Business Spotlight: Always Faithful Dog Training of Long Island

For more than two decades, former television reporter Christine Insinga braved the intense world of broadcast journalism, gathering sound bites from police and knocking on doors for interviews.  

She’s still knocking on doors these days, but for an entirely different reason. 

Insinga is now the owner and operator of Always Faithful Dog Training of Long Island.  It’s a franchise she purchased after leaving the world of television news behind.  Dog owners are inviting her into their homes so she can work her magic. 

For Insinga, the independence was a major motivating factor in her decision. 

"I like being my own boss,” says Insinga. “I like running my own hours, running my own show."

She’s not alone.  The franchise industry in New York generates $36.2 billion in revenue, supports more than 30,000 locations, and employs nearly 324,000 people, according to the International Franchise Association. 

The independence of being a franchise owner also offers some financial challenges, as some months will bring in more income than others. 

"Every month is not going to be in the black,” says Insinga. “You're not going to be making a ton of money right off. You have to be able to sustain that and have to make sure you can pay your bills even when it's a bad month."

The new direction in her professional life is truly a labor of love and was grounded in her desire to truly help people.  "I knew my goal was I wanted people to leave me feeling better. I wanted to be able to help them in some aspect. And I love dogs.”

However, Insinga was concerned about her lack of a business background.  She found that operating under the umbrella of an established franchise gave her both independence and a solid foundation for her new business. 

“I thought it would be better to have some sort of support behind you and people behind you and some resources then starting from the ground up with nothing there,” says Insinga.

Kishore Siva, of Westchester-based Helios Franchise Advisors, says many people face this obstacle when starting a business.  Their speciality is to help prospective business owners in that situation. 

"A lot of people are excited about the idea of business ownership, but they don't know where to start,” says Siva. “And that's really our role, educating, helping guide people through the process, navigating the business models that might be the right fit for them."

As far as the area Insinga has decided to dedicate her time to, Siva says she made a smart decision. "People are ready to invest in their children, in their aging parents, and in their pets — no matter what the economy looks like, no matter what is going on in the market. Those are industries that generally do very, very well."

As Insinga’s journey continues, she is racking up many grateful clients along the way.  Jeanette Suhani, of Oakdale, says Insinga is a natural.

"Christine's dog training was wonderful. She's super patient, repetitive. She takes steps in a specific order, and she doesn't use pain or anger to discipline the dogs. She uses repetition and awards of affection, which are strong rewards for a dog."

And it’s not just the dogs that need coaching.  The owners learn some good lessons too. Brendan Keane, of West Islip, says both he and his dog Little Bear are learning some important tips together. 

"I would say it was probably 50-50. I got training definitely as well as Little Bear did. It really was a big help getting it from both ends like that,” says Keane. 

As for the future, nothing is guaranteed.  Siva, of Helios Franchise Advisors, says owners must be engaged and proactive in their businesses to have a better chance of success.  

For Insinga, her love for her new career path is certainly keeping her focused on the future.

"If you don't love it, you're not going to put the time in,” says Insinga."

She has also surprised herself with the feeling of self fulfillment her new journey has brought her. 

“It's making me a better person. I never saw that coming."