Building Pawmora: Behind the Scenes of Launching a Dog Training Studio

Starting a new business is an adventure—equal parts excitement, problem-solving, and unexpected lessons. As we get closer to welcoming our first clients, I wanted to share a little behind-the-scenes look at what’s been happening at Pawmora, from setting up the space to getting our scheduling system running smoothly.

The Studio: Thoughtful Choices & Trade-Offs

One of the first big decisions was flooring. I wanted something safe, non-toxic, and comfortable for both dogs and humans. After considering all the options, I went with wood-print foam flooring puzzle mats—they're cost-effective, odor-free, and look great. They won’t last forever, but for now, they check all the boxes!

Next up is finalizing all the little details to make the space feel welcoming while staying functional for training. I want Pawmora to be more than just a training studio—I want it to feel like a second home for dog owners in the community. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get the whole place scrubbed down and freshly painted in the next few weeks! If you have any good local painter recommendations, please tell me!

Tech Challenges: Getting Mindbody Set Up

I knew setting up scheduling software would be a process, but Mindbody has given me more hiccups than expected! The good news? It’s finally (mostly) set up! You can now book group classes online, and I’d love any feedback on how the system works for you. If anything seems confusing or clunky, let me know—I want this to be as seamless as possible for you.

First Clients, First Classes, First Steps

I’m beyond excited to welcome our first puppy clients! But I’ll be honest—I didn’t anticipate how slow sign-ups would be at the start. It’s tough launching in an uncertain economy, and I know people are more cautious with their spending. But I’m hopeful that by building a strong community and offering real value, Pawmora will thrive.

If you’ve been thinking about signing up for training, here’s what’s coming up:

🐶 Rolling Puppy Kindergarten – Saturdays at 11:30 AM
🐶 Rolling Adult Foundations – Saturdays at 9:00 AM

These classes are designed to be flexible, so you can start anytime and move through the curriculum at your own pace. You can book directly on the website—everything should be clear and functional, but if you run into any issues, please reach out!

Let’s Build This Together

Opening Pawmora is about more than just training—it’s about creating a community for dogs and their people. If you’re local and have been looking for a place where training is approachable, fun, and effective, I’d love for you to join us.

Thank you for being part of this journey, and I can’t wait to see you and your pup in class soon!

Book your group classes and private sessions!

Also, if you want to see more about the studio opening, follow me on instagram.com/pawmora.dc to see videos of all of the cleaning, flooring, etc! Hopefully, I’ll get lots of clients soon and be able to fill my IG with less cleaning and more puppies and dogs, but for now, it’s what I’ve got :)