In the rugged hills of Livingston, Montana, Kim Greene oversees an empire most people couldn’t imagine—a breeding and training operation where dogs sell for $175,000 each, generating $2.9 million in revenue in 2024. But the path to this extraordinary success was anything but straightforward.
Greene’s story begins not in Montana, but in the conflict zones of Afghanistan and East Africa. “I had met my former husband in Afghanistan, and we were moving to Nairobi, Kenya,” she recalls. It was there, pregnant and acutely aware of the dangers surrounding her, that the seed of Spollan Ranch was planted. “As a soon-to-be mom, you’re very hyperaware of your own personal safety in that type of environment,” she explains. Uncomfortable with carrying a firearm or hiring a bodyguard, Greene—despite never being a dog person—sought out a four-legged protector that could also be a companion.
When she couldn’t find what she needed from North American vendors, an idea emerged: why not create it herself? Thus began a two-decade journey that would test every ounce of her resilience.
The early years were brutal. “We were broke as a joke for a lot of years,” Greene admits candidly. “We were hanging on for dear life for a very long time.” The business she’d joined as her then-husband’s passion project consumed her life completely. In 2013, they transitioned the operation from Africa to Montana, but profitability remained elusive. Remarkably, it wasn’t until 2017—after 12 years in business—that Spollan finally turned a profit.
Then came the breaking point: divorce. Greene faced a crossroads that would define the rest of her life. “For the first time in my professional life, I had an out,” she reflects. “It had felt like a heavy, heavy load to carry for a lot of years.” She could have walked away from the struggling business, from the 24/7 demands of managing 50 dogs and 13 employees on a ranch that never sleeps.
Instead, she discovered something unexpected. “When I stripped back all of that heavy load, I think I realized that I actually really love what I do.” The business that had once been someone else’s dream suddenly became hers alone. “It wasn’t someone else’s story anymore, it was my story, and I got really excited—excited like I haven’t been excited about my career in a really long time.”
What Greene built from that blank slate is extraordinary. Today’s Spollan Ranch operates with military precision, breeding and training German Shepherds through a rigorous two-year program that produces what she calls “family protection dogs.” These aren’t pets—they’re assets, investments in safety that master approximately 20 commands and can serve families for a minimum of 10 years. The lesson here is unmistakable: sometimes losing everything allows you to discover what truly matters.
The business model itself is unique. Greene actively tries to talk potential clients out of purchasing. “Usually I’m trying to talk people out of it to see how much they really want it,” she says. Those who persist are invited to the ranch, where they witness puppy socialization, obstacle courses, and protection training firsthand. Hand-delivery, five days of bespoke training, and lifetime annual visits are all included in that $175,000 price tag.
Post-COVID demographic shifts brought unexpected fortune. Ultra-wealthy individuals began flocking to Montana, and “the market has come to us,” Greene notes. After 20 years of struggle, timing finally aligned with preparation. “I do feel that the business health is the best it has been at year 20.”
Yet challenges persist. Finding high-caliber breeding dogs remains “probably one of the biggest challenges of this business,” Greene acknowledges. The ranch operates 365 days a year, with human capital as the most expensive line item. But for Greene, who left behind her entire anticipated career trajectory in international work, the sacrifice feels worth it.
“If someone had ever told me that this is where this business would sit right now, in my wildest dreams, I don’t think I would have believed it,” she muses. From the war-torn streets of Afghanistan to the sprawling Montana ranch, from bankruptcy to millions in revenue, Kim Greene’s journey proves that success often requires walking through fire—and sometimes, you need to lose everything to find what you were meant to build all along.
Editor’s Note: Readers interested in the practical systems and tools behind this success can explore From Passion to Protection: How Kim Greene Built a $175K-Per-Dog Business (And How You Can Do It in 2 Years, Not 8).
Source: Based on reporting and interviews originally published by CNBC.