In this first guest interview on the Do Good Business Podcast, Ashley sits down with Trina Eddy, owner of A Canine Experience, a three-generation family business celebrating 30 years in Snohomish, Washington. The conversation covers decades of business evolution, from answering machines to automated text systems, surviving multiple economic downturns, and how a family business navigated from equal partnerships to structured leadership. Trina shares candidly about pivoting services, scrapping unprofitable programs, and discovering their most successful offering was something they initially said they'd never do. The discussion also explores the meaningful service dog work that drives their passion, from diabetic alert dogs to PTSD support for veterans.

Key Takeaways:

• Technology adaptation is survival: Trina transformed their business from landline answering machines to automated text systems and nurture sequences, saving hours per lead and dramatically improving follow-up
• Economic pivots require tough choices: During COVID aftermath, the family restructured roles, with Trina stepping back from daily operations to focus on marketing and business development as a CEO-type position
• Values over profit matters: They abandoned a profitable daycare program because they weren't comfortable with the employee-to-dog ratios needed to make money, prioritizing safety and quality over revenue
• Subscription models create stability: Moving from short-term training packages to ongoing monthly subscriptions provided residual income that helped weather slower periods
• Leadership emerges from necessity: Even in equal partnerships, someone needs to direct and coordinate efforts, especially during challenging times when focused attention is required

Timestamps:

[00:02:00] - Origin story: How a torn-off bulletin board flyer at Bothell Feed changed three generations of lives

[00:07:20] - Trina's journey through financial planning and back to dogs via the Canine Chauffeur business

[00:10:30] - Surviving economic downturns and recognizing when business models need to change

[00:13:00] - Evolution from in-person networking (LeTip) to Facebook groups for lead generation

[00:15:50] - The business coach journey: Three years of "stalking" before making the investment

[00:16:00] - Technology transformation: From landline to automated text systems and nurture sequences

[00:27:00] - COVID impact: Feast during lockdown, famine when people returned to work and gave up pandemic dogs

[00:29:20] - Restructuring family roles: Moving from all equals to designated leadership

[00:32:00] - Scrapping unprofitable daycare despite market demand due to safety concerns

[00:33:20] - Day training program: Their most successful service they initially said they'd never offer

[00:35:30] - Shift to subscription models for ongoing training relationships

[00:40:10] - Service dog work: Training for PTSD, autism, diabetic alerts, and medical conditions

[00:48:20] - Search and rescue work and training dogs for archaeological grave detection

Connect with A Canine Experience!

• Www.acanine.com
• 360-488-0639
• Info@acanine.com
• Www.facebook.com/acanine
• Www.instagram.com/acanineexp
• Www.facebook.com/trinareddy

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• ⁠ashleydreager.com⁠
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