Birthday Wish Comes True for Elissa Weimer

Paw & Order is Top Dog as SBA Western Pa Veteran-Owned Small Business

Elissa Weimer couldn’t ask for a better 35th birthday gift. Her 11-year-old business, Paw & Order, is the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Western PA Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year.

SBA District Director Dr. Kelly Hunt will honor Weimer during a special May 2 ceremony at her 22-acre farm and training center, marking the 61st annual celebration of National Small Business Week.

“My business has received several awards over the years, which I am so grateful for. But it’s nice to be recognized by an organization like the SBA that is outside of our bubble.” 

The Army National Guard veteran used the G.I. Bill to attend PennWest California University graduating at the top of her class in criminal justice. Much to the dismay of her parents, she turned down a job with the FBI to start her own business.

“My parents thought I wasted my degree. They were disappointed and a bit concerned,” she said. “I enjoyed my six years in the military, it helped me see things in a new way and make me realize I could do anything, like start my own business. Who knew dog training would be such a big thing!”

Today, Paw & Order is big. It boasts an area staff of 11, along with nine franchised locations across the country. She’s even amassed a cult following on social media. “My SUV is wrapped with our company’s branding, and I usually have at least 4 dogs with their heads looking out the windows,” she said. “People go crazy, take videos, and post us on social media.”

The business, which trains both dogs and their owners, offers Western PA dog owners in-home training, stay and train programs, and group classes at Weimer’s farm and facility. “We have something for everyone,” she added.

The sprawling farm and business is not only the home of many dogs, but also peacocks, donkeys, chickens, ducks, pigs, cats, micro cows and a horse. “We assess if a training dog in our care is comfortable with other animals, and if they aren’t, we work with them,” she said. “I also take most of my personal dogs to shelters making sure those dogs are sociable with other dogs. If not, I work with them to build their confidence, so they are more comfortable in those situations, which makes them more adoptable.”

Hunt, a veteran and dog owner, said military personnel possess the drive and leadership skills to succeed as entrepreneurs. “They get the job done by setting goals and inspiring teamwork,” she added. “I’m so happy to learn she is helping dogs and their owners form those special relationships and that’s a priceless service.”

Weimer’s success belies her humble beginnings traveling across America and Canada obtaining specialized training and certifications while her rented townhouse served as her home office. “This might sound weird, but I love learning,” she said. If I have an opportunity to learn more about a subject, I will take it. That mindset helped me in this arena.”

Armed with her newly acquired skill set, Weimer began marketing her small business by visiting local veterinarians within an hour’s drive of her home. “I would schedule lunch and learn presentations with the vet offices and go in with a few of my personal dogs to show them firsthand how a properly trained dog can behave. Their eyes would pop, and they would say ‘so-and-so could really benefit from this,’” she explained. “The referrals started rolling in and before I knew it, I was traveling 10 hours a day to and from dog owners’ homes.”

Weimer began hiring additional trainers. She soon outgrew the townhouse and several other locations before she and her husband settled on a 22-acre farm housing both her business and residence.

Weimer said her team is responsible for her success. “Quality is important and when my team is happy, it spreads to our dogs. We purchased an RV with hopes of traveling the country with our dogs and holding training events,” she said. “We reached out to the Duquesne University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to coordinate successfully stepping away from the day-to-day operations.”

SBDCs are SBA and state-funded entities helping entrepreneurs with no-cost counseling and low-cost training classes for every phase of small business development. In the past five years, the Duquesne University SBDC staff have assisted more than 3,000 entrepreneurs. Those efforts resulting in 245 new business starts while infusing more than $72 million in funding into the local economy.

Weimer is now looking forward to traveling, training, and documenting new experiences. “I’m always thinking about what’s next. Having success as a small business is exhilarating, but you have to be prepared to put in the work,” she added. “I’ve also learned that you need people around you to help you succeed.”