When Sophie packed up her life in North Carolina and moved across the country at just 21 years old, she didn’t have a grand business plan or a ready-made network of clients waiting for her. What she did have was a lifelong passion for dogs, a unique approach to training that she had been honing since her teenage years, and the determination to turn her dream into reality.
“Three years or so, I spontaneously moved to San Diego from North Carolina," she said. "I didn’t know a soul."
Slowly, she started growing her own training, boarding, and dog-daycare business.
ODDog is the culmination of years of hands-on experience, a deep connection to animals, and a belief that people can transform their relationship with their dogs in a single day by learning to “speak dog.”
A Passion Born From Family and Rescue
Sophie was born in London, England. As a child, she spent summers at a relative's ranch in Northern California, and her family eventually relocated to the southern U.S. state. Her uncle, Steve Miles, runs One Day Dog Training, and Sophie quickly became enamored with his work.
Watching him train dogs and change families’ lives lit a fire in her.
“My uncle taught me everything I know," Sophie said.
That spark grew into action when she was just 15 years old. Sophie began rescuing dogs from local shelters’ urgent “kill lists,” training them herself, and finding them loving homes.
“I began rescuing dogs [and] finding them homes for free in my neighborhood," she said, "I told my parents I 'randomly found them,'” she recalls.
Even as a teenager, she was already proving she had the patience, instinct, and skill to connect with dogs in a way few people can.
When she was in college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Sophie was training dogs for free — simply because she loved it. One professor noticed her gift and urged her to charge for her services.
"So I became a ‘professional’ at 19,” Sophie said.
Taking the Leap to California
While she was building her reputation as a dog whisperer of sorts in North Carolina, Sophie never lost sight of her dream to live near her aunt and uncle in California. In 2021, she took a leap of faith, moving to San Diego with no existing client base and no local connections.
It was a risky move, but her dedication carried her through. Bit by bit, Sophie grew her reputation through word-of-mouth, results-driven training, and the authentic relationships she built with dogs and their families.
By 2022, Sophie formally founded ODDog in San Diego. Today, she’s proud to have expanded her team.
"I have been able to hire on four other women over the past two years," Sophie said. "Woohooo growth!”
The ODDog Training Philosophy: Speaking 'Dog'
At the heart of ODDOG is a clear and powerful training philosophy: Dogs are pack animals.
Sophie’s training builds on this natural instinct instead of working against it. She closes the gap between human and dog communication by teaching owners to communicate as “alphas” in their pack.
Here’s how the pack hierarchy works:
- Alpha — The Top Dog: Always the human, never the dog.
- Beta — A middle-ranking dog (if there’s more than one).
- Omega — The bottom of the hierarchy, typically a submissive or younger dog.
“In your household, either you will be Alpha, or your dog will," Sophie said.
Being the Alpha doesn’t mean being harsh — it means being clear and consistent. “People put many conditions on dogs. Alpha dogs only have one condition: Submit.”
Corrections, Sophie explains, should mimic the way dogs correct each other — they may appear stern, but to a dog, they’re both expected and natural. “If you do not establish that you are Alpha in your household, your dog will not respect you. They may like you, but they won’t respect you.”
Without that respect, dogs may give in to instincts like hunting, fighting, or guarding resources — leading to conflict or danger. Establishing yourself as Alpha fosters harmony, safety, and mutual respect. Both you and your dog will be happier once you are established as the Alpha of the pack by bridging the communication gap… and that’s where Sophie’s training services come in.
Beyond Training: Boutique Boarding and Day Care
While ODDog is best known for its one-day training model, Sophie has built a boutique-style business that also offers boarding and daycare.
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Boarding: Each overnight stay includes individualized care and a complimentary bath for pups staying two nights or more. ODDOG’s setup offers 24/7 access to a turf dog yard, a covered and shaded play yard, a shaded porch with a large lounge couch, a mist system for hot days, and a cozy indoor doggie bedroom.
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Daycare: For pet parents who need care while they’re away, ODDog provides a safe, playful environment from 7am–7pm on weekdays and 8am–6pm on weekends.
Sophie delights in every aspect of the work.
“I even love cleaning 24/7," she said. "The dogs are all my babies. I feel lucky to bond so closely with them and have them be a part of my life. We have a very unique setup here!”
Revelation Pets: Keeping the Pack Organized
As ODDog's services expanded, Sophie realized she needed help keeping her operations organized. With multiple offerings, a growing client base, and staff to manage, staying on top of bookings and records could easily overwhelm even the most passionate dog trainer.
That’s when she turned to Revelation Pets — on the advice of her family. Her uncle had been using Revelation Pets and referred Sophie for its ease of use and essential features designed for pet-care businesses like hers.
Revelation Pets quickly became central to ODDog’s smooth operations.
Sophie said the calendar is super helpful in addition to the user-friendly check-in, check-out, and invoice system.
"I have three I cross-check with," she said. "Ok, OCD!"
She said her most-used tools are the day-to-day tracking of which dogs are arriving and getting picked up. She also loves being able to track new customers, unpaid invoices, and vaccine requirements.
The software not only makes daily operations easier, but it also supports her long-term growth.
“It has allowed me to swiftly and easily keep track of our pack. I can manage all of my clients with ease," she said. "I manage everything for my business, from day-to-day operations, all admin work, managing employees, etc. It’s such a great platform and helps take a load off my plate!”
She even discovered some creative hacks: "I used to create and track my own daycare before packages came out,” she said.
Now, she can utilize built-in daycare credits and recurring subscription credit packs — proof of both her resourcefulness and the platform's adaptability for different needs.
The Heart of the Work
Ask Sophie what her favorite part of the job is, and her answer comes quickly: “Ummm is everything an option?!” she said.
Whether she’s training, boarding, or simply cleaning up after her pups, she feels a profound connection with the dogs in her care.
It’s this love and dedication — paired with a clear training philosophy and the organizational support of Revelation Pets — that makes ODDog a standout in the San Diego pet-care community.
Building Her San Diego Dog Lover Dream
From rescuing shelter dogs as a teenager in North Carolina to leading a thriving training, boarding, and daycare business in California, inspired by her uncle, Sophie’s journey is one of courage, heart, and growth.
With her team by her side, the support of her family’s legacy, and the tools she needs to keep her operations running smoothly, Sophie is building more than a business. She’s creating a community — one where dogs and their families learn to understand each other, build stronger bonds, and thrive together.
Her story is proof that with passion, purpose, and the right systems in place, even the boldest dreams can become reality.
Want to simplify your pet-care business so you can focus on growing your pack? Try Revelation Pets free for 14 days!
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