Hondenschool

What Hondenschool does

Hondenschool & uitlaatservice Kersten is a privately held Dutch dog training school and affiliated dog walking service founded in 2015 by Wendy Kersten in Overasselt, Netherlands (KVK: 86354701). The company operates from a single physical training facility (Kasteelsestraat 12A, Overasselt) with ~440 m2 of indoor practical space plus a separate theory room, and runs a distinct dog walking operation under the brand Uitlaatservice Kersten that serves the Wijchen area. Geographically the school draws customers from approximately 13 towns across Gelderland including Wijchen, Nijmegen, Grave, Druten, Malden, Herpen, Schaijk, Oss, and Beuningen. The legal entity reports 128 employees, though the named instructor bench consists of ~10 qualified personnel with credentials spanning Hulphond Nederland, Dogvision, Martin Gaus Academie, Helicon Nijmegen, and Yuverta MBO Nijmegen.

The core offering is a tiered curriculum of positive-reinforcement, clicker-based group courses (Puppy Klasje Weekendtarief and Praktijk Coaching variants, Basis Klas 1 and 2, Gevorderde Klas) sold as fixed-fee upfront packages, plus specialised programmes (Detectie Speuren, Mantrail, Fitness voor je Hond co-developed with physiotherapist Tessa Jannink, Teambuilding, Roedeltraining, and a breed-specific Doodle Rust Programma). A standalone catalogue of ~10 single-session workshops (Escape Room, Detectie, Zweetwerk, Zelfbeheersing, Vuurwerktraining, Terras training, Wandelen zonder trekken, EHBO Lezing, Socialisatie) is priced per person or per dog. Custom services include private lessons at €70-80 + travel, a €9.99 telephone consultation, and breeder socialisation outings. Enrolled students gain access to a custom video-based online learning environment that mirrors in-person lessons. Self-serve enrollment runs through the Aniday (Kennelcare) booking platform, with WhatsApp groups serving as the asynchronous communication channel.

The revenue model combines one-time upfront course fees (dominant) with a recurring dog walking subscription (Uitlaatservice Kersten), an annual B2B Vrienden partnership programme (€48-€96/year), and ad-hoc private coaching and workshops. Go-to-market is community-led and self-serve, anchored by a content-rich website, organic social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok), customer reviews (4.49/5 across 85 self-hosted reviews), and the cross-referring Vrienden local business network. The school has no disclosed external funding, no parent company, and operates as an independent founder-led business.

Name

Hondenschool

Legal name

Hondenschool & uitlaatservice Kersten

Website

https://hondenschoolkersten.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Hondenschool & uitlaatservice Kersten is a privately held Dutch dog training school and dog walking service founded in 2015 in Overasselt, Netherlands. It delivers positive-reinforcement group courses, private lessons, workshops, and a separate dog walking service to pet owners across the Gelderland region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pet Training Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (812910)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Personal Services (7200)

akta.pro primary industry

Small-Group / Structured Dog Daycare (HSANAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Training-Integrated Dog Daycare (Day Training) (HSANAFAE), Outdoor / Farm-Style Dog Daycare (HSANAFAL)

Keywords

• Dog training courses
• Puppy socialization classes
• Reward-based dog training
• Canine behavior coaching
• Dog walking services

Headquarters

HQ city

Overasselt

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Group Training Courses: Recurring group training courses (Puppy Klasje, Basis Klas 1 and 2, Gevorderde Klas, Teambuilding) sold as fixed course packages. Customers pay upfront for the full course. Each course consists of a set number of theory and practical lessons.
2. Private Lessons: One-on-one training sessions delivered at the customer's home or at the school premises. Priced per session. Private lessons serve as upsell from group courses and address specific behavioural problems.
3. Workshops and Speciality Sessions: Single-session workshops (Escape Room for Dogs, Workshop Detectie, Workshop Zweetwerk, Workshop Zelfbeheersing, Vuurwerktraining, Terras Training, EHBO Lezing, Socialisatie onder Begeleiding) sold at fixed per-person or per-dog prices.
4. Dog Walking / Day Care Service (Uitlaatservice Kersten): Dog walking and day care service based in Wijchen, operating as a separate but affiliated business under the same KVK number. Provides recurring dog walking services for customers who are less mobile or at work.
5. Vrienden Partnership Programme: Annual partnership packages (Friend packages 1, 2, 3) where local businesses pay €48–96/year for promotional mentions on the school's website, social media, and physical location. Creates a secondary revenue stream from local businesses while building referral network.
6. Telephone Consultation: Short telephone consultations (up to 15 minutes) with Wendy Kersten at €9.99, providing quick professional advice as a low-commitment entry point for potential customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hondenschool & uitlaatservice Kersten is a Dutch dog training school and dog walking service founded in 2015 in Overasselt, Netherlands. The school delivers group courses (Puppy Klasje, Basis Klas 1 & 2, Gevorderde klas), specialty programs (Detectie Speuren, Mantrail, Fitness voor je hond, Teambuilding, Roedeltraining, Doodle Rust Programma), workshops, private lessons, and breeder socialization, all using positive reinforcement methodology. The affiliated Uitlaatservice Kersten provides recurring dog walking and day care in the Wijchen area.

Product overview

Hondenschool & uitlaatservice Kersten is a dog training school and dog walking service based in Overasselt, Netherlands. The company operates a unified platform-plus-modules architecture consisting of: Core Training Courses (Puppy Klasje in Weekend and Praktijk Coaching variants, Basis Klas 1 & 2, and Gevorderde klas), Specialized Training Programs (Detectie Speuren, Mantrail, Fitness voor je hond, Teambuilding, Roedeltraining, and the Doodle Rust Program), and a Workshops program (including Vuurwerktraining, Terras training, Wandelen zonder trekken, Zelfbeheersing, Socialisatie, EHBO Lezing, Escape Room, Workshop Detectie, and Workshop Zweetwerk). Additional services include Private Lessons, Telephone Consultation, Breeder Socialization, and a separate Dog Walking Service (Uitlaatservice Kersten). The company also offers an online learning environment with video lessons for course participants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Puppy Klasje - Weekendtarief Complete puppy starter package including 2 theory lessons, 6 practical lessons at real-world locations (train station, forest, shopping center, farm), 1 private consultation, and access to online learning videos. Designed for puppies to socialize and learn basic commands.
• Puppy Klasje - Praktijk Coaching Practical puppy training program with 4 lessons at various real-world locations plus 2 private lessons, focused on socialization and real-life training situations in small groups.
• Basis Klas 1 Foundation obedience course covering clicker training theory, 2 theory lessons on dog body language and behavior, and 4 practical lessons with themed exercises and basic commands.
• Basis Klas 2 Continuation of foundation training with 1 theory lesson on clicker training and 5 practical lessons building on Basis Klas 1 skills.
• Gevorderde klas Advanced training course for dogs that completed Basis Klas, focusing on mental stimulation, clicker training, impulse control, and advanced commands across 9 practical lessons with free muzzle provided.
• Detectie Speuren Scent detection training where dogs learn to identify specific scents, with 3 introduction lessons plus starter set followed by quarterly group sessions.
• Mantrail Mantrailing sport where dogs learn to track missing persons by scent, offered as a quarterly program with 3 lessons per quarter.
• Fitness voor je hond Canine fitness and exercise therapy course co-developed with physiotherapist Tessa Jannink, quarterly program with 3 lessons focusing on mobility, strength, balance, and endurance.
• Teambuilding

Quantifiable outcome

• 85 customer reviews with an average rating of approximately 4.49 out of 5 stars on the company's own review platform.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Animotion DierfysiotherapieminorOthersLocal animal physiotherapy practice in Velp (near Grave), offering preventive checks and rehabilitation for dogs, cats, and horses. Listed as a 'Vriend' (Friend) partner of the school. Referenced in the Vrienden programme page.
• Victor Hoogma Fysiotherapie voor hondenminorOthersDog physiotherapy practice in Nijmegen. Listed as a 'Vriend' partner. Specialises in mobility issues, stiffness, and asymmetry in dogs.
• Bouwservice WijchenminorOthersConstruction company in Wijchen (est. 2007). Listed as a 'Vriend' partner. Provides complete home renovation services with a single point of contact.
• Hondigheid (Lijanne Wiebing)coreOthersLijanne Wiebing runs her private dog coaching business 'Hondigheid' (hondigheid.nl) and is simultaneously the head instructor at Hondenschool Kersten. She provides virtually all private training sessions for the school's customers. Listed as a 'Vriend' partner. Her private website is promoted on the school site.
• De Schalm (Gezinshuis)minorOthersA family-style care home for up to 8 adults with intellectual disabilities in Oosterhout (Gelderland), operating under franchise of Stichting Driestroom. Listed as a 'Vriend' partner.
• Wendy's TrimsalonminorOthersDog grooming salon in Wijchen operated by Wendy Peters, who is also an instructor at Hondenschool Kersten. She is a qualified dog groomer and animal behaviour graduate. Listed as a 'Vriend' partner.
• Rianne Gruijters HondencoachingminorOthersRianne offers private lessons and coaching for dogs and owners in the Wijchen area. Listed as a 'Vriend' partner. She also works as a trainer at Hulphond Nederland and teaches at Hondenschool Kersten on Wednesdays.
• Leer2020 (Handgemaakte Leren Tassen)minorOthersArtisan leather goods business producing handmade leather pouches including dog treat pouches for dog trainers. Listed as a 'Vriend' partner.
• DigitalFixItminorOthersIT repair service (PCs, laptops, consoles, tablets, smartphones) in the Wijchen area. Listed as a 'Vriend' partner.
• Dierenartsenpraktijk Wijchen (Dierenarts Sarah)minorOthersVeterinary practice in Wijchen. Dr. Sarah, the practising veterinarian, delivers the EHBO Lezing (First Aid Lecture) at the dog school, educating dog owners on emergency care for dogs. This is a periodic workshop partnership rather than an ongoing commercial relationship.
• Fysiotherapie Tessa Jannink / FymedicoreOthersPhysiotherapist Tessa Jannink collaborated with Hondenschool Kersten to design the 'Fitness voor je Hond' (Fitness for Your Dog) course, applying animal physiotherapy principles to dog fitness training.
• Hanneke VerweijcoreOthersHanneke Verweij runs her own dog workshops (including Escape Room for Dogs, Workshop Detectie, Workshop Zweetwerk) under the 'Workshops Hanneke' brand hosted at Hondenschool Kersten approximately once per month. She is also an instructor at the school.
• Assistentie Hond GelderlandcoreOthersHondenschool Kersten instructors Wendy Kersten and Lijanne Wiebing are hired as freelancers (zzpers) by Assistentie Hond Gelderland to mentor and guide PTSD service dog trainees. The school assists in training participants to raise their own assistance dogs.
• Aniday (Kennelcare)coreTechnology or IntegrationAniday (operated under the Kennelcare platform at hondenschoolkersten.kennelcare.nl) provides the online booking and customer management system used for all course enrollments, scheduling, and student administration.
• Hulphond NederlandminorOthersFounder Wendy Kersten worked at Hulphond Nederland for 9 years (2008–2017). Lijanne Wiebing, Ilse van de Schans, and Rianne Gruijters also have connections to Hulphond Nederland through work experience and training. This is a historical professional connection rather than an active partnership.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hulphondenschool De Click: Dutch dog school where Founder Wendy Kersten worked Jan 2017-April 2019 and where Head Instructor Lijanne Wiebing worked Nov 2016-April 2022. Offers structured dog training programs with comparable methodology and pricing.
• Martin Gaus Academie: One of the largest Dutch dog training school chains running Kynologisch Instructeur certification (the same program Wendy Kersten and Lijanne Wiebing completed). Operates group classes, private lessons, and instructor training across multiple locations, directly comparable in service mix and target market.
• DogVision: Dutch dog training education provider offering HBO-level courses and instructor certifications. Several Hondenschool Kersten instructors are alumni of Dogvision modules, making it a direct comparable in methodology and customer segment (serious dog owners / aspiring instructors).
• Hondenschool ZienZ: Mid-sized Dutch dog training school offering puppy classes, obedience, and behavioral programs. Comparable in scope, methodology (positive reinforcement), and target customer (Dutch pet owners seeking structured education).

Broad incumbents

• Rover: Global pet care marketplace covering dog walking, sitting, boarding, and training. Comparable only partially via the Uitlaatservice Kersten (dog walking) arm of the business. Indirect competitor for the walking service line.
• Bark Busters: Global dog training franchise offering in-home and group training. Operates internationally and competes in the same 'professional, qualified trainer' segment as Hondenschool Kersten, though at a much larger scale and via a franchise model.
• Cesar Millan: International dog training brand and methodology. Comparable as a global reference point for dog training methodology, though Hondenschool Kersten's reward-based approach is philosophically opposed to Cesar's dominance-based methods.
• Hulphond Nederland: Major Dutch assistance dog organization (foundation) where Wendy Kersten worked 9 years and where Rianne Gruijters is still employed. Larger institutional player in the Dutch dog training ecosystem, with overlapping instructor talent pool and methodology.

Others

• Dierenartsenpraktijk Wijchen: Local veterinary practice that partners with Hondenschool Kersten to deliver the EHBO Lezing (first aid lecture). Comparable as an adjacent pet-services provider in the same local ecosystem and referral network.
• Aniday (Kennelcare): The booking and customer management platform provider for Hondenschool Kersten (and many other pet-service businesses in NL). Comparable as the underlying technology stack for the school's self-serve GTM motion.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCesnOFxRMmUM6As_iqL_MEQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/hondenschoolkersten
• Instagraminstagram.com/Hondenschool_kersten
• TikToktiktok.com/@hondenschoolkersten
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hondenschool

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hondenschool