Inspiring Conversations with Garrett Watkins of Summit Kennels

Today we’d like to introduce you to Garrett Watkins.

Hi Garrett, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today. 
I am originally from a very small town in Illinois. After graduating High School, I followed my lifelong dream of joining the Marine Corps. After about a year’s worth of training, I received the opportunity to try out to be a Military Working Dog (MWD) Handler. I didn’t know much about the Canine Program at the time, but I sure am glad I decided to try it out! Becoming a Canine Handler truly changed my life and has been an exciting whirlwind ever since. 

Over the next 10 years, I continued my education in the Canine Community, working with three different dogs, all of which were trained to do different tasks. I also went to numerous courses covering a wide variety of Working Dog applications. 

The first 5 years of my K9 experience was spent as a Military Police Officer on Camp Pendleton in California. I worked with my first MWD, Linda, for most of that time and went on my first deployment with her. Linda was an incredible dog and taught me so many lessons. She is now retired and living the happy life she deserves in Texas with one of her previous Handlers. 

Shortly after this deployment, I felt the hunger for more again. I decided to try out for the Marine Corps Special Operations (MARSOC) Multi-Purpose Canine (MPC) section. After a rigorous and grueling six months of training, I graduated with my new dog, Tigo. Tigo and I spent the next 5 years together and went on two combat deployments to Iraq together. Tigo was an absolutely incredible MPC. One of the best I’ve seen through out my career. I was truly blessed to be paired with such a smart, powerful, and perfect creature. He even saved my life on our last deployment when he found an explosive device that was about 20 feet in front of me. Without Tigo, I surely would have stepped on it and wouldn’t be here today most likely. Tigo is now retired and lives with me. Tigo is the dog pictured in my business’s logo and who I owe everything to. Without him, I would not be the Canine Handler and Trainer that I am today. 

As my time in the Military was coming to an end, I knew that I wasn’t ready to put down my leash and move onto something new. However, I was ready for a break from the military lifestyle and constant training and deployments. I decided to step into the pet training world and wanted to challenge myself with a different type of dog training. And boy…a challenge is surely what I got! Not only is the training night and day different, but learning how to start and run a business while still in the military was more work than I ever wanted at once. Not to mention learning how to use social media effectively… 

Summit Kennels has been a blessing since its inception, and I was very fortunate that the business took off immediately. I have certainly found my new passion and plan on continuing pet training for as long as I possibly can. The amount of countless new opportunities and people I have met along the way has been incredible. I treat every dog that I train as if they were my own, and every Client I work with becomes a personal friend. I don’t think there could be a better job out there! 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
While there have been some challenging days, I have to say that starting Summit Kennels was easier than I expected. A close friend of mine owns MOD Marketing Agency and helped catapult Summit Kennels from an idea we created after a copious amount of alcohol to where it is today. She created my Logo, branding, and website in just a few days, and it’s pretty much-been history ever since. 

I will say the hardest part for me has been learning how to use social media to my advantage. Luckily, lots of my business relies on reviews from word of mouth, but I always want to expand! 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Summit Kennels, LLC?
Summit Kennels is a pet dog training company that specialized in Board and Training programs. We also offer Private Lessons as well as Group Training sessions. All of our training programs are custom tailored to yours and yours dog’s specific needs. Every dog is different, and that’s why there is no cookie cutter training program. We also focus on keeping the owner informed and educated during the training to ensure success after the Board and Training! 

I am most proud of having started my own business. This has been a goal of mine since I was a child. My family owns a Jewelry Store back home that has been open since 1890! While this is an incredible feat and something I am extremely proud of, I always knew that it wasn’t the career that I wanted to have. My family has always supported me and encouraged me to chase any dreams that I had. 

Summit Kennels is unique by being owned by a Marine Corps Special Operations Veteran who spent his military career as a Canine Handler and Trainer. My experience comes from 10+ years and traveling across 15 countries while doing it! 

What’s next?
My vision for Summit Kennels isn’t to become the next big chain that just offers dog “training.” Unlike the trainers you’ll see at one of the big-name pet stores or a franchised company, Summit Kennels keeps the dog and owner as the priority. No one is treated like a number with us. 

My next move will be building a much larger home to facilitate more dog kenneling space and to expand my staff. Summit Kennels is soon to be a registered Fellowship program that allows military members that are transitioning out to start an internship and learn a new skill. With this, I will be able to have prior dog handlers or any other service members learn our program and help train more dogs than I could ever do by myself. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.summitkennelstraining.com
• Instagram: @summit_kennels
• Facebook: Summit Kennels

Image Credits
Ryan Butschle
City2Sea Media