Meet Ricci Reardin Mills | The Puppy Academy
We had the good fortune of connecting with Ricci Reardin Mills and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Ricci, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I never anticipated how getting a puppy would have such a huge impact on my life.
Creating The Puppy Academy came from a wild journey I wasn’t expecting – a journey that began with a tiny pup named Coconut and the challenges she brought into my life that I was not at all prepared for.
In 2012, as a brand new first-time puppy parent, I found myself in a whirlwind of puppyhood chaos when my husband, the experienced dog owner between the two of us, had to travel out of the country for several weeks, leaving me all alone with our pup.
Overwhelmed and exhausted, I felt the weight of potty accidents, biting, chewing, and sleepless nights pressing down on me in a never-ending cycle I didn’t think would ever change.
During this struggle, I found myself frantically searching online for help, but also wondering if anyone else was experiencing similar “puppy blues”, only to uncover a startling reality: countless new puppy parents faced similar hardships, leading to an alarming number of young dogs being surrendered to shelters due to ‘behavioral issues’ that in actuality could be managed through proper training.
This revelation ignited a fire within me to make a difference, not only for myself, but for all the families out there having a difficult time with their new puppy, like I was.
My turning point came when I decided to work with a trainer, and the transformation in Coconut and our relationship together was remarkable. Our newfound ability to communicate and understand each other shifted our dynamic entirely. Training became a lifeline that strengthened our bond and lifted the weight of doubt from my shoulders in ways I never anticipated were possible. Coconut went from being the biggest source of stress, to the greatest joy in my life — and I’m convinced she’s my soulmate. (My husband is well aware of this too lol.)
This experience set me on a mission to share this transformation with others. The realization that the puppy training journey could be more supportive, enjoyable, and empowering led me to gather the insights of industry experts. With their guidance, mixed with my vision and my perspective as a new puppy owner, we created The Puppy Academy – a place where puppy parents could find the support and training they deserve.
Our puppy school is more than just training; it’s a celebration of the unique moments and milestones of puppyhood. It’s about empowering puppy parents to create a meaningful and lasting bond with their new furry companions, while producing extraordinary training results. The Puppy Academy is the resource I wished I had as a first-time puppy parent, and it’s an honor to provide that to others.
Since opening our flagship location in Hermosa Beach, CA, we’ve expanded largely online to be able to help more people with their puppies no matter where they live.
So, when asked about the thought process behind starting The Puppy Academy, it’s rooted in a desire to transform struggles into success stories, doubts into unbreakable bonds, and loneliness into a thriving community of puppy parents. We’re here to make your puppyhood journey not just manageable, but truly memorable, in the easiest way possible.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The Puppy Academy exists because of the on-going support and guidance of my incredible mentor Bob Proctor, who helped instill the courage, confidence and belief to make this vision come to life, even when I had absolutely no idea how I would make it happen.
What should our readers know about your work? What do you do? What do you specialize in? What sets you apart from others?
The Puppy Academy is an elite day school specializing in training puppies and helping make puppyhood easier for new puppy parents. Not only are we specifically focused on puppies, but The Puppy Academy was created by puppy parents, for new puppy parents. Everything I wished I had as a new puppy parent — from the training, the experience, the support and guidance, to the environment — was meticulously thought about and became everything we are proud to be known for today: an incredible training program producing phenomenal results, and so much more.
What truly sets us apart is that there is nothing else like us. We provide not just high-level training, but an experience that includes unwavering support from our dedicated team. We are there for our clients every step of the way, helping them raise their puppies with confidence and joy. We celebrate each puppy’s milestones and because of the length of time spend with each client and the relationships we build from every interaction, they truly feel like family. At The Puppy Academy, it’s not just about training—it’s about creating a community where puppy parents feel supported, understood, and celebrated, while setting them and their new puppy up for the most incredible life together.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We would definitely start on the Strand in Manhattan Beach, and stroll our way down to Hermosa Beach, soaking in the beach views, sunshine and beautiful homes. Then we’d stop by The Puppy Academy to see the pups (of course!) and continue our way down to Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes for an afternoon, of relaxing by their spa pool overlooking the cliffs and ocean, grabbing some lunch, and wrapping it up with a massage!
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