After having served 19 years in the Marine Corp, JB Pitsinger had some difficulties readjusting to civilian life after his career-ending traumatic brain injury.

Navigating the transition was difficult, especially after serving for nearly two decades, but Pitsinger eventually found an avenue that was both a great source for overcoming his injury and a way for creating a strong bond with his dog, Lena.

Years ago, Pitsinger began his journey training Lena to become a certified service dog. Pitsinger would often reflect on this decision, and he noted how much of an impact this bond made on his life. It was a source of comfort as well as a foundation for a new passion and career.

In addition to recovering from his brain injury, he struggled with what he called “the general stuff that you get with coming from the military.”

Being so used to structure and guidelines, he found it difficult to transition leadership-oriented skills and traits. Rather than being able to give clear orders, he had difficulties convincing non-military personnel of his directions. During his military career, he worked in helicopter engine building, testing, and overhaul but hated working in the corporate world after finishing service.

Because of this, Pitsinger decided to open up his own small business, Dog Training Elite, centered around training service dogs for a variety of client needs.

Pitsinger said that taking a risk and investing in himself by becoming a business owner was the best decision he could have made. He encourages other veterans who are struggling with transition from the military not to settle for unfulfilling careers.

“A lot of us end up just settling, and we fall into a spot. I think that’s where a lot of veterans fall by the wayside. They take the ‘whatever job’ at the ‘whatever company’, and they don’t feel like they’re part of a real team, part of a network. We had so much drive in the military, and you don’t have that same connection. So, just stick it out, find a place that makes you happy,” Pitsinger said.

At Dog Training Elite, Pitsinger says roughly 60 percent of his clients bring their dogs for service training. In addition to regular obedience training, Pitsinger trains dogs for PTSD, autism, and mobility support.

In fact, those seeking service dogs can start receiving training support before a potential service dog is even born. He helps clients pick the breeds, breeders, and specific puppies that would best meet their individual needs. Because service dog training is something to be maintained throughout a dog’s life, Pitsinger continues to work with dogs and clients that have already had the brunt of their training.

His training method is also based on his past experiences. He makes an important point to note that training a service dog does not only deepen the bond between the owner and the pup, but also helps facilitate support and growth of the owner as well. In this way, the process at Dog Training Elite is just as much about supporting the owner as it is about training the dogs.

For Pitsinger, his newfound passion, inspired by his father who used to be a dog breeder, has now translated into a way to help veterans in his community.

“I found working with my dogs really helped me, soothed me, and made me feel better and changed my life. You know, when I really started working at connecting with and training service animals, it really had a big effect and I wanted to share that with everybody else,” reflected Pitsinger.

For more information, please visit dogtrainingelite.com.