, the importance of educating owners so they can continue their dog’s training at home, and the continued support Cornerstone provides its clients. Jeff also shares what he hopes to continue building with Cornerstone K9 and his vision for the future of the business.
