Doggy daycare with a difference?!

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SarahRicoh

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This is something I've been thinking off for a little while so thought I'd see what you guys thought of it as im sure a fair few of you are dog lovers!

There's obviously a lot of dog sitters and walkers out there nowadays so I'm thinking of something slightly different.
A field with some sort of building that I could rent cheaply and make a doggy heaven in it. The building can have pens in it for 'down' time, sofas and just an indoor area. The outdoor would be a securely fenced field with agility equipment, a small pond,sandpit,toys, loads of different things that dogs could enjoy.
The idea being I could pick up/have dogs dropped at this place to be looked after for the day or a few hours whilst people work etc. And people could also pay a very small fee to use the area for their own dogs in their own time. (eg. a dog that runs off so needs somewhere fenced/someone with a v energetic dog that needs somewhere more than just a plain field but doesnt want to go to agility).

Does anyone think this could work? Would you use it? Any ideas on what I could charge? :D
 
The best kennels/daycare place I saw was one where my mum took her dogs

It was an American barn set up with looseboxes, each box had a rug and a sofa and a doggy door to an outside run

Having said that lots of people dont let their dogs get on furniture so I guess these days it may be a no no

You'd also have to consider hygiene when it comes to soft furniture

My dog is an 'escaper' so I would use a facility that was reliably enclosed and that would be a good selling point and probably one of my top priorities personally

I'm not sure some of the things you mention would go down too well with more fussy owners, I wouldnt want a long haired dog coming home with his coat full of sand and I wouldnt want a small dog around any depth of water for example
 
It has been known to work, at Cramlington, Northumberland there is an Industrial unit being used as doggy day care, owners were given daily reports on what the dogs did and it used to be very sucessful.
My concern would be the current financial climate, it seems most people are having to cut back
 
I think in the right area it'd be successful.
By 'right area' I mean where the majority of families have a good income. If people are scraping the barrel then this would be the last thing they'd be paying out for. People who are comfortable would consider it I think :)
 
Thanks guy, looking to see if theres one near me but I dont think there is. I'd say where I live is a reasonably well off area but people aren't rich I dont think. Nice to see it could be a possibility :)
 
I have one near me, I would think you need the right area for clients you would appeal to but also for ease of access for people dropping off and picking up and for yourself if you offer a pick up and drop off service. My two dogs go to ours, they love it :)
 
I'm a dog walker, general animal carer, mobile registered vet nurse and mobile groom - ahh the joys of being a sole trader lol!

I've seen a few successful doggy day care units on the web - most seem to be a huge industrial unit type area, with different areas for youngsters, oldies, tinies - never seen one that accommodates dog aggressive dogs, as they all seem to mix in together, the social interaction being one of the main selling points.

Personally I couldn't afford the upfront costs of renting/running such a place and then having to employ people, as I don't think such a venture could be run singlehandedly. Then I'd have to look at insurance, local authority rules and fees, employer liability insurance etc etc, a properly kitted out van to do delivery's and collections...

To be honest It would need at least a few if not ten or more grand up front to set up such a venture, and I dont have that sort of money to invest. If you do then start researching! Rent prices, utility prices, insurance, local kennel prices and facilities, what you can offer that they don't, and don't forget NI and tax contributions. People do make a living out of doing this but I reckon it'll be hard to do it, jump thru all the official hoops and make a profit in the near future...... but it can be done I think, and there are doggy people out there who will pay for it.

Sorry for essay - wine opened - nuff said ;p
 
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