A Minimum Investment, Maximum Profit Home Business!

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We knew we'd be facing stiff competition from veterinarians and well-established commercial kennels, but we stressed—in our publicity—the advantages of in-home, personalized service. It was our hope that most pet owners would appreciate the fact that their special friends wouldn't be locked in concrete-and-wire "cells" . . . but would, instead, be housed in a warm, loving home and have plenty of free space. And, as the business grew, we received lots of word-of-mouth endorsements from satisfied clients.

BRING ON THE CUSTOMERS

Our first few queries were, naturally enough, from potential customers . . . but we soon turned most of them into repeat visitors by dealing with each one on a personal basis. We told them who we were and what we were all about, then went on to ask about the caller's pet: Could we include it in our stud listing? Was a litter expected soon? Were they interested in breeding the animal? The information file that we built up as a result of such inquiries eventually led to stud services and puppy sales . . . which provided income for our customers and various commissions for us! Those extras really helped get our business rolling in the beginning, put us in touch with the "pulse" of the animal lovers' community in our area, and boosted our reputation.

THE SERVICES WE OFFER

Here's a rundown of the basic services we offer to our customers.

Bathing/dipping (for dogs). This job might seem imposing to some people, but it's really a very simple operation. The following guidelines have helped us handle the task with a minimum of problems.

[1] Work outside whenever possible. If the weather is bad, we use the garage, garden shed, or basement . . . any place that can be cleaned up easily afterwards.

[2] Get the dog off the ground by standing it on a crate, table, workbench, or whatever. (An old bathtub set on concrete blocks in the back yard works fine.) This arrangement allows the handler to work in a standing position—without straining his or her back—and will also help restrict the animal's movement.

[3] Put a nylon slip collar on the dog . . . attach a lead to the collar . . . and fasten that to a metal "arm", a tree limb, or anything else that will allow you to keep the animal in one place. Do leave enough slack to enable the dog to stand in a relaxed posture, though.

Remember, too, not to leave an animal alone in this position, because the beast could bolt in fear and seriously injure itself. We've always found it best to provide the "clients" with lots of attention and reassurance, to keep them from becoming overly nervous during the procedure. If you pet and talk to a dog throughout its bath, it usually won't mind being leashed, since it knows it's with a friend. And, contrary to popular belief, most canines not only tolerate but actually enjoy a bath . . . simply because of all the extra attention they get in the process. In fact, no pet should be a problem if the person bathing it uses common sense, shows some friendliness, and exercises a little patience. Except for a bit of initial squirming, I've yet to have any serious trouble with any of my charges.

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