We had the good fortune of connecting with Kourtenay Dolmos and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kourtenay, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Honestly, it started with realizing I had built up a really specific set of skills that most trainers weren’t combining. I had a background in pet nutrition, a CPDT-KA certification, and a genuine obsession with understanding why dogs behave the way they do rather than just managing behavior on the surface.

But the other piece was pet care. I kept noticing there wasn’t a reliable, genuinely knowledgeable option for owners who wanted more than just someone to show up and fill a bowl. Most pet sitting and dog walking services aren’t run by people with any real training background. I wanted to fill that gap: care that actually comes from expertise, not just availability.

Hearth & Hounds came from both of those things. A place where training and pet care live together, run by someone who actually knows dogs

Dog lying on a sidewalk with grass and trees in the background, mouth open, tongue out, wearing a collar and leash.

Small black dog with gray fur around face, wearing a pink collar and blue tag, standing on a concrete path.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Hearth & Hounds HTX is a dog training and pet care business based in the Houston area, and what sets us apart is pretty simple: we actually know dogs. Not just “I love animals” know them, but scientifically, behaviorally, and holistically. I’m a CPDT-KA certified trainer with a background in pet nutrition, and my approach looks at the whole dog rather than just the surface behavior.

What I’m most proud of is that I built something real from scratch while doing the thing I actually love. But honestly? That was also the hardest part. My passion is dog training, not business. Learning to take something I care deeply about and turn it into a scalable, sustainable model was a challenge I wasn’t fully prepared for. It required a totally different set of skills than what got me into this field.

What carried me through was community. The Houston area embraced me in a way I’m incredibly grateful for. People believed in what I was doing and gave me the opportunity to show up and prove it. That trust meant everything in the early days and still does.

What I want people to know about Hearth & Hounds is that when you work with us, you’re not just hiring a service. You’re getting someone who genuinely cares about your dog’s wellbeing from the inside out.

Small black and tan dog with large ears and a blue collar, lying on grass and concrete, looking at the camera.

Person with glasses and purple shirt holding a small dog on a pillow, smiling in a cozy room.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Honestly my ideal Houston day starts with coffee at Grinders, then a walk through the Houston Arboretum, which is beautiful and honestly underrated. For lunch I’d take them to Rice Box, one of my favorites. If we’re doing the full experience, a stop at the Color Factory is a must for something fun and different. And no trip with me is complete without poking around at least one natural pet store, because that’s just who I am.

Person with glasses smiling in car, dog sitting on seat, looking at camera, leash attached to collar, car interior visible.

Person holding a red leash attached to a happy dog with a harness, outdoors on grass and leaves.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have to give a huge shoutout to my husband Josh. He’s also a dog trainer, so I have the incredibly rare gift of a partner who doesn’t just support what I do emotionally but actually gets it on a professional level too. His insight and perspective have shaped the way I think about this business, and knowing that he believes in the vision and wants to grow Hearth & Hounds alongside me one day means everything. I genuinely couldn’t do this without him.

Website: https://hearthandhoundshtx.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hearthandhoundshtx?igsh=MXd3YzJ6Njd4c2JuaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1FnuGwhShM/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@hearthandhoundshtx?si=jqclfiIuEFZOkD_A

Person with glasses and a green shirt lying down with a large gray poodle dog, both indoors.

Dog lying under a table with chairs, looking up at the camera, on a wooden floor.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutHTX is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.