Today we’d like to introduce you to Xavier Hernandez.
Hi Xavier, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started my business during the early days of Covid, as I had just moved to LA for my partner’s job and was looking for what I wanted to do next. I had worked at a nonprofit for the past 10+ years and enjoyed serving people and trying to make the world a better place but wanted to find a way to merge my compassion for people with my interest in animals. My partner realized that I was naturally good with dogs, so I looked for mentors to teach me about dog training. What I learned over the next six months or so was that the training wasn’t as important as understanding the dogs for their unique needs as a different species and that teaching people how to better understand their dogs and build a solid relationship was my passion. I have since worked with a couple great mentors and attended seminars with amazing professionals to build upon my natural ability to communicate with dogs, and I have worked with dozens of clients to successfully bring more harmony and freedom into their homes. My business is still a work in progress, but I am always learning and growing to try to find the best ways to help people understand how to connect with their companions.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, as starting your own business without much guidance is not an easy undertaking. My family and I have had to teach ourselves a lot along the way, but it has been a good experience for us. It is also not easy to make a name for yourself in a new field and to find the clients that resonate with your unique methods, but we have always tried to stay authentic to ourselves and to make decisions based on what we know is right, not what will make us the most money.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Everyday Pack Leader?
With Everyday Pack Leader, we truly try to empower people to understand dog psychology and to become the expert themselves. We don’t sell packages or try to encourage people to buy multiple sessions because we don’t want our clients to be reliant on us. Our goal is to teach people how to use natural principles to build a more harmonious and enjoyable relationship with their dog so that they don’t need traditional training. While traditional obedience training can foster strong cooperation, it does not always create companionship and it is more important to teach your dog how to be rather than what to do. More importantly, we do this in a way that honors a dog’s instincts and communicates respect. We also support people in changing their own habits and beliefs about their dogs because we believe that nothing in our life truly changes unless we do, and that includes our dogs. When any relationship breaks down, there is a need for change on behalf of all parties, and we see our services as a form of informal “family therapy” with your dog. The support we provide is personalized and utilizes the latest research in neuroscience to help you identify and overcome your challenges when it comes to your relationship with your dog. We have found that combining this support with your dog training program provides the best results.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out.
Find great mentors who are truly happy with the work that they do, not just people who make a lot of money. Stay open-minded to new methods and ideas, as you never know what you may be missing if you aren’t humble and always willing to learn. If you approach your work with a service-oriented mindset and think of the dog and the family in front of you, you can’t go wrong.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.everydaypackleader.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everyday_pack_leader/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/everyday-pack-leader-poway
