Canine Calling After an unexpected layoff, a marketing exec tracks down a new career.

Life is full of twists and turns, but in 2003, Christie Pricereceived a serious blow that sent her life spinning upside down.Having worked 27 years in marketing, advertising andcommunications, Price was pulling in a nearly six-figure salary andhad become an expert at dealing with people. However, even thatexpertise couldn't prevent her from getting laid off. Astruggling economy combined with an overabundance of well-qualifiedworkers demanding half her salary meant that the cards were stackedagainst her, even if she looked for another job.

So in January 2004, after some soul-searching, Price put her3-year-old miniature schnauzer in the car and set out on athree-day road trip to Denver. She hoped her final destination, theheadquarters for Bark Busters, an in-home dog-training franchise, wouldsend her down the right trail: She planned to attend a three-weektraining course there. "This was my adventure," saysPrice, 54. "And that's the way I looked at it. I wasstarting everything new."

Since then, Price has gotten her life back on track--and herBark Busters franchise established in South Charlotte, NorthCarolina. Using the techniques she learned during training, she iscapable of tackling any behavior problem solely via body languageand tone of voice. However, she stresses that her goal is not totrain dogs but to educate owners on how to communicate with theirpets. "My life is simpler now," says Price, whose 2005sales were $60,000. "My needs, my wants--my whole life haschanged for the better."