Meet Anthony Terrazas | Father, Veteran, & Dog Trainer

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

Hi Anthony, what do you attribute your success to?
I am straightforward, honest, and dedicated. Clients know that I have their dogs best interest in mind and that I will do whatever it takes to improve their dogs behavior, and the owners relationship with their dog. My clients know that I will be honest about the best solution to their needs and that if they follow my advice, they will achieve desired results. Time and time again those clients see results and begin recommending their friends and family. What-A-Canine’s success is based on the love we have for dogs, our science and psychology based training, the trust we gain from our clients, our “Train anytime” approach, and our belief in training the pet parent as the best method for their canine’s well being. Without these, and our may referrals from clients, we would not have grown at such a rapid rate.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I started my K-9 career in the United States Air Force. When I was assigned to the K-9 unit. unbeknownst to them I fear of dogs! I knew I would have to overcome my fear but I never thought I would fall in love with dogs and dog training. I tell that story and laugh about it now because I absolutely love dogs and training is my life. I became obsessed with becoming the best. Being on a K-9 unit, I was a canine handler for multiple bomb dogs, a narcotics dog, and was assigned to presidential security during my career. I have received several awards during my career, including being named Hometown Hero in Destin, Florida.
After the military, I became a lead K9 trainer for a local company in Houston where I imprinted dogs on multiple odors to include narcotics, explosives, accelerants, currency, biting, tracking, article searches, and building searches. I also taught K-9 handler courses and K-9 trainer courses for civilian law enforcement to be certified through the state.
After my position as lead canine trainer, I became a State Trooper with the Texas Department of Public Safety. An on duty injury cut my trooper career short. This injury affected my autonomic nervous system and my heart. Medically, I could no longer serve as a Trooper. My medical conditions prevented me from driving and walking long distances. Slowly, I got better and began to build a clientele in my neighborhood where I was able to walk to clients’ homes for training sessions. People began to take notice and I became the most popular trainer in my area!
Now, I am able to drive and have even traveled to multiple cities in Texas providing my dog training services.

I learned so much through these difficult experiences and realized that these challenges became the best opportunities! As a business owner, I have learned that there will be lows in business but staying the course and persevering is essential.

I love my job so much and I’m arguably the most sought after trainer in the area. I’m wiling to train at all hours of the day, in people’s homes, or location of their choosing, and take on the most challenging cases that other trainers have turned down, or referred to me. My clients are always impressed, and shocked due to their dogs achieving results that succeeded their expectations. I provide high-quality, unmatched dog training services day or night; this undeniably makes WHAT-A-CANINE LLC the best dog training company!

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.

I have to be honest here… I mostly focus on dog training so I would likely take my friend to Bay Area Park with my service dog Aziz and say… Let’s do some training!
I would likely introduce them to a few of my clients and make sure they got to see dog training in numerous environments.
We live close enough to many great ares – Galveston, Downtown Houston, The Galleria, and Baybrook mall.

When I’m not training dogs, I spend time with my kids. We’re currently learning to play the guitar and drums. We love hanging out with friends, their kids, and we spend a lot of time swimming, playing basketball, and having NERF gun wars.

I will add, my favorite restaurant is definitely Viola and Agnus off Nasa. That place is absolutely incredible.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have developed so many incredible relationships with my clients, they love helping me with anything I need, I can call and ask any of my clients for advise and they do not hesitate to give it. I would not be anywhere without my clients. Special shoutout to Linda Searcy, Theresa Wilding, Angela and her wife Leanne Stires, Janelle Ewing and her husband Bill Ewing, Paola Gonzalez (Pasadena ISD Elected Official / Pasadena Counseling Center). LOVE YOU GUYS! A HUGE shoutout go to my biggest supporters CR and Dee Maher. CR owns multiple businesses and is always giving advise on how to develop and scale my business the right way. CR and his wife Dee believe in me more than any other. Thank you and love you guys!

Website: Whatacanine.com

Instagram: @whatacanine

Linkedin: Anthony Terrazas

Twitter: @whatacanine

Facebook: @whatacanine

Youtube: What-A-Canine, LLC

Other: TikTok: Whatacanine