Nearly a decade ago, Sam Dooley took the Bridgeport High School stage to perform in the senior class play, “Leader of the Pack.” These days, he’s taken on a real-life role. The 2007 BHS graduate is "The Dog Wizard.”

 

In Columbia, South Carolina where he lives with his golden retriever Calvin and black Doberman pincher Johnny Cash, Dooley owns and operates a dog training franchise. At Columbia Dog Wizard, he conducts individual and group classes focusing on training and behavioral sessions. When he’s not on-site working with canines and their owners, he’s at home, playing host to everything from toy poodles to Belgian Malinois.

 

“I do summer camp-style training where the dogs live with me and we work together for two weeks. Once they go home, I show their owners how to work with them and keep them on the right track,” Dooley said. “Then I follow up with a public outing – to maybe the farmers market or to get breakfast and coffee with the dogs.”

 

Also a dog border, Dooley may have up to six or seven dogs under his roof at any given time.

 

“I work with every common breed and rare ones like the Japanese Chin and every common breed – afghan hounds, German short-hair pointers, Labradors, Shepherd breeds – Australian and German Shepherds, and all different hunting dogs.”

 

Dooley is certified to work with police dogs, but the bread and butter of his dog training business is behavioral and obedience.

 

“I deal with separation anxiety, aggression, dogs rescued from bad scenarios, as well as hyperactive dogs that are overly loving and jump on every person,” he said. “It’s not a red flag, but it can be a serious case because it makes the owner’s life stressful.”

 

He said he loves what he does and it’s very rewarding. Since growing up in Bridgeport with a Border collie mix Chloe, Dooley has been an animal lover and knew during his high school years he wanted to work with them. Initially, he set his sights on becoming a veterinarian and even took classes at BHS to prepare him for that field. While attending West Virginia University, however, that career focus took a shift.

 

“The undergrad pre-med program I was in offered a service dog training course and I took that my junior year,” he said. “That was my first real experience with formal dog training beyond the family dog I grew up with.”

 

Dooley said he fell in love with dog training and upon completion of the program was asked by his instructor to continue training the dog he had been working with.

 

“I jumped on the opportunity and did volunteer work for the service dog program my last two years of WVU,” he said. “By the time my senior year had rolled around, I knew I wanted to be a dog trainer.”

Dooley graduated from WVU and went on to dog training school in Ohio, becoming certified to train puppies, do obedience house training and work associated with military and law enforcement.

 

After completion of that program, he moved to Charlotte, NC where his parents live. Within two weeks, he secured a job with The Dog Wizard and after two years of employment there, started his own franchise of the company in Columbia, SC.

 

“I feel like I made the right choice. It’s absolutely a passion of mine,” he said. “I wake up every morning feeling very blessed by what I am doing.”

 

In the role of dog trainer, Dooley finds himself playing several others.

 

“I find myself playing therapist, marriage counselor and a lot of different roles because of the effect owners have on their dogs,” he said.

 

Dooley’s dogs Calvin and Cash also play an important part in his business.

 

“My golden retriever and Doberman pincher are two very polar dogs. My golden is very good with kids and other animals and with this line of work, I need a dog I can trust to go to the farmers market and come into contact with kids and pets without blinking an eye,” he said. “And my Doberman is the leader of the pack. He’s an alpha personality of dogs with not a submissive bone in his body. He won’t let a dog jump on his back and that’s good for dogs to learn social manners.”

 

In the Carolinas and other parts of the country, dog training is a rapidly growing industry. Dooley has worked with some high-profile clients, including the Charlotte Hornets’ Kemba Walker.

 

“People are seeking the help of someone who knows what they’re doing,” he said. “It’s great to be able to show the general public that every dog can learn new things and you never have to be trapped by your dog.”

 

Dooley typically works 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at his business site and continues around the clock as he takes dogs home for training sessions. He said he is booked through the remainder of 2016 and into the first part of the year. 

 

Learn more at his Web site Columbia Dog Wizard HERE.