This Larimer County small business success story captured by SBDC volunteer and fellow business owner Erin Bibeau, both photographer and writer. 

Sasha Foster is a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist with a passion for physical therapy and animals. This passion is what led her to write her book, "The Healthy Way to Stretch Your Dog," which was published in 2009 and went on to win Best Health & Care Book 2009 and Dogwise Book of the Year. Sasha built Canine Fitness Zone, her Fort Collins based canine physical therapy and athletic training company, with the purpose of marketing her book. (click on picture to advance the story)

With a Master of Science, Physical Therapy and a passion for animals, Sasha spends her days at Canine Fitness Zone working with injured and recovering dogs and, most recently, one special 19-year old cat named Jay. Sasha opened the clinic in April 2010. "As a physical therapist I have to change my thinking when I work with animals," she shares as she leads Krueger, a 5-month old Great Dane recovering from a broken leg, around the gym. This is especially true with training animal athletes, which to Sasha's surprise has become the largest part of her business. "Animal athletes, for example, only train twice a week." The dogs react so quickly and so well to training that twice a week is all they need in order to get into shape for competition. (click on picture to advance the story)

Sasha first went to the SBDC two years before she started Canine Fitness Zone. Workshops such as Business Planning for Success, Small Business Marketing, Taxes and Recordkeeping, and Business Registration and Entity Selection gave her the information she needed to set up her business. "I had started five other businesses before Canine Fitness Zone. All failed." The SBDC gave Sasha the foundation and expertise to build a business in a totally different way. "I am successful. I am small but growing. Because of the SBDC, I am on this path and am sustainable." (click on picture to advance the story)

All of Sasha's products are now licensed, including her stretching techniques. She has two copyrights and a video that goes with her book. "I included in my business team all of the people I had been inconsistent with before." She teamed up with a CPA, a lawyer, and a patent specialist, as well as the local vet hospital. "In this economy creative business strategy for marketing and cash flow is essential."
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Sasha continues to take classes at the SBDC to keep her business knowledge current. She also uses the one-on-one counseling, which she credits with helping her decide which track to take for her business. With the success of her athletic conditioning program, Sasha has been invited to do overseas seminars in New Zealand and may soon break into the European agility market. "You can plan all you want, but reality might give you something else and you have to go with it," Sasha says of her expansion to international business. With the help of the SBDC, Sasha has taken her passion and created a successful business with a commitment to animal health and conditioning.  ###