Meet Elise Raney | Owner of Pups & Peaks LLC

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

Hi Elise, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I was not happy at my stressful office job, so I quit to take some time off to hike the Colorado Trail with a friend. During my time on the Colorado Trail, I had plenty of time to reflect on what I wanted out of life. I realized that a traditional 9 to 5 job was never going to be the answer for me and that I should put my degree in animal behavior and background in dog & cat behavior to good use. After completing the Colorado Trail, I got the ball rolling and opened Pups & Peaks a month later.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Since I was young I’ve loved animals — both learning about and taking care of them. Armed with a Bachelor of Science degree in animal behavior & several years working as a zookeeper, I began working as a full-time pet care provider in 2017 (after a month of self-reflection on the Colorado Trail). And now I have the opportunity to share my love of animals with my clients in the Colorado Springs area as the owner of Pups & Peaks LLC.

Being a small business owner comes with a unique set of challenges. The freedom of being your own boss is wonderful, but some days I struggle with the balance of working non-stop to make sure my business thrives and remembering to take time for myself and enjoy the other aspects of my life outside of my business. During the pandemic, I made many strides in setting boundaries for myself and have even brought in a few helpers which has helped immensely⁠—as any small business owner will tell you. It’s a struggle, and I have to continually work to keep those boundaries, but I know in the long run it will help my business flourish.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
One of my favorite things about Colorado is the ease of access to the outdoors, so I would definitely take advantage of that. We would start off locally with some of the classic Colorado Springs must-dos like Garden of the Gods and a trip up to the top of Pikes Peak via the train. I would most definitely take them to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. If you haven’t been, you absolutely must go (wear your walking shoes and bring water)! Another fun activity that I love to do with visitors is exploring Manitou Springs and enjoying a relaxing soak at SunWater Spa. We would eat at some of my favorite vegan-friendly restaurants Thai Mint, Monse’s Taste of El Salvador, & Westside Cantina.

After all the excitement in Colorado Springs, we would take a drive north to visit Estes Park & Rocky Mountain State Park. You can not beat those amazing views! Or if we’re looking for an adventure a little farther away, I would take them to my favorite city in Colorado⁠—Ouray. I’ve had some amazing adventures in that cute little town, and I would want to share those incredible vistas with anyone who visits me!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have many people to credit for my success as a small business owner.

First and foremost, my family and friends have continuously offered their support. Even when I am struggling with the balance of being a small business owner, they are always there to listen and offer guidance. I could not do it without them, and I appreciate them immensely!

My friends Meggan Porter & Lydia Yancey – owners of Enlightened Hounds in Austin – helped me greatly by answering all my questions about starting a dog-centric business.

My mentors and coworkers at Waggie Pet Zone (College Station, TX) & DogBoy’s Dog Ranch (Pflugerville, TX) for helping me better understand the nuances of dog behavior. As well as my mentors & coworkers at the Austin Zoo who helped me hone my positive reinforcement training skills with exotic animals and my psychology & ethology professors at Texas A&M University for giving me the tools to begin a career with animals.

Website: www.pupsandpeaksco.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/pupsandpeaksco

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pupsandpeaksco