Maintaining a safe playground at your boarding business is important.
Dog owners love their pets, however, the rest of the world may not be as enthralled with Fido's presence. This is why dogs end up kenneled more often than not when his owners travel. Your dog boarding business can give pets a safe, nurturing environment while their owners are away. Getting started on the right foot will help your new doggy boarding hotel become successful.
Choosing a Space
Your canine boarders are loud. If you only take in a few dogs at a time, your neighbors may not mind. If you take in more than a few at a time, locate a building in an industrial area or open field area so the almost constant barking that comes with a kennel will not bother anyone.
Zoning and License
Your location must be zoned properly to run a dog boarding business. Your city hall officials can tell you whether the proper zoning is in place. If not, you can request an appearance before the Board of Zoning & Appeals to request the zoning be changed to accommodate your need. An alternative, or if your request is denied, you can locate a space in an area that is properly zoned for dog kennels. You must also obtain a business license from your city hall.
Setup
Your building should have a minimum of 10 pens on each side with a run down the middle. This allows you to separate dogs that don't get along. Segregating an area of pens for dogs that become ill while in your care is important to potential customers. The building should have lots of natural lighting during the day, as well as artificial lighting for evenings. Ventilation not only keeps air circulating for your overnight canine guests, but is pleasant for the owners while dropping off and picking their dogs up. Nothing is worse than a strong aroma of dog faeces as the customer enters the building. Be sure the building you prepare ventilates to the outside, while at the same time being weather-proofed. Consider installing a security system with cameras so the dogs can be watched after all humans have left for the night.
Contract With a Vet
A relationship with a local veterinarian gives you someone to call in the event a boarder displays signs of illness. The business relationship should be in place before your doors open. You can offer the veterinarians who agree to be on your call roster a nightly stipend when they are called and of course referrals to all of your customers.
Boarding Rules
Designing a contract for customers to sign before leaving their dog helps you avoid possible problems. The contract should state the fee and what immunizations the boarder is required to have before coming into the facility. Requiring boarders to be spayed or neutered can ward off a multitude of issues for you by preventing in heat females from riling up the intact males. Be sure the contract requests contact phone numbers to the dog's owners and the family's veterinarian. Family veterinarian information provides your chosen kennel vet with the ability to contact him for additional information if a boarder becomes ill.
Insurance
Maintaining a proper level of insurance is essential to starting a dog boarding business. Your insurance agent will guide you in choosing coverage amounts. Having enough coverage protects you from liability costs in the event a dog in your care gets injured or becomes ill. The policy should also cover injuries to humans by your boarders. Your insurance company may require you to refuse service to certain breeds, typically, bully breeds, which include Pit Bulls and Rotweilers. Bully breeds are breeds determined through statistical data to be high risk dogs for causing injuries to humans and animals.
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