We are

The Beginning

While struggling to find a dog trainer for his dog, Kropek, aka Giant Schnauzer, each Google search directed Thomas to Yelp or Thumbtack. Being in the marketing industry and having extensive knowledge and background in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), he knew something was lacking in such an enormous market. Thomas wondered whether others with a similar inquiry had the same problem - finding a competent fit for their beloved animals that clearly require strict and professional training. He could not believe how difficult it was to navigate through misconceptions, vast amounts of information, and a lack of reliable sources designed exclusively for dog training purposes. If it was challenging for an SEO and marketing expert, Thomas could only imagine the frustration others must be feeling. And he was right.

During the initial stages of Stayyy development, which began shortly after completing dog training with Aaron - a professional with extensive experience and background whom he found through referral, Thomas began his research and was once again shocked to hear the horror stories of money going down the drain. He realized that finding the right dog trainer for their pup’s unique needs was often associated with spending a lot of time and money on inadequate training that did not bring satisfactory results and often made things worse. Unverified, scientifically unsupported dog training methods from people who provided no references or background information created more chaos and could potentially permanently harm the dog-owner relationship. This needed to change. People wanted and deserved proper access to reliable information and dog training resources.

The purpose of stayyy

Thomas Niemczewski Owner

Thomas is the founder and owner of Stayyy.com, working alongside the industry’s best dog trainers and canine enthusiasts. His primary role at the company is to promote its growth, provide opportunities for both dog owners and trainers, and scale the business while simultaneously establishing a phenomenal community for dog lovers based on reliable resources and information. Thomas’s unwritten and most important role, however, is that pertaining to his private life - being the best family man he can be, the role model for his young children, the ever-present support and partner in crime for his wife, and the very best guide for his beloved Giant Schnauzer. It is with that massive, stubborn black furball where everything began.

Aaron Rice Business Partner / Dog Trainer

My dog training and competing journey truly began in childhood at the age of nine in a small southern Illinois town with our family’s Border Collie. The experience has been quite momentous, inciting my newly found love for dogs along with their training. The competing mission continued through all my teenage years. At the age of seventeen, I felt the urge to venture into other sporting venues - the exact moment I discovered my first Belgian Malinois. At the age of twenty years old, after my first military deployment, I returned home determined to begin a professional dog training career. Completing an apprenticeship and working for the same company for five years provided me with an opportunity to train many different dog breeds for various jobs and purposes, including companion pet dog training, detection dogs, personal protection dogs, police dogs, or search and rescue dogs. The experience taught me how to effectively deal with a wide range of behavioral issues, specifically aggression of many different forms and sources.

The love for our dogs

Recently, our awareness of the animals’ psyche, their emotional needs, and the factors that shape their mentality has grown significantly. Along with scientific research, there is a trend for various types of dog training and upbringing. There are also terms that function on a daily basis in the language of behaviorists and dog owners, which are not always acceptable to their scientific definitions. A common example is the mainstream use of the term “behavioral disorder,” which is interpreted by many as a mental illness that the dog and its owner is struggling with. Such an attitude is not only incorrect but also harmful for the relationship dynamics and the dog itself. Many of the problems faced by dog owners do not result from the animal’s mental inability or disorders but are the result of an inappropriate environment, primarily “parenting” mistakes and the owner’s often inconsistent and improper behavior or attitude towards the dog. Understanding that dogs are pack animals and require structure, leadership, and hierarchy is one of the most important steps towards a healthy and happy life.