Allie Bender (she/her)

Founder, Author & PETPro Mentor

Pet Harmony Co-owner

Hey! I’m glad you’re here. 😊

When I was 13, I decided I was going to open an animal shelter and single-handedly solve animal homelessness in the United States. Y’know, with the unearned confidence and complete naivete teenagers have.

Even so, when I started Pet Harmony in 2016, I had no idea I’d end up with titles like author, mentor, podcaster, and CEO (that last one still feels weird). Now I’m presenting at conferences, helping pet professionals grow their businesses, and creating curriculum for Karen Pryor Academy and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. From shelters to starting Pet Harmony in my mom’s basement to in-home behavior consulting to mentoring worldwide… It’s been a wild ride, y’all.

These days, I spend most of my time running the business, supporting my team, coaching mentees, and teaching other trainers and behavior professionals the skills they need to have their most fulfilling, sustainable careers.

Behavior Insights from Allie

Real Help Means Finding the Real Problem

It’s really hard to ask for help (even when you know you need to). So when people do ask for my help, I want to make sure the process is as painless as possible. That means getting to the real root of the problem and collaborating to find solutions that work for everyone involved.

Whether someone is asking for help with their dog or cat’s behavior or their business, the process is the same. Appreciate them as individuals, understand the situation, lead with empathy, and find solutions that they’re excited to implement. Prioritize their needs over my ego and do no harm.

The longer I’m in this field, the more I realize that the best solutions usually come as a surprise to whoever I’m helping.

When people ask for help, they recognize the symptoms of the problem and think those symptoms are the problem. Their dog is barking. They have trouble finding new clients. My job is to figure out what the real problem is and open doors to solutions they didn’t know they needed.

A woman sitting on the floor of a cat enclosure next to a tabby cat. They are looking at each other.

Allie on the Enrichment for the Real World Podcast

Check out recent episodes of the podcast here!

RESULTS FROM ALLIE'S MENTEES

“ I have learned so much with Allie as my mentor. She has shown me so many things I had never considered... By following her coaching, I'm changing how I view my business and how to move from an operator to an owner. However, I know I am far from where I want to be. I know with Allie's coaching, I can get there… Thrilled to be part of the program."

"Allie's individual advice has helped me make more than I pay for PETPro confidently. I have been confidently navigating the first year of business and making significant profit. She has helped me understand and prioritize sustainability. Not to mention the community support has been worth it all on its own. "

"When people ask me about what I get from PETPro and the Pet Harmony team I always say that for me it's a blessed trifecta of gifts to my mental health, my professional expertise and my business acumen."

"I give credit to a lot of my growth both as a business owner and a trainer to the PETPro program. I’ve gained the confidence to put myself out there and promote my services along with refining how I approach the cases that do come my way. I am a HUGE fan girl of the Pet Harmony team. They are the best people to surround yourself with. They will celebrate your wins with you, cry with you when things are hard... The program is worth every single penny and more."

Certifications & Credentials

Bachelor of Science (BS) – Animal Science, Iowa State University
Certified Professional Dog Trainer–Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA)
Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC)
Shelter Behavior Affiliate (SBA)
Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, and an Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) Canine Life and Social Skills (C.L.A.S.S.) Evaluator
TAGteach Level 1 (Teaching with Acoustical Guidance)

JUST FOR FUN

Q & A

Q: What’s one ordinary fact about you?

A: I love tea. Like, LOVE tea. I have entire shelves devoted to my tea collection and a database to keep it sorted. (That doesn’t feel ordinary, but, if you know me, this definitely tracks.)

Q: We obviously need to know about your pets, give us the details!

A: Oso is the four-legged love of my life. He’s a Mastiff-mix born in 2012 (we think). I met him on my second day working at a sanctuary because he was a problem child. I instantly knew he was going to be my dog one day.

I also live with Zorro, a Red-Eared Slider (that’s a semi-aquatic turtle [or terrapin, if you want to get super nerdy]). I got him from a friend when I was 19. She was rehoming him because he was picking on her other turtles (I clearly have a type). Since being with me, he’s lived in 6 different homes in 3 different states.

Q: What’s one super cool fact about you?

A: Listen. I don’t think anyone would describe me as super cool. So, here are some interesting facts:

I’ve hiked Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park
I watched the sun rise over Moab, UT, from a hot air balloon
I’ve been to the Mothman Festival in Point Pleasant, WV
I’ve built most of the furniture in my office
When Ellen, our Ops Manager, asks me for my top priority, I usually give her 3 (like how I’m breaking the rules of this question)