Robin K. Bennett - All about Dog Daycare: A Blueprint for Success

Acknowledgements

Writing a book is a task involving many people beyond the person listed on the book cover. This book is no different.

A word of thanks to the many trainers, entrepreneurs, friends and family members who read and edited the various chapters of this book: Annette Ahtes, Cindy Briggs (who graciously offered her time to me when I first opened my daycare), Susan Briggs, Cindy Bruckart, Diana Craig, Stacy Dempsey, Anna Doell, Roz Ferber, Susan Ferry, Jim Krack, Don Knepp, Ron Knepp (who supplied countless title suggestions), Michele Knepp (who supplied countless additional title suggestions), Dr. Debby Loveland, JulieRae MacLeod, Marilyn Marks, Kathy Minnick, Penny Munaro, Susan McCullough, Bob Payne, Colleen Pelar, Caroline Roden, Laura Sharkey, Pat Sinclair, Jamie Smelser, Dawn Walton, Charlene Woodward (for providing support from the publishing world) and Miranda Workman. A special thank you to the staff at Starbucks Coffee in Stafford, Virginia for allowing me to occupy a table for long periods of time while writing this book. The mochas kept me going.

To those families who trusted me with their dogs in my daycare. You and your dogs have been wonderful teachers and Im thankful for the opportunity to learn from you.

To the wonderful and amazing staff at my own training facility, All About Dogs, Inc.: Keely Bovais, Diana Craig, AnnMarie Dykes, Denise Frano, Roz Ferber, Eileen Fulk, Mary Graham, Chris Johnson, Kim Kirilenko, Colleen Pelar, Vicky Shields-Harding, Julie Fudge Smith, and Martha Walker. It is an honor to work with each one of you, and I truly appreciate your friendships. Thank you for everything you do.

To my parents, Don and Alice Knepp, for their constant support in everything Ive chosen to do.even when the idea was a bit crazy. A special word of thanks to my dad for his conscientious, green,felt-tip pen editing of my high school papers. Your careful work when I was younger has given me the confidence to write (despite what I may have said during high school!)

Finally, thank you to my own family. To my husband, Greg, for giving me all the time I needed to work on my book and supporting me through the tremendously busy periods. Thanks also to my kids, Leanna and Nathan, who enthusiastically supported the entire book from start to finish even when it meant they couldnt go to the pool. I love you all very much.

Owning and operating a dog daycare is an incredible job and a tremendous responsibility. Remember to have fun, but take good care of the dogs.

~Robin Knepp Bennett

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or suggestions you have regarding this book or the dog daycare industry. I look forward to hearing from you.

Robin@allaboutdogdaycare.com
PO Box 4227
Woodbridge, VA 22194

Table of Contents

Chapter 1:
Introduction

Each year, Americans become more and more willing to purchase upscale services and care for their pets. Between 1996 the year I started my first dog daycare facility and 2005, American pet owners have boosted their pet budgets by nearly 75 percent; this year, the American Pet Product Manufacturers Association (APPMA) predicts owners will shell out nearly $36 billion to care for their animal friends. This growth is projected to continue.

At the same time, families are working longer hours and struggling constantly to find a balance between family needs and work requirements. These struggles have boosted demand for service-oriented businesses.

Pet owners will spend approximately
thirty-six billion dollars on their pets in 2005
~APPMA

Meanwhile, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) estimates that more than one-third of U.S. households now own at least one dog. These dogs have moved from the back yard dog house straight into the family living rooms and even bedrooms. They have become full family members who provide companionship and health benefits to humans. But while people want to have dogs, they often feel guilty when their busy lives prevent them from spending enough quality time with their pets.

In response to owners busy lifestyles and the increased desire to pamper their pets, dog daycare facilities have sprung up all over the country. Dog-loving entrepreneurs have an exciting opportunity to combine their love of animals with a money-making enterprise.

Approximately one-third of all households
in the United States own at least one dog
~HSUS

Dog daycare is a new term in society. Its meaning has not been standardized, and consumers and entrepreneurs would benefit from understanding the various uses.

This book uses the term dog daycare specifically to describe a supervised environment in which dogs play off-leash with other dogs. Like child daycare centers, a dog daycare center caters to busy dog parents who want to provide their dog with exercise and playtime. The daycare provides the dog with a fun, safe, stimulating environment during the day while owners shop, run errands, or work. The daycare business is responsible for ensuring the safety of the dogs in their care and making sure all the dogs play nicely together. Also like child daycare centers, dog daycare facilities usually include a caring, compassionate staff; plenty of safe, fun playground equipment; and often, snack and naptimes for the dogs in their care.

Dog daycare differs significantly from day boarding, in which a dog is crated or kenneled during the daytime hours. For the purposes of this book, such services do not constitute dog daycare. Dog daycare, as discussed here, refers to facilities that allow dogs to play together off-leash and are an alternative to boarding a dog in a crate, kennel or run. Although dog daycares may crate or kennel dogs during short periods of time (for instance in order to feed the dogs), the dogs spend most of the day playing and interacting with other dogs.

Dog daycare must also be distinguished from field trips or pet sitting services in which a dog can play with another dog for 30 to 45 minutes. Dog daycare services are usually day-long or at least several hours long.

A dog daycare provides owners with
a safe, fun, stimulating environment
for their dog to play off-leash with other dogs
under the careful supervision of a trained staff

The benefits of a dog daycare are numerous. First of all, the dogs learn how to play with other dogs and increase their social skills. Second, dogs use up a great deal of energy during their time at daycare, which makes for a well-rested pet in the evening. Rather than coming home to a hyper dog who has been alone all day, owners will pick up an exhausted dog whose low energy level matches the owners. Third, dog daycare helps alleviate behavior problems. Trainers agree the vast majority of behavior problems (for example excessive barking, chewing and digging) - particularly in puppies -result from lack of exercise. Dog daycare centers address this problem by giving dogs the opportunity to play. Finally, owners have peace of mind knowing their dog will be well cared for and well-exercised throughout the day; it allows for guilt-free dog ownership.

Owning and operating a daycare is not easy, but you are more likely to succeed if you plan your business carefully. Start by ensuring you have the skills and finances to be successful.

First and foremost, a daycare owner needs to have some basic business management and organizational skills before embarking on this venture. According to the Small Business Administration about 80 percent of all new businesses fail within the first five years. This failure often results from a new owners lack of business management skills. If you are starting a new business, you need to be able to set a plan, stick to it, adapt as necessary, and work unsupervised. You also need to be self motivated and have an appetite for hard work. The ability to dream is one thing; the ability to make that dream come true is another. See for resources that can help you start your new business.