Starting daycare is hard on everyone, especially the parents.
Do the kids accuse you of treating the dog better than them? Don't deny it. Our wet-nosed family members have become so important, statistics prove we're ready to do without a few personal extras rather than deprive Rufus of his outfits, treats and grooming appointments. The latest guilty pleasure? Doggy daycare for owners not content to confine their pup's social lives to pedestrian romps in the dog park. If you'd like to take advantage of this emerging trend, you've come to the right place for tips.
Instructions
1. Possess a clear understanding of the purpose of a dog daycare facility. You'll be asked by owners to offer a clean, healthy, safe environment with lots of interaction with other dogs so their canine isn't home moping, tearing up furniture or doing whatever dogs do when they feel abandoned. Expect to assume the role of kindergarten teacher as you seek to create harmony amid so many personalities and different styles of "parenting."
2. Gain experience with dogs to prepare yourself for operating your business. Take classes in animal behavior, volunteer at a shelter, intern at a veterinarian's office or hire yourself out as a dog walker. Get as much practice in multiple-dog environments as you can to feel confident and capable. You may also want to earn a Red Cross certificate in pet first aid. This credential might save a dog's life and is a great marketing extra as well.
3. Rent a facility with as much space as your budget can afford. The average dog daycare center is a huge, open space that resembles a warehouse for its sparse look and unobstructed site lines. Because you won't require much in terms of a build-out, the Spartan appearance can be to your benefit when you negotiate the lease, but a critical element of your facility will be access to the outdoors so clients can be walked regularly.
4. Secure a loan if you're not underwriting your dog daycare center with personal funds and then contact local authorities to file for needed licenses and permits. Open a checking account and choose vendors to supply cleaning equipment and supplies. Set operational policies, hours and rules.
5. Figure out an affordable marketing strategy for your operation. Consider putting flyers in local veterinarian offices, on supermarket billboards and in shops that cater to dogs and their owners. Do market research to find out what competitors are charging so your dog daycare center fees are in line with theirs. Hire employees. If you don't know how many, use the standard rule of thumb of one staffer per 10 to 15 dogs.
6. Design a registration form to maximize the amount of information you have on each dog you welcome into your daycare center operation. The document should include the dog's name, birth date, breed, vaccine and medication history, veterinarian contact information, unique personality or health issues and you may wish to require owners to have spayed or neutered their dogs to gain admittance. Have every pet parent complete the form and sign it before you accept the dog into your center.
7. Find vendors to supply the equipment, supplies and materials required to keep your daycare center clean and sanitary and then decide if you want to include extras in your master plan. Some centers offer boarding services, dog training, well-dog medical checks, grooming and dog-related products for sale. Make sure you're prepared to give up some of your room if you choose to add these extras to your operation.
8. Launch your dog daycare operation with a lively grand opening. Offer visitors dog snacks, line the floor with water bowls, offer complementary playtime and make certain you invite the media to bring their photographers along when they visit.
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