When it comes to dog training, Devon MacDonald, a professional with 10 years of experience, stands out as a leader in the dog training industry. Specializing in Australian Shepherds, Collies, and German Shepherds, Devon has achieved remarkable success in the dog training industry while managing the demands of motherhood. Her dedication, love for dogs, and commitment to providing the best possible experience for dogs and their owners have made her a prominent figure in Northern California’s dog training community.
Devon’s journey in the dog training world began with a deep passion for animals and an unwavering commitment to offer something extraordinary. She was the driving force behind Next Gen ACS, the largest dog training facility in Northern California, situated outside the Bay Area, which earned a reputation for its all-inclusive vacation vibe. The facility set a new standard with a vast 4-acres of land, complete with an Agility Course, Hiking Trail, and Off-Leash Area, offering a Summer Camp experience that kept dogs out of their kennels more than any other company in the industry.
Devon’s dedication doesn’t stop at her professional life; she’s also a new mother of a beautiful baby girl. Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, she demonstrates that women can pursue their dreams while raising a family. Her remarkable ability to juggle motherhood, dog training, customer service, and business expansion is truly inspiring. Devon MacDonald is a role model not only for her daughter but also for other female entrepreneurs.
“Having a baby girl made me want to show her that you never have to give up on your dreams and that women can accomplish anything they put their mind to,” says Devon. Her ambition and achievements have placed her in the top percentile of dog trainers her age, and at the young age of 29, she has accomplished more in the dog training industry than many do in their entire careers. What sets her apart is her unwavering focus on ethical practices and providing a service that goes above and beyond the normal industry standards.
Devon’s dog training programs offered an all-inclusive approach, with benefits such as weekend group classes year-round, pack walks, yoga with dogs, movie nights with dogs, special agility training events, community thank-you BBQs, seminars, obedience tests, and much more. Her vision has always been to provide dog owners with everything they need to succeed in maintaining the results of her dog training programs as well as to provide fun activities for dogs year round.
While building the largest dog training facility in Northern California, Devon faced numerous challenges and hurdles that come with rapid growth. She knows firsthand the struggle of managing a business while dealing with haters, cancel culture, unethical competition, employees who steal clients when they leave to start their own business and even a few conspiracies. Despite these obstacles that so many successful dog training business owners deal with, Devon’s commitment to offering the best experience for dogs and her clients remains unwavering.
Learning from her experience building one of the largest dog training facilities in the USA, has given Devon valuable insight and perspectives on the truth about the dog training industry. Devon points out that many dog trainers operate illegal businesses without the necessary permits and insurance, often utilizing apartments, houses, or warehouses as makeshift kennels. Devon Macdonald however, stands out for being transparent with their process of becoming a fully permitted commercial kennel and dog training business, while raising the standards for quality animal care at the same time.
In early 2024, a cropped video, leaked by someone inside her team, circulated on social media. What followed was a storm of online harassment: anonymous accusations, aggressive reposts, fake reviews, death threats, and comment sections filled with people eager to assign blame continuing to blindly support a false narrative.
MacDonald was investigated by local agencies. No charges were filed. No findings of abuse were reported. But by then, the internet had decided its version of the story. “People I’d never met felt entitled to destroy what I built,” MacDonald says. “And it didn’t matter what was true.” She was a new mother, navigating postpartum hormones, running a business full-time, and simultaneously trying to hold her world together while strangers slandered her name online.
MacDonald’s story echoes a growing crisis of online bullying and cancel culture, particularly against successful women in leadership. In recent news the suicide of The Fox Whisperer, a beloved wildlife educator and trainer, shook the animal behavior world. Like MacDonald, she was targeted online. She was harassed. She was misunderstood. Today more than even mental health concerns grow as negative effects of social media are still being studied. As a new mother Devon, as well as all new parents, are challenged with the tough question about how they will raise their kids in a world with such a toxic online environment.
But unlike Devon MacDonald, she didn’t survive it. Online bullying and constant conspiracies and lies being spread led her to take her own life. “That moment changed everything for me,” MacDonald says. “Because I knew what it felt like to be buried by the weight of everyone else’s version of your life.” So Devon began speaking publicly and privately to other women, trainers, entrepreneurs and single mothers who had been bullied, burned out, or betrayed. Devon is a true inspirational story who is using this as an opportunity to help other victims of online harassment. If you need any dog training help Devon is still a highly recommended dog trainer currently still based in the California Bay area.
