Free Dog Trainers
Free Dog Trainers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2024 that provides free, certified dog training and behavior support to under-resourced dog owners in Sonoma County, California, funded by donations and grants and delivered by volunteer and certified trainers with no income requirements.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2024
- HeadquartersRohnert Park, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Free Dog Trainers does
Free Dog Trainers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in September 2024 and headquartered in Rohnert Park, Sonoma County, California. Its mission is to provide free access to education and behavior support from certified dog training professionals in order to prevent dogs from being surrendered to shelters for behavior-related reasons. The organization was founded by Devan Amundsen, a certified professional dog trainer and behavior consultant (CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA) with 15 years of experience in shelter dog work, assistance dog training, and college instruction.
The core product is one-on-one dog training and behavior consultation delivered either in-person or remotely, with no income requirements, no session limits, and no expectation of payment. Free group training classes, a formal Shelter and Rescue Partnership Program with reserved weekly slots for referred clients, a Volunteer-to-Career pathway to develop future certified trainers, and a Narcan distribution initiative in partnership with Lemon Aide Project round out the service portfolio. Service delivery relies on human trainers (certified Lead Trainers plus volunteers) rather than any proprietary technology platform; scheduling is handled through Calendly and the public web presence runs on a basic Google Sites website.
The business model is donation- and grant-funded rather than revenue-generating. Confirmed inflows to date include a $600 community crowdfunding campaign in September 2024 to cover IRS filing fees, individual donations solicited without expectation, branded merchandise sales via a Bonfire storefront, and a $30,000 Maddie's Fund 30th Anniversary Hero Award grant received in June 2025 to support Sonoma County operations and a planned expansion into neighboring North Bay regions by 2026. Since September 2024 the organization reports reaching approximately 700 people and their dogs, with an explicit goal of 1,000 by the end of 2025.
Free Dog Trainers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Free Dog Trainers
- Legal name
- Free Dog Trainers
- Website
- https://freedogtrainers.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2024
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Free Dog Trainers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2024 that provides free, certified dog training and behavior support to under-resourced dog owners in Sonoma County, California, funded by donations and grants and delivered by volunteer and certified trainers with no income requirements.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Free Dog Trainers industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pet Training Services
- NAICS
- Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Training-Integrated Dog Daycare (Day Training) (HSANAFAE)
Keywords
Where Free Dog Trainers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rohnert Park
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Free Dog Trainers business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Donations: Organization operates entirely on donations from clients and supporters. There is no expectation of donation, but clients who want to support others can contribute. Marketing/advertising costs approximately $25 per new client acquired through paid and organic channels.
- Grants: Major grant funding from Maddie's Fund received in June 2025 - a $30,000 'Hero Award' grant to provide free dog training to Sonoma County with expansion goals by 2026.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise through Bonfire storefront including apparel. Artists can collaborate by donating art in exchange for free merchandise.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Dog Training Services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Free Dog Trainers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Free Dog Trainers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free one-on-one and group dog training to dog owners in Sonoma County, California. Services are delivered by certified trainers and supported by volunteers, with funding sourced from donations and grants.
Product overview
Free Dog Trainers is a single-program nonprofit organization offering completely free, access-focused dog training and behavior support. The core service is one-on-one training consultations (available in-person or remotely) supplemented by free group training classes. The organization also operates a shelter and rescue partnership program for urgent referrals, a volunteer-to-career pipeline for expanding trainer capacity, and a Narcan distribution initiative with Lemon Aide Project. There are no income requirements, no session limits, and no expectation of payment — the organization runs on donations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Free One-on-One Dog Training Individual dog training sessions delivered by certified trainers at no cost to dog owners in Sonoma County, California. Targets pet owners who need personalized instruction for their dogs.
- Free Group Dog Training Classes Group-format dog training classes provided free of charge by certified trainers and volunteers to dog owners in Sonoma County, California. Designed for owners seeking structured, community-based training at no cost.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reached 100 people and dogs in first 4 months of operations
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Free Dog Trainers
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Free Dog Trainers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Free Dog Trainers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Lemon Aide ProjectcoreLocal nonprofit partnership for Narcan (naloxone) distribution. Free Dog Trainers trainers carry Narcan and provide boxes to anyone who asks, gifted from Lemon Aide Project. Partnership demonstrates commitment to judgment-free, community-wide support beyond dog training.
- Rohnert Park Animal ServicescoreHost of annual Critter Camp summer program for kids. Invited Free Dog Trainers to speak about dog body language, consent for interaction, and modern dog training methods. Apprentice Trainer Wade Hewlett represented Free Dog Trainers at the camp.
- Una VidaflagshipInitial proof-of-concept collaboration to provide completely free and bilingual dog training. This partnership led to the first Free Dog Trainers event serving nearly 20 people and their dogs in a few hours.
- The Deviled EggeryminorCollaborated with founder M.B. of The Deviled Eggery to discuss how animal welfare is part of community health. M.B. expressed support for the idea of free dog training services.
- Animal Shelters and Rescues (General)coreFormal partnership program encouraging shelters and rescues to refer fosters, adopters, or potential surrenders. Partnership options include reserved weekly time dedicated specifically for the organization's participants and tailored services to meet organizational needs.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Free Dog Trainers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- ASPCA: Largest US animal welfare organization with national programs in behavior, training, and shelter support. Comparable in mission to prevent relinquishment and in offering training resources nationwide.
- Humane Society of the United States: National animal welfare organization that hosts training conferences and shelter-rescue programs. Founder Devan Amundsen has presented at HSUS, indicating ongoing interaction with this peer.
- Petco Dog Training: Nationwide commercial dog training program offered through Petco retail locations. Comparable service offering (group classes and one-on-one sessions) but operated as a paid retail service rather than free nonprofit delivery.
- Best Friends Animal Society: National animal welfare nonprofit focused on shelter savings and community programs. Overlaps with Free Dog Trainers' mission of keeping dogs out of shelters and offers training/behavior resources at broader scale.
- PetSmart Dog Training: National commercial dog training program operated through PetSmart stores. Closest large-scale commercial analog to Free Dog Trainers' one-on-one and group offerings, providing a pricing and scale benchmark.
Direct peers
- Canine Companions for Independence: National nonprofit that trains dogs and provides them free to people with disabilities. Mission-aligned nonprofit dog training organization that relies on volunteer-supported trainer pipelines and donated services.
- St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center: Regional animal welfare nonprofit offering dog training, behavior support, and shelter/rescue services. Comparable mission-driven model combining training with surrender-prevention partnerships.
Regional players
- Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF): Bay Area animal welfare nonprofit that operates community-focused dog training programs and shelter/rescue partnerships. Comparable in combining rescue services with accessible training and behavior support.
- Humane Society of the North Bay (formerly Sonoma Humane): Direct-local animal welfare nonprofit in Sonoma County offering adoption, training, and surrender-prevention services. Operates in the same geography and overlapping mission to keep pets in homes.
- Marin Humane: Regional animal welfare organization in adjacent Marin County offering low-cost dog training, behavior support, and shelter/rescue services. Highly comparable as a neighboring Bay Area nonprofit providing training and shelter partnerships for under-resourced pet owners.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Free Dog Trainers social profiles
Digital presenceFree Dog Trainers compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Free Dog Trainers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Free Dog Trainers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Free Dog Trainers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Free Dog Trainers M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Free Dog Trainers
What does Free Dog Trainers do?
Free Dog Trainers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free one-on-one and group dog training to dog owners in Sonoma County, California. Services are delivered by certified trainers and supported by volunteers, with funding sourced from donations and grants.
Is Free Dog Trainers a public or private company?
Free Dog Trainers is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Free Dog Trainers founded?
Free Dog Trainers was founded in 2024.
Where is Free Dog Trainers based?
Free Dog Trainers is headquartered in Rohnert Park, United States, in the North America region.
How does Free Dog Trainers make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are grants and merchandise Sales.
Who are Free Dog Trainers's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are ASPCA, Humane Society of the United States, Petco Dog Training, Best Friends Animal Society and PetSmart Dog Training. Direct peers are Canine Companions for Independence and St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center. Regional players are Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF), Humane Society of the North Bay (formerly Sonoma Humane) and Marin Humane.
Does Free Dog Trainers have an API?
No public API is recorded for Free Dog Trainers.
What industry is Free Dog Trainers in?
Free Dog Trainers's product category is Pet Training Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSANAFAE, Training-Integrated Dog Daycare (Day Training). Its NAICS code is 81291 and its SIC code is 8200.