Ryan Wimpey, the founder and CEO of Tip Top K9 Dog Training, is making waves across the podcast circuit, sharing his expertise, entrepreneurial journey, and the growth story behind one of the most successful dog training franchises in the country. With over 18 years in the pet industry and a legacy of more than 5,000 trained dogs, Wimpey is not just a dog trainer, he’s a franchise visionary helping others turn their passion for pets into profitable, purpose-driven businesses.
A Proven Path from Local Dog Trainer to Franchise Leader
Ryan’s journey began with his own dog, Curly, whose behavioral challenges led him to create the Tip Top Method, a classical conditioning-based training system. What started as a local training solution has grown into a national franchise, with 19 Tip Top K9 locations across the U.S., a Tulsa-based flagship training facility, and a growing pet product wholesale company.
Tip Top K9 is known for delivering two to three times more training to franchisees than the industry standard. The model is built on hands-on support, a structured operational framework, and a commitment to achieving results for both franchise owners and their clients.
Recent Podcast Highlights Featuring Ryan Wimpey
1. The Growth and Scaling Podcast with Todd Westra
Hosted by seasoned entrepreneur Todd Westra, this podcast is a go-to resource for business owners and operators looking to scale beyond the startup phase. With a focus on real-world growth challenges, Todd draws from his own experience across multiple industries to help leaders identify where they are in their business “orbit,” chart a path forward, and align operations with long-term goals. Each episode offers actionable insights for navigating the complexities of scaling a business.
Key Takeaways
TipTop K9 is a dog-training franchise that turns animal lovers into business owners by giving them an eight-week skills and systems boot camp, a below-wholesale supply chain, a full call center, marketing, billing, and continuing coaching. Founder Ryan Wimpy explains that the model lets people with little or no business background bill two to four thousand dollars per client, run multiple locations, and operate in nearly any U.S. market of 200k residents or more. The brand grew cautiously, licensing before franchising, to perfect processes, offload back-office tasks, and keep owners focused on training and sales. Nineteen locations now operate under ten owners, several already expanding to second and third sites.
Top Findings
- Franchisees need dog passion, work ethic, and hand-eye coordination more than prior business experience.
- TipTop K9 supplies marketing, call handling, billing, inventory, and monthly coaching, reducing startup complexity.
- Initial training is eight weeks (two virtual, six in-person at 60 hours per week) and covers dog training, consultative sales, and people coaching.
- Core packages sell for $2 k – $4 k; private lessons bill $200 – $300 per hour, far outpacing dog walking or grooming rates.
- Dog behavior issues are the leading cause of shelter surrenders; TipTop claims its method works on any domesticated breed.
- The U.S. dog-ownership market grows about 6 percent annually and proved recession-resistant, including during COVID-19.
- Licenses tested the model for two years before franchise disclosure; four of five pilot stores became franchises.
- Owners participate in weekly coaching for three months, then bi-weekly, then monthly for ongoing support.
- Thirty-four percent of surveyed pet owners prefer their pets to their children, underscoring market demand.
- Successful growth required Wimpy to “put down the leash,” document systems, and let others run operations at 80 percent of his standard.
Section Summaries
Franchise Candidate Profile
Summary: Franchisees come from diverse backgrounds – HVAC techs, youth pastors, designers – sharing love of dogs and willingness to work. Business experience is optional because the franchise supplies 20 years of systems and support.
- Four owners already run multiple locations.
- Candidates must complete a discovery day and show basic coordination.
Training Program Overview
Summary: Prospects attend a discovery day in Tulsa, then two weeks of virtual theory and consultative sales, followed by six weeks of 10-hour-per-day hands-on training. The program also teaches transferring skills to pet owners and running group classes.
- Total initial training = eight weeks.
- Owner instruction covers dogs, people, and sales
Dog Training Scope
Summary: The method works on virtually all domesticated dogs, from Dobermans to Mastiffs. Extreme hybrids like wolf crosses may be excluded. Trainers give a one-dollar first lesson to prove results before selling packages.
- Demonstrated results in 10-15 minutes.
- Aggressive and non-aggressive issues are both addressed.
Financial Model
Summary: Packages cost $2 k – $4 k; private lessons reach $200 – $300 per hour, enabling a six-figure income versus $25 – $35 for grooming. Franchisees buy supplies below wholesale and pay an accountant for books; TipTop handles the rest.
- High hourly revenue differentiates model from pet sitting.
- Call center books calendars and manages payment plans.
Franchising Strategy
Summary: TipTop opened five corporate stores in 2017, licensed them for two years, fixed issues, then franchised. The franchise disclosure document makes performance transparent. Cautious scaling protects the brand.
- Four of five licensed stores became franchises.
- Documentation and systems preceded expansion.
Operational Challenges & Systems
Summary: Early challenges included assuming new owners understood ordering, embroidery, payment plans, and vendor management. TipTop built additional systems to offload these tasks and now provides weekly coaching that tapers over time.
- People, processes, and tools gaps were filled with detailed SOPs.
- Founders learned to delegate once staff could achieve 80 percent of their quality.
Market Viability & Growth
Summary: Dog ownership stats show emotional attachment and spending resilience; any metro of 200k with decent income can support a location. Nineteen units operate under ten owners; some expand into new states.
- The pet industry grew 6 percent annually, even through COVID-19.
- Behavioral issues are top reasons for shelter surrenders, matching TipTop’s services.
Personal Support & Successes
Summary: Wimpy credits his wife Rachel for organizational and HR improvements that enabled scaled growth. Early franchisees with no dog experience now run multiple sites, becoming seasoned operators.
- Strong internal leadership accelerates expansion.
- Multiple-location ownership signals model viability.
Consolidated Q & A
| Question | Answer |
| Who is today’s guest? | Ryan Wimpy, founder of TipTop K9 dog-training franchise. |
| What problem does TipTop solve for pet owners? | It transforms difficult dogs into obedient companions. |
| Who makes a likely franchise candidate? | Anyone who loves dogs, is willing to work, and completes the training program. |
| Is there certification? | Yes, by finishing an eight-week program that includes theory and hands-on training. |
| Are some breeds off-limits? | Only non-domesticated hybrids like wolf crosses; domesticated dogs are trainable. |
| How much can a trainer charge per hour? | About $200 to $300, depending on the lesson. |
| Why license before franchising? | To perfect the model and protect brand quality before full disclosure. |
| What was the hardest shift for Wimpy? | Moving from full-time trainer to CEO and delegating tasks. |
| How big must a market be? | Roughly 200,000 people with a solid median income. |
| Who was pivotal in scaling TipTop? | Rachel Wimpy, for adding systems and HR structure. |
2. Above the Business with Bradley Hamner — Episode 410: “Franchising Secrets with Ryan Wimpey”
Ryan discusses the early days of building Tip Top K9 and what it takes to grow a franchise with intention. He explains why Tip Top K9 goes beyond the industry standard in training new owners, offering two to three times more instruction than typical pet franchises. Ryan emphasizes the critical role that business systems, leadership development, and marketing automation play in franchisee success. This episode provides an in-depth look at how to approach expansion without compromising quality and what to focus on when scaling any service-based business.
3. Best Franchise Brand Podcast with James Butler
This conversation dives into Ryan’s broader philosophy on franchise operations and the entrepreneurial mindset required to grow a top-tier brand. He outlines how Tip Top K9 balances flexibility for franchisees with system-wide consistency and shares the company’s roadmap for expansion. Topics include onboarding support, business development coaching, and the use of performance metrics to help franchisees hit key milestones. The episode is especially valuable for listeners looking to evaluate franchise opportunities from a leadership and process-driven perspective.
4. Franchise Interviews with Martin McDermott
Ryan joins host Martin McDermott to discuss the founding principles of Tip Top K9 and what makes the franchise a standout in the pet industry. He reflects on the motivation that drove him to start the business and how those early lessons shaped the systems now in place across the brand. Topics include franchise support, the value of one-on-one training, and how to structure operations for long-term franchisee growth. The conversation also touches on the emotional impact of helping families with challenging dogs and the pride that comes with empowering new business owners across the country.
Building a Franchise Business That Makes an Impact
Through these podcast features, Ryan shares not only his experience in scaling Tip Top K9, but also his philosophy on leadership, training excellence, and community-focused growth. His emphasis on franchisee empowerment, system-driven success, and customer impact continues to set Tip Top K9 apart in the pet services industry.
Want to hear more from Ryan Wimpey? Check out our previous article where he shares the backstory of Tip Top K9 and dives into his first round of podcast interviews.
For more information about Tip Top K9 and franchise opportunities, visit TipTopK9.com or TipTopK9Franchising.com.