There’s a saying that goes, “a dog is a man’s best friend” and another one that says “everything happens for a reason.” Not all superheroes wear capes. Not everyone knows what they’ll do in life, sometimes it’s just a matter of falling into a path that will lead to your calling. For Tom Davis, a lover of dogs since his early age, following that friendship is exactly what led him to be who he is today, “America’s Canine Educator.”
It all began in South Glens Fall, a small town in Upstate New York of about four thousand people, where a little boy aged three years old played and made friends with animals. Ever since his love and gift of communication with them have only evolved. Today, he owns and operates Upstate Canine Academy, out of the city with a team of ten professionals.
A turning point in his life was when he realized that he knew he had to help dogs.
“I was kicked out of my house for getting a Saint Bernard. I worked long hours for a place to stay and to feed my new puppy. He unexpectedly passed away at 6 months which led me to pursue my profession […].”
From then on, everything slowly fell into place.
From getting his certification classes for PetTeach, the number one pet CPR, and first aid course for pets at the time to starting his own dog walking business, he eventually had to deal with difficult to train dogs and started to dabble in behavioral cases. Then, one day he talked to his dad on the phone and it just clicked. Everything lined up, this is what he was supposed to do in life.
“I knew I wasn’t going to open a local shop here in NY and do traditional 4-6 week classes, I knew that. I was already on the move and hungry for more. I wasn’t going to be the local dog guy, I knew what I was creating was so much bigger than me, it just felt so right. So we decided, I am an educator, that’s exactly what I do. I put so much emphasis on education and helping dog owners understand their dog, I’m certainly not just a trainer.”
Tom attributes his success to dedication, hard work, and the help of his fiancé Taylor, who’s the backbone of the operation. Although it wasn’t always easy, over the years, he took pride in trusting his own path, knowing that his love for the industry, for the animals, will pay off.
Once living in a tent in his friend’s yard, he now travels the world to cater to help dogs and their owners. With a jammed-packed schedule that includes running a YouTube channel and hosting his own podcast amongst other things, on occasions, he also flies out directly to meet with private clients often with prestigious backgrounds. Some of these clients include NFL sensation Patrick Mahomes.
Tom’s never-ending passion is as real as it gets and is what fuels his business, “I can’t not help dog owners and dogs in need, I’m so passionate about helping people, I hardly sleep.”
