Anchor Up K9 Academy: Building Bonds Through Training

Located in Chesapeake, Virginia, Anchor Up K9 Academy has quickly made a name for itself in the local dog training community.

Founded by DeWayne Cabel, Anchor Up stands apart because of DeWayne’s unique approach to dog training—teaching through games. “I teach the dogs and owners games that have rules, and that creates a better relationship,” DeWayne explains, reflecting his philosophy that training should be as much about connection as it is about obedience.

DeWayne’s passion for training dogs blossomed after serving 21.5 years in the United States Navy as a Chief Gunners Mate and Weapons Instructor. The transition from military life to dog training might seem unexpected, but for DeWayne, the skills he developed in the Navy were invaluable. “Everything in life gives you skills. I still use a lot of my skills from the Navy in dog training and helping others with their dogs,” he says.

For over three years, he has dedicated himself to working with dogs with various behavioral challenges. His love for both the training process and helping pet parents develop a better relationship with their pets is evident in every session. “I enjoy training dogs and love helping owners work with them to lead to the best relationship possible,” DeWayne adds. One of the most rewarding parts of his work? “Watching the dog have the aha moment when teaching,” he says, recalling the joy of seeing a dog finally grasp a new concept.

As Anchor Up K9 Academy grew rapidly, DeWayne needed a reliable platform to manage his expanding client base and daily operations. That’s where Gingr stepped in. “It’s a great platform to communicate with my clients, collect payments easily, select different training plans, and apply discounts,” DeWayne explains. Gingr also offers features like a lodging calendar and daily report cards, which have become key tools for running the academy efficiently. The ability to easily track and share a dog’s progress with clients has become one of the academy’s standout services.

For DeWayne, the benefits of Gingr extend beyond client communication. “Lots of great features. For me, I like the invoice and tax forms, for the clients, I like the daily report cards. I use Gingr every day, so I rely on the software,” he shares. Gingr has also simplified the process of onboarding new clients, making it easy for them to sign up for training through the academy’s customer portal. “Gingr has a great positive impact. I can have new clients click on the customer portal on my website, and they can sign their dog up for training," DeWayne adds, “The training team and customer support are very patient and have answered all my questions right away.”

At the heart of Anchor Up K9 Academy is DeWayne’s core belief: the bond between dog and pet parent is everything. “Building a relationship that is unbreakable between you and your dog is key. It’s invaluable,” he says. Each training session is an opportunity to strengthen that bond, and DeWayne takes pride in figuring out what makes each dog thrive. With his hands-on approach and the support of Gingr, DeWayne continues to create lasting, positive change for dogs and pet parents.

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