Leading with Integrity, Commitment, & Faith

Jenny Oberhelman, Owner & Instructor of Special K9 Dog Training & Country Resort, was born and raised in the dog training and boarding industry. Her parents owned Triune K9 Training Academy and Country Resort in De Soto, Kansas.

From a very early age, Jenny had the opportunity to watch, listen, learn, train, and study their methods of dog obedience and behaviour modification, which helped her understand all types of dogs. After graduating from Sterling College with a Bachelor's degree in Business Management, Jenny moved on to open Special K9 Dog Training & Country Resort in Burrton, KS.

The pioneering leader’s first experience by herself was training on-leash dog obedience to a very stubborn Basset Hound when she was only four years old. Since this training experience, she immediately developed a passion for working with dogs. At 6, she started competing in dog agility with her German Shepherd, Starr. Within two years, Jenny and Starr made it to the United States Dog Agility Association National Championships, competing against other junior handlers. Participating in this sport, Jenny excelled so quickly that by the age of 12, she began to compete with her Shetland Sheepdog, Jodie, against adults through the American Kennel Club all over the United States, winning many ribbons and titles along the way. Jenny and Jodie competed at the AKC National Championships several times against the adults, with great success.

Jenny believes exceptional training and team building for team members is essential in giving them the confidence to become great leaders of tomorrow. Continued education, acknowledgment of their work well done, and constructive criticism is significant to continue giving them the confidence and guidance needed to be successful and compassionate in what they are doing. “It took me seven years to find a balanced and effective way to run my business, and I am continuing to learn more everyday,” she says. “The advice I would give others endeavouring to open their own business is to reach out to other qualified professionals for their guidance, and have faith. This helped me significantly in continuing to expand my business as well as the success of the business.”

Jenny’s father, Greg Oberhelman, is her inspiration. He influenced her to pull the trigger and use her knowledge of what she had learned the past 20 years of her life training with him and her mother. His work ethic, dedication to canine companions and their owners, and faith in God were always the core of how he ran his business. Armed with this mindset, Jenny is taking the company to great heights.

After obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Business from Sterling College, Jenny opened Special K9 Dog Training. After a couple of years of offering training services but having multiple requests to care for their client's pets while they travelled, Special K9 expanded to provide boarding and day-care services at their country resort. They wanted people to feel confident and comfortable about traveling, knowing that their furry loved one was in the best of hands. “We are a foundation guided by integrity, commitment, and faith so that people can have peace of mind while leaving their canine companion in our care,” explains Jenny. “I am dedicated to ensuring that I, as well as all of my team members, follow and work by being committed to our mission statement. I believe that the compassion in what you do is vitally important to the success of your business as well as the way you treat your customers.”

The most significant achievements of the organization owing to its revolutionary approach are providing customers with confidence in the care and success of the canine companions that attend Jenny’s training programs as well as their continued follow-up and understanding to ensure that all the dogs are safe, happy, and successful while they are with them. “Attention to detail and compassion are very important qualities to running a successful business. I am looking to expand our location within the next five years within the state of Kansas, and then expanding out of state within the next 15 years,” she elucidates. “I want to provide our exceptional level of care and training programs throughout the nation. As my father taught me, never come to the point where you feel like you know everything. The day that you stop studying and learning more is the day that you will begin limiting your success. Never hesitate to reach out to other professionals for advice in any department of your corporation.”