Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Flatley.
Hi Kim, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started Fitness with Fido about 8 years ago, back in 2015, as a way to save time because my dog Oscar had a lot of energy and gave me such guilty looks when I would leave to go to the gym that I started combining my workouts outdoors while on our walks. After a few times, other people may enjoy this too! I went to school for business and have worked with dogs since I was a kid, always intending to own my own business; I did not expect this business creation, but it came from passion and feeling unfulfilled at my past job. I then researched how to start my unique business and learned a lot. We offer regular puplates (Pilates for you and your dog), Doga (yoga for you and your dog), working walks – outdoors classes focusing on exploring nature with their paws and working on obedience, canine fitness, and more! We also have branched off into dog fitness training as there were a lot of requests for people wanting to skip their portion of the workout and only their dog’s workout. We also create online programs that people can do anytime, anywhere, which has been cool to reach more dogs and people out of St. Louis. My background includes business, dog grooming, agility, and dog fitness.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Haha, No, it has not been a smooth road. What I thought would be a fast-booming million-dollar business idea has yet to happen. In the beginning, it was my mom and husband coming to my classes that started outdoors. It took a while to find an affordable, large enough indoor place to allow dogs, so I got a lot of no’s beginning. I finally found a place at the Dog Museum for a couple of years before they closed and moved to New York right when I gained a consistent group of clients. So then I found a new place at the Academy of Pet Careers for another couple of years, then they moved across town, and the pandemic hit, so things were pivoted to online until things sorted out. Things have been more stable now. Besides the business side, personally, since starting, I lost my grandfather and grandma-in-law within a couple of months right before starting. I married at the Dog Museum, with my dogs walking me down the aisle. Then my father passed away a month after. During the pandemic, I got pregnant with my first baby Vanessa and now adjusting to motherhood to a 2-year-old has been a whole new challenge, especially while running a business! Then my dog Oscar passed away about a year and a half ago when my human baby was 6 months old, which was one of the biggest struggles as he was my business partner and my why.
To make matters worse, it happened on the day of my brother in laws funeral. I did have to take time off for a mental break, but I saw my other dogs, Ike and Leah, and my client’s dogs and knew I wanted to keep going and continue a legacy. The road could have been smoother, but you learn to get around the potholes. Making systems and automation has been the most helpful, and only taking on work I can handle.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We strive to live up to our mission statement: “Whether you’re here for yourself or your dog, for weight loss or a new activity, we hope to meet all your needs and wants. We want to be around people and their dogs during different life cycles, from puppies to seniors, to live healthier lifestyles and be the best version of themselves. Fitness with Fido is “where you’ll always have a workout partner.”
Another thing we wanted to create is a community of Dog Parents living their best lives with their favorite workout partner by their side, which we call our “Fido Tribe.” We created that network locally here in St. Louis but also reached globally. That has also been very fulfilling; it can be challenging for adults to make friends, and we’ve created a safe space where you can be the ultimate dog mom or dad without feeling weird or anything, like packing your dog’s backpack to come to class. We think of our classes as extra circular classes making learning fun for you and your dog! Which also leads to a better-behaved dog.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those just starting.
There’s a graph shows a linear upward line of growth of what people think happens, but it is like a squiggly line that eventually goes up. So don’t give up; keep trying to improve while doing your best.
Pricing:
- group classes $15
- Online Programs $20+
- private training $40+
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fitnesswithfido.fit
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnesswithfido.fit/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FitnesswithFido.Fit
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FitnesswithFido
Image Credits
I just wanted to share the names of the dogs pictured if you wanted them: Atticus (Chinese Crested), Lexi (Chihuahua), Bailey (golden retriever), Oscar (Standard Poodle), Leah (Standard Poodle), Mack (Australian Shepherd), Ike (Australian Shepherd), and Rooney (Australian Shepherd)
