doggy daycare

[Zannie]

this might be a pipe dream but what do you think it would take to open a daycare there used to be one in our town and it did well but the poor lady got sick and had to close ,and is it something a person could do in thier home or would there be zoning issues any idias would be great...................


ann

 

[ztacpa]

I've been curious about this also.

I think some key things you would need would be:

A tall fence.
Kennels to keep dogs in in case of fights between animals.
Somewhere to take the dogs indoors during bad weather (there is a place near my home that has a big Morton building where the dogs can play when it is cold or rainy).
Clients!

 

[catneon]

I would suggest also researching day cares on the net (in areas far from you that way you aren't their competitors!!) and asking them questions, I'm sure some will be glad to answer you.

You need to be well organized to keep together all the different specifications for each individual dogs (food, medications, leash, allergies etc...).
You need to have enough and proper size kennels for each dog you keep.Example, at feeding time so there is no stress on any dog they get fed in there own area.
A play area, inside and outside (fenced), potty area
I don't know about zoning, but you probably need some kind of permit because of the amount of dogs you will be keeping.
Proper insurance.

 

[bustermom]

Go to town hall and purchase a copy of your local zoning ordinance. They're available to the public, usually at a minimal cost - or just call your zoning officer and ask.

If you're in a residential area, I doubt you'd be able to run one out of your home (noise restrictions, fence height restrictions, maximum number of dogs, parking issues, etc.). My guess is you'd need to find space in a commercially zoned area. Of course, it all depends on what your town will allow. The zoning ordinance will have all the necessary information as to exactly what is allowed where.

If you can, you should talk to the woman that had opened one (if she's still around). She would probably be a fountain of wisdom having been there, done that.

You'd definitely need insurance, access to emergency medical care (perhaps an agreement with a local vet), the proper climate controlled facilities, indoor and outdoor play areas, separate play areas for small/large dogs, sanitation control (will your local garbage men take all those bags of poo?), and I'm sure a gazillion other things.

Not trying to dissuade you - you've just got lots of research to do. Fortunately, research usually doesn't cost anything but time!

In addition to the specifics for a doggie daycare, you can get excellent general business advice from either your local SBA (Small Business Administration office) or from...I can't remember the name, but retired business executives are available for free/low-cost business consultations - the SBA office would know.

 

[Zannie]

thanks for your input i will check it out more who knows it might just happen......................

ann

 

[Siilence]

I work at a dog daycare and know the owner personally (because we are so small she works along with us) and she said that she wanted to write a book about how to open your own daycare. She said one of the most important things is to have enough money to be able to support yourself for two years because you should expect to be in debt for a while. We have been open for three years and we are just now breaking even! But besides that I would say go for it! Ive entertained this idea myself a few times. Also, don't expect to ever be "off" from work for atleast two years as well!! I hope it works out for you!

If you ever want to talk, or need advice on how we do certain things feel free to e-mail me. siilence@comcast.net

 

[SkippyToo]

Sorry if this is a repeat suggestion...but I'm tired tonight

I think you also need to be very well versed on vaccination requirements and you also need to be prepared to ask your customers for their records.

I know around here the breeding kennels are inspected by the USDA at times. I have seriously considered breeding for quite some time (don't bash me please), and I am still in the research/planning stage. I am not sure if boarders would also be inspected in a similar manner. The USDA requires certain types of flooring, etc... .

Just some thoughts....

 

[lillibirdy]

Are you guys talking about the kind of day care for when people go to work and leave there dog just for the day hours, or along the lines of a Kennel for folks to leave them while they are on vacation? I am curious about how much business these places really get. And I think a book would be an excellent idea if that gal would write it. I think we need people who open them to be very well thought through, and not just looking for some easy $$ "babysitting" dogs. I am not sure I could deal with some folks untrained dogs, or aggresive dogs. Do they have to show they have some level of obedience to leave them?

 

[Siilence]

We have around three or four daycares in our city, but I have to think OURS is the best! hehe. Every person that Pam (the owner) highers has to adore dogs. It is not hard to weed out the fakers when you throw them in a group of twenty dogs!

Our daycare is just that, a daycare for people that work during the day. We open at 7:30Am and the dogs run around together until 11. From 11-1 they are in their crates for nap time/lunch/snack. At 1pm they go back outside until 5pm and then wait in their crates for their parents to come get them. We are, however, a kennel of sorts too. I dislike using the word kennel since people usually picture dogs staying in their crates all day. Our boarding dogs go through the same schedule as our daycare dogs they just get fed in the mornings and evenings as well and someone comes back at 9pm-11pm to let them go out before bedtime.

We allow no agressive or un-altered dogs at our place. We usually always give a dog one try, but if he attacks another dog for no reason we say "bye bye". Granted, there are always going to be fights, but we are trained to break them up and if we understand the reason behind it (the dog was just scared etc) then we will give them another shot.

Our setup is so: We have a BIG backyard where the dogs get to run around all day and play in. We always have human supervision, we never leave them AT ALL. We also have five large pens where we seperate dogs. We usually only seperate the really little dogs so they have their own play area, but we also seperate dogs that might be grouchy that day or dogs that are in time out for some reason.

Our rates are 18$ a day and 12$ a half day. Keep in mind, most people do not bring their dogs every day of the week. It can REALLY make a dog tired. To board a dog it is 25$ a night and that includes daycare.

Seriously, it is the best job I've ever had. I could be having the worst day, but when I come to work and Im surrounded by 25 dogs that love you no matter what it just makes you so happy. And you DO get attached to them and them to you. You are like their surrogate parents.

 

[lillibirdy]

Sounds like a fun job. Do you guys do any training? What kind of set up for weather do you have? How do you split up the squabbles? Might be a good retirement business for us. But I am not sure about the stay home for several yrs thing.... I am used to gettin on my Harley and going for a ride. I was pretty tied down when I had to hand feed the birds, it was hard. Maybe when I retire I won't mind it so much.