Learning communication skills is at the heart of a fast-growing business venture in north Edinburg. RGV K9 Training Centre owners Marty and Leslie Vielma share a passion to help canines and humans learn how to communicate with each other.

“People love their dogs so much but sometimes they just can’t figure out how to communicate with them,” Leslie said. “They just don’t understand how to talk to their dogs.”

Marty, recently retired as the lead canine trainer for the Pharr Police Department, believes good training is a major part of developing a happy and healthy pet.

“Most pets are simply in need of something to do,” he said, “whether it be swimming, fetching the paper, agility, using their nose to search out anything. Dogs need a job or focus just as humans do.”

The couple met at the Tom Rose School for Professional Dog Trainers in St. Louis, Mo., where they both finished at the top of their classes as certified master graduates.

Leslie developed an early passion for dog rescue and adoption working with local shelters in her native Canada. Before attending the Tom Rose School, she worked with dogs on scent detection for search and rescue with the Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Association.

In addition to his tenure with the Pharr police, Rio Grande Valley native Marty studied and received professional certification from a school in Guadalajara, Mexico, before his stint at the Tom Rose School.  He has worked with law enforcement in Mexico and Texas, including Border Patrol and Customs, helping to select and train working dogs.

“My bread and butter is working dogs,” Marty said. “That’s my passion. I love problem solving and trying to figure out the dog.”

After getting married, Marty and Leslie began a journey to turn their passions into their livelihoods.

With a business plan in hand, the couple purchased 10 acres in February 2014. Investing their life savings, they transformed an existing barn into office and living space, built kennels and constructed a 3,750-square-foot indoor training building. Later they added a swimming pool for canine water sports and dog exercise.

Opening in September 2014, the Vielmas quickly began to build a reputation for quality training and a commitment to help others.

“It all happened so fast, I think because we had a plan,” Leslie said. “When we were ready to go, we were ready.”

An early boost came when they started a relationship with the Palm Valley Animal Center shelter in McAllen.

Shocked by the numbers of unwanted and stray animals going through the shelter, Marty and Leslie visited often to answer questions about animal care and training for people interested in adopting a pet. To this day the RGV K9 Training Centre offers a 10 percent discount on training for people who can prove they adopted their dog from a shelter.

“We went into this as a business thing, and it turned into a deal where they really needed help and we could help,” Leslie said. “It hit my heart more than the business.”

The Vielmas began the business through private and group lessons that emphasize the canine-human connection.  They have a strategy to expand into advanced training and American Kennel Club sporting events.

Classes that teach off-leash dog handling are planned as a next step. “We have mapped out the exercises, and they will be the stepping stones for what people and their dogs need to compete in AKC events,” Marty said. “AKC is not really down here so we want to bring events to the Valley that people don’t have access to.”

The Vielmas also receive frequent inquiries from veterans wanting to obtain and train a service dog, another resource they would like to develop.

As with any successful new business, there are growing pains, and the Vielmas face new challenges. While they have constantly improved their facilities, they look to expand the training building to accommodate AKC events as well as other additions to the grounds.

But perhaps the most urgent challenge is finding qualified trainers.  “In order for us to do everything we want to do we need trainers,” Marty said. “We have high standards in what we are looking for and it’s not easy to find them.”

Leslie said good trainers need to have expertise in a variety of training methodologies and apply them in ways that teach both humans and canines how to communicate and understand each other.

“Every dog is different,” she said. “As a dog trainer you have to be open-minded about any training methodology.”

The Vielmas are also looking for trainers who share their passion for the animals. “I like to think the passion side of this business is what got people in our doors,” Leslie said. “Our dream is to make this 10 acres all about dog training.”

For more information, see k9trainingcentre.com. 

September 2016 feature story by George Cox