I breed and train dogs that sell for $175,000 each. We place about 20 dogs a year, and it took us a while to be profitable.

• Kim Greene started breeding protection dogs after getting pregnant with twins. • Her dogs now sell for $175,000 and are fully trained when they're placed. • The business grew after she divorced and started running the company alone.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kim Greene, founder of Svalinn Dogs. It has been edited for length and clarity.

When I was a little girl, I got a horrific case of poison ivy from petting and loving on the family dog. After experiencing intense itching from head to toe, I developed a total aversion to dogs. I made my husband agree that we would never have a dog when we got married.

My husband and I both worked internationally, he in defense and me in humanitarian efforts. We met in Afghanistan and later moved to Kenya, which was a