Meet Cassie Le | Certified Positive Dog Trainer (CPDT)

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cassie Le and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cassie, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am originally from Portland, Oregon, but I moved to Colorado about a year ago due to my husband’s job. I grew up in a financially struggling Japanese family, and I look very much like my German family. This sometimes led to bullying at school when I would show up with my mother or grandmother, as people assumed I was adopted, even though I was not. The bullying made it hard for me to focus, and as a result, I struggled in school. I specifically remember a teacher saying, “Why do you even show up? You’re never going to amount to anything anyway.”

Despite my teachers’ lack of faith and my peers’ constant bullying, I managed to turn things around towards the end of high school. I became a dedicated college student and graduated from Portland State University with a degree in Psychology. It took me eight years to finish because I worked full-time to pay for my education.

My experiences with bullying have shaped my empathetic nature. I enjoy being a cheerleader for everyone and always standing up for the little guy, even though I am quite short myself. I have always loved animals, and after moving to Colorado, my husband encouraged me to find a job that allows me to advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves—specifically, animals. As a dog trainer, my empathy enables me to connect deeply with dogs. With my background in psychology, I can bridge the gap between mischievous dogs and frustrated owners, fostering a beautiful bond. This work has provided me with the greatest sense of fulfillment I have ever experienced.

I honestly believe that if everyone could develop a little compassion for those around them, the world would be such a better place. This compassion should extend to animals too, since they feel pain and joy just like we do. By promoting understanding, empathy, and kindness, we can set off a chain reaction that inspires others to do the same. Together, we can create a society where love and acceptance beat out cruelty and indifference—making a truly amazing world for everyone.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I worked for a company that has corporate dog training, but they hadn’t updated their training methods since 2011. When I suggested new developments and techniques being used in dog training today, they consistently dismissed my ideas. It seemed like there was no innovation, no desire to improve, and no interest in being a trailblazer in the industry. During one of our meetings, they said, “Keep selling classes so we can keep dogs out of the shelter.” That comment prompted me to leave and start my own business.

The company also had a policy against bringing in “problem” dogs, which meant they weren’t genuinely keeping dogs that truly needed help out of shelters. My goal became to help these problem dogs, and if I couldn’t, I would find a trainer who could. However, I wasn’t allowed to outsource to other trainers, which I found uncooperative and counterproductive for both pets and their families. I believe dog trainers should work together because dog training involves many different elements. One trainer may excel in specific aspects of training while another may have different strengths. Collaboration can elevate the quality of dog training, and it is something I aim to promote with my business.

Starting a business has been quite the ride. The toughest part has definitely been handling finances. When you first dive in, no one really tells you how much you’ll be in the red at the beginning, and it’s pretty shocking. I remember looking up how long I’d be losing money as a dog trainer and came across an article about how often trainers fail. It mentioned that a lot of them try to scale up too fast instead of going slow. My plan is to keep things small for now until I build up demand, and then eventually I want to open a facility to offer more training options.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Day 1 – Would to be go to Acova restaurant for lunch or dinner then a walk around Riverdale Regional Park before heading home.

Day 2 – We’d check out the Wild Animal Sanctuary followed by lunch at Spicy Tacos (they have the BEST fajitas). Then depending on the time of year see what’s going on in downtown Brighton.

Day 3 – Head to Westminster to check out the Butterfly Pavilion, then lunch at Yak & Yeti. After head to Orchard Town center.

Day 4 – Head into Denver to go to the zoo and natural history museum.

Day 5 – Head back into Denver to check out Meow Wolf followed by the Botanic Gardens.

Day 6 – Breakfast at Fox And The Hen. Hike around the Red Rocks. Then hit up KPOT for hotpot and Korean BBQ.

Day 7 – Lunch at the Vietnamese cafe before they depart back.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’m really thankful for all the people who have supported me and encouraged me to improve. My husband was the first to notice what I could do. He’s been there pushing me to chase a career I actually love—one that’s all about bringing out the best in everyone while helping their pets. I used to think I was just an emotional pushover, but he showed me that I’m compassionate, strong, and smart.

When I first got into dog training, I often felt like a fraud. But my coworkers at Petco helped me change that. One of them told me she had “never seen someone with more passion, drive, and kindness as a dog trainer.” A bunch of others at Petco said the lengths I went to help dogs and their owners were things they usually only saw on TV. Their encouragement pushed me to leave Petco and start my own journey, ready to take dog training to the next level.

Website: https://www.woofherotraining.com

Instagram: woof_hero

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/woof-hero-greenwood-village-2