Empire Times Client Feature: The Stoic Dog & Origin K9

Posted 27 Jul '21

Team Empire have had the pleasure of working with Tom Brown who is the Owner/Director of The Stoic Dog & Origin K9.

After returning from serving in the Australian Army as a Specialist Operations Military Working Dog Handler, Tom started his own business in 2019 offering effective dog training solutions for Brisbane residents. To learn more about his business and get some more information on dog training for your beloved pooch, you can find out all you need to know below.

Q. Tell us about your business?

A. There are two arms to my business, The Stoic Dog & Origin K9.

The Stoic Dog:
We focus on functional training with pet dogs so that owners can include their dogs in their lifestyle free of behavioural issues.

Origin K9:
Origin K9 focuses on the tactical working dog space by manufacturing tactical canine equipment and supplying dual purpose canines to government agencies.

Q. How did you get started?

A. I served in the Australian Army from 2007-2019. By 2017 I had served in the Special Forces for several years and began a specialist role as a Special Operations Military Working Dog (SOMWD) Handler for the Second Commando Regiment.

When I left the military in 2019 I relocated to Brisbane and continued my canine education by completing courses and training pet dogs.

It was then that I decided I also wanted to move back to the tactical working dog space having noticed a gap in the equipment market in Australia.

Q. What do you specialise in?

A. I specialise in training pet dogs for Brisbane families, working a lot with German Shepard owners, but I can work with any dog.

All of my services are in-home 1 on 1 training sessions. Typically the types of behaviours I solve for pet owners are:
1. Leash pulling
2. Anxiety
3. Aggression
4. Jumping/Nipping
5. Barking and neurotic behaviours

Q. When did you start using The Empire for your business accounting and what differences have you noticed since working together?

A. I started using Empire Accountants in mid 2021. I had reached a stage in my business where I needed to leverage my finances due to the involvement of the other aspects of the business.

The biggest difference I have noticed is less stress in relation to my numbers and the time I get back to work ON my business.

Q. Starting a small business can be challenging in today’s market. What is one thing you feel was a challenge for you and how did you overcome that?

A. I’d say the biggest challenge has been making the transition from working In the business to working ON the business. It required a significant mindset shift.

I achieved this by reaching out to the Entrepreneurial Business School (EBS) on the Sunshine Coast. A former Army colleague is a business coach there and has been providing me guidance for years.

Much the same as why I joined Empire Accountants, I required extra expertise in order to achieve the dreams I have for my business.

Q. An offer to Empire readers

A. I’d love to provide a discounted rate to readers of the Empire Times. User the code EMPIRE to get 10% off any one-off session with me at The Stoic Dog.

Follow us on Instagram @Origin.k9 and @thestoicdog
Follow us on Facebook Origin K9 and The Stoic Dog
View The Stoic Dog’s Brisbane dog training services
View Origin K9 tactical Canine Equipment here