how to start your dog boarding business: what to know about dogs, kennels, and the business

If you're looking for an platonic career that will let you lot to stay home, hang out with dogs all mean solar day, and pay the bills, you should definitely consider dog sitting. Just about every dog owner out in that location will need a reliable sitter from fourth dimension-to-time, and many canis familiaris owners demand dog intendance on a regular footing.

The pet industry is one of the fastest growing markets in the state. In 2018, Americans spent more than $72 one thousand thousand on their pets, with $vi.11 billion going toward services like grooming, boarding, and doggy daycare. Domestic dog lovers are willing to pay for premium pet sitting services, especially if information technology ways that their favorite companion will exist well taken care of in someone'south dwelling house as opposed to a kennel or boarding facility.

One of the all-time things well-nigh starting a dog-sitting business organisation is that at that place is very trivial overhead. Hither'due south an overview of what you'll demand to get started canis familiaris sitting.

Contents

• Is Dog Sitting Right for Me?
• A Few Reasons Why Dog-Sitting Might Not Be for You lot
• What You Need to Get Started Canis familiaris Sitting
  • Business and Advertising Necessities for a Dog-Sitting Business
  • Equipment and Gear for Starting Your Dog-Sitting Business

Is Dog Sitting Right for Me?

If you love dogs, consider becoming a dog sitter!

The short reply to this question is that if you lot dear hanging out with dogs then dog sitting could definitely be a good selection for you lot, simply there are a few things to consider. Earlier you jump into dog sitting with both feet, ask yourself these questions:

• Do you take infinite in my dwelling house for one or more dogs?
• Practice yous take other pets that volition be tolerant of other dogs in their space?
• If y'all rent your home, do you lot have a landlord's approving?
• If you ain your abode, do y'all demand the blessing of your homeowner'south association?
• Do you have a fenced-in yard?
• Do you already work from dwelling or stay domicile well-nigh of the time?
• Do you take kids or other family members that also honey dogs?

If y'all answered yes to all or well-nigh of these questions, then at that place is a proficient chance that a domestic dog-sitting business concern will be perfect for you. Still non sure?

A Few Reasons Why Dog-Sitting Might Not Be for You

Be certain to invest in pet-sitting insurance earlier you bring dogs into your home.

While everybody with a good for you honey for dogs can take steps toward starting their own canis familiaris-sitting concern, there are a few obstacles y'all may need to overcome. If any of the following weather employ, you may need to wait earlier taking the leap:

• You have babies or small children at abode. Even the friendliest dogs can be overwhelming for small children, and if yous don't know the dog well, it could be disastrous.
• You have older children at home who are afraid of dogs. If y'all have kids or other family members in the business firm who are agape of dogs, yous should work through these fears before starting a dog-sitting business concern.
• Y'all have dog allergies in your household.
• You rent your business firm or apartment and dogs are not immune.
• Yous don't take a yard. This isn't a bargain-breaker, but if you don't accept a fenced one thousand, you lot volition have to spend extra time leash walking the dogs in your care.
• Your homeowner'southward insurance won't allow it. You should always cheque with your insurance visitor to ensure that you lot'll be covered if there is ever a dog-related incident on your holding.

What You lot Need to Get Started Dog Sitting

Keep a diversity of toys on mitt for the dogs that yous watch.

Compared to over businesses, dog sitters need very little to become started. Nosotros're going to start with the basics. Equally you secure your first dog-sitting clients, yous can add to this list.

Business organisation and Advertising Necessities for a Domestic dog-Sitting Business

• A canis familiaris-sitting website. Near small businesses use a website to help them find clients and advertise their services, and while it does require an initial investment, it's definitely worth every penny. If you have the technical knowledge, you lot can create a website yourself. All you need is a domain proper name, a hosting service, and a free WordPress theme.  If the thought of creating your own website makes your head spin, you can rent a local web designer for under $1000.

• Business organisation cards and flyers. This is another important investment for getting the word out about your dog-sitting business organization. You can accept both printed at your local Staples or copy store or even print them yourself.

• Pet-sitting insurance. In improver to your regular home-possessor or renter'due south insurance, you will desire to carry separate pet-sitting insurance to protect yourself from liability issues if a) a dog in your care is injured or worse, b) if a dog in your care bites or hurts someone, and c) If a dog in your care destroys your holding. Pet insurance volition not unremarkably embrace an instance where a dog in your intendance bites or hurts you — simply third parties.

Equipment and Gear for Starting Your Canis familiaris-Sitting Business concern

Now that the boring stuff is taking care of, information technology'due south time to gear up for your dog-sitting business. If y'all have a canis familiaris of your own, you have a decent idea of what you'll demand to get started. If not, here is what you lot'll need to create a home that every canis familiaris volition want to visit.

Sturdy dog crates in unlike sizes. No affair how well you vet your dogs or how well-trained they are, at that place is a run a risk that yous will need one or more than crates to manage the dogs you watch. While using crates may be contentious to some, it offers the dogs y'all care for a safety, secure expanse to relax in, and also keeps them out of trouble. Information technology also allows y'all the freedom to walk one of your dogs while leaving another 1 at abode or run to the grocery shop without fearing that your burrow will be destroyed while yous're away. AmazonBasics sells sturdy metal dog crates in six sizes. Y'all can cull from a single or double door, and they fold down flat when you're not using them.

Washable crate pads. Crate pads are pocket-size mats that fit inside the crate and human activity as soft bedding for the dogs y'all are watching. Crate pads should only exist used with dogs that aren't chewers. These AIPERRO crate pads come in iii sizes to fit in various crates, and tin can besides be used as stand-lone pet beds. They are fully washable and feature a non-skid lesser.

No-tip food and water bowls. Keep h2o off your kitchen floor with these stainless steel no-tip bowls. Comes in sets of ii that are like shooting fish in a barrel to clean and rust-resistant.

Ternion for multiple dogs. How many dogs can you safely walk at in one case? The MoSANY three-manner dog leash allows yous to walk upwards to 3 dogs of unlike sizes with 1 tangle-free leash. This is perfect for busy domestic dog walkers who want to walk more than one well-trained dog at the aforementioned time.

Poop bags. If there's one thing you tin count on when running your own domestic dog-sitting business, it's that you'll be picking up a lot of poop. Buy your bags in majority so that you never run out. These Pets N Bags dog waste material bags are 100% biodegradable and easy to open.

Sturdy dog toys. You lot take to be very selective when choosing toys for the dogs in your care. Stay abroad from soft toys, toys with squeakers, or rope toys every bit they tin can pose dangers for aggressive chewers. Instead, opt for sturdy chew and play toys that all of your dogs volition relish. We suggest the post-obit:

• Kongs – Kongs are incredibly durable, can be stuffed with treats and frozen, and come in different sizes. They are suitable for all types of dogs.
• Nylabones – Nylabones come up in all kinds of shapes, flavors, and sizes, and they clean your dogs' teeth as they chew.
• Benebones – Similar to Nylabones, Benebones come in different sizes and flavors and are made in the USA.
• Jolly Balls – These rugged toys were originally created for horses, only now there is a whole line of toys just for dogs. There are lots of unlike sizes and styles. If y'all choose the i with the rope tug included, be sure to supervise during play.

Cleaning supplies. No affair how awesome the dogs in your care are, yous tin pretty much guarantee that y'all'll have accidents to clean up from time to time. Be prepared with a expert stain and odour remover. Nature's Miracle is an enzymatic formula that cleans upwards almost all organic stains and eliminates odors.

A treat pouch and treats. Positive reinforcement training is i of the almost effective ways to build a relationship with the dogs in your intendance. Even if you lot don't consider yourself a trainer, you volition likely employ commands with your dogs and rewards when they follow those commands. A skillful training pouch will ensure that you ever have a  care for reward when you lot need it, and a diversity of training treats volition keep things interesting for the dogs.

Utilise tasty treats every bit a reward for good behavior.

The items mentioned above include everything you need to get started on your domestic dog-sitting journeying. You will notice that many of your clients will supply much of their own gear for their pups when they visit, including toys and treats, so keep your investment pocket-sized at kickoff, and continue to invest as your business grows.

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Source: https://yourdogadvisor.com/dog-sitting-business/

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