Please Comment! Dog Holiday And Boarding Kennel

[charlene bell]

Join our free community today.

Connect with other like-minded dog lovers!

Login or Register

I am setting up a dog boarding kennel business in the heart of the lake district, and want to specialise in taking dogs up the fells. Because i feel that average boarding kennels do not provide enough exercise for our 4 legged friends.

 

I would just have 10 kennels and would be run by family.

 

Dont be selfish, send your dog on a holiday!

 

SO, i'm trying to do a bit of market research, will you please reply or comment!

 

... would you be intersted?

 

thank you

 

charlene bell

 

[tinker*]

yes sounds nice,

how easy is it for people to get to the kennels? distance wise?

also.... how luxury will the kennels be? i hate putting my dogs in kennels and much prefer the dog sitting/living in someones house type of boarding.

also ...... will you still enjoy tredging up and down hills/walks everyday? and thnk about dogs that might not have good recall esp with a new person walkinghim/her?

otherwise i know for a fact dogs boarding def do not get enough walks! so good niche in the arket id say..... esp catering for dogs that need to keep up fitness also :thumbsup:

 

[SilverScreen]

I am setting up a dog boarding kennel business in the heart of the lake district, and want to specialise in taking dogs up the fells. Because i feel that average boarding kennels do not provide enough exercise for our 4 legged friends.  

I would just have 10 kennels and would be run by family.

 

Dont be selfish, send your dog on a holiday!

 

SO, i'm trying to do a bit of market research, will you please reply or comment!

 

... would you be intersted?

 

thank you

 

charlene bell

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

 

 

Its a nice idea but you'll have problems with the insurance! The insurance companies do not like the dogs being taken off the premises incase they run off or get injured and claims are made. If you find a company that allows the dogs to be walked off site, you'll pay a high premimum and will need to pass that cost onto your boarders and that might put people off! But good luck and I hope you find a route round it!

 

[Rob Rixon]

We live in East Anglia and the trip to the Lake District is likely to stop us using your kennels. In the past we have used kennels in Kent and used the tunnel. Hence easy to drop them and collect them on the way to and from Europe.

Now we take them with us.

 

[Mr Whippy]

There is actually a small kennel in the north lakes that already offers a similar service although they board fewer dogs than you suggest, it's run by a dog trainer and they assess all dogs before they are taken on to see if they are suitable. I discovered this place while looking for kennels myself but felt uncomfortable with their approach of exercising offlead on the fells. For my dogs, it's just not suitable. (sighthounds - who aren't small furry/fast moving object friendly)

Due to a change in circumstances I have had to start using kennels with my two current dogs and one of the factors that influenced my decision where to board them is their safety and my peace of mind that they are okay while I'm away.

I would not feel comfortable with the thought of my dogs being taken on the fells by a relative stranger. At the best of times the fells need to be treated with respect and I don't see how full attention can be paid to the dogs whilst ensuring your own wellbeing. (Obviously this would vary depending on where you walk/how high/how technical it is etc)

I live in the lakes and know how regularly 'surprises' are thrown at me and my dogs on walks, horses, mountain bikers, runners, hares, deer etc etc and that's before you consider tourists, their dogs,their cars and a cast of thousands of sheep. It's a difficult area to manage dogs who are not your own as there are so many potential external problems to contend with.

I understand that kennels don't generally have the capacity to exercise dogs as much as their owners would like but, on balance, I would prefer them to have less exercise for the few days they are kennelled and be safe than be put at potential risk being exercised in an unrestricted area.

Obviously this is just how I feel about your proposed idea, maybe do research through questionnaires at local vets etc as realistically it will only be local people who use the service. Good luck with your venture. :luck:

 

[hely]

sounds like a good idea, although i wouldnt be happy my dog being off lead with someone else, but a good long on lead walk sounds good :thumbsup:

 

[meddling]

It sounds nice to have proper walks - but wouldn't allow anyone else to let mine of the lead

 

[talisman]

Hi

Sounds lovely and a great idea but. Yes there is always a but. I wouldnt leave my dogs in a kennel they were they were walked and no way were they would be let of the lead on the open fells.

My Jack Russel will not walk with anyone apart from me and hubby, She wont even go with our daughter. And if she does walk the first opertunity she has she runs home. Megan is ok but being a whippet she likes to run and I would worry she would get lost, She has good recall and I am sure she would come back to someone else but wouldnt want to risk it just in case.

I would constantly be worrying about them., I use to work in kennels and i have seen how some very calm and reliable dogs change the minute they think they can get away.

But I know a lot of people want there dogs walked while they are away. A friend of mine has booked her dog in to kennels miles away becauce they go on daily walks. So I think there will be a market for it.

Wendy

 

[Mr Whippy]

I've just had an idea that may be of interest, Charlene. People who holiday with their dogs are sometimes restricted in what they can do because dogs aren't welcome everywhere that tourists are. Holiday cottages that are dog friendly also may not want dogs to be left alone on the premises at any point so maybe offering a dog day/evening care service via places like the tourist board office might be a potential money spinner. I know that even though I love holidaying with my dogs there are sometimes places I'd like to see where dogs aren't welcome, so a day/evening care facility would be great. Just an idea, it might be worth a try. :luck:

 

[FifeJillandIan]

I've just had an idea that may be of interest, Charlene. People who holiday with their dogs are sometimes restricted in what they can do because dogs aren't welcome everywhere that tourists are. Holiday cottages that are dog friendly also may not want dogs to be left alone on the premises at any point so maybe offering a dog day/evening care service via places like the tourist board office might be a potential money spinner. I know that even though I love holidaying with my dogs there are sometimes places I'd like to see where dogs aren't welcome, so a day/evening care facility would be great. Just an idea, it might be worth a try.   :luck:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

I think this is a great idea. I would miss Blue too much if I went away on holiday and left him behind, so from now on holidays will be to places where Blue can come and stay too - holiday cottages, static caravans etc. Having somewhere to leave him for a couple of hours 'whippie sitting' would be ideal.

Jill

 

[shane]

We take our dogs on holidays but would be great if we could drop them off for a few hours so that we could do tourist things or go for a nice posh meal. ) , as one of the others said most cottages you can't leave your dogs unattended and some times it's difficult finding dog friendly places. If the weather is bad you need to take them inside and the same if to hot. Good luck. :luck:

 

[rach125]

There is actually a small kennel in the north lakes that already offers a similar service although they board fewer dogs than you suggest, it's run by a dog trainer and they assess all dogs before they are taken on to see if they are suitable. I discovered this place while looking for kennels myself but felt uncomfortable with their approach of exercising offlead on the fells. For my dogs, it's just not suitable. (sighthounds - who aren't small furry/fast moving object friendly)

I did a couple weeks work experience with this kennels, and they do take them right up in to the fells and all dogs really enjoyed it, however they all were very disiplined dogs who had been mainly trained by the lady herself using shock collars etc, so they didn't really run away. I think it would be a nice idea for people who come up here for a holiday and like to bring their dogs up, as some bed and breakfasts around here are not dog friendly.

 

[kilmousk]

I did a couple weeks work experience with this kennels, and they do take them right up in to the fells and all dogs really enjoyed it, however they all were very disiplined dogs who had been mainly trained by the lady herself using shock collars etc, so they didn't really run away. I think it would be a nice idea for people who come up here for a holiday and like to bring their dogs up, as some bed and breakfasts around here are not dog friendly.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

There is absolutely NO way i could ever leave my dogs there

 

[Mr Whippy]

I did a couple weeks work experience with this kennels, and they do take them right up in to the fells and all dogs really enjoyed it, however they all were very disiplined dogs who had been mainly trained by the lady herself using shock collars etc, so they didn't really run away. I think it would be a nice idea for people who come up here for a holiday and like to bring their dogs up, as some bed and breakfasts around here are not dog friendly.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

There is absolutely NO way i could ever leave my dogs there

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

That's pretty much why I didn't explore these kennels further. I didn't know they used shock collars but had my suspicions as their website states that they do stock training and after ony a few lessons, a ridiculously short time IMO, they claim your dog will not chase stock. To achieve this over a limited time period clearly hints at taking short cuts- I for one would never consult a trainer who uses such methods nor would I leave my dog in their 'care'.

To the OP, I hope that your research is going well and that you get good feedback that will give you a clear direction as to how to appeal to the market in the area you are setting up. :luck:

 

[rach125]

Also same reason i was only there for 2 weeks. they were pretty harsh! Where abouts in lake district do you live if you dont mind me asking?

 

[charlene bell]

guys, you wouldn't know how much i appreciate ur replies and ideas!

first of all, i'v got 2 dogs myself, a dalmatian and a collie (pet and working), and i would not dream of taking them up a dangerous montain!!! EVER!

The walks I want to do would be level 1 and 2 walks. (no cliffs or sharp rocky patches) and the dogs would be on a lead all the time. (my dogs wouldn't listen to other people)

So most dogs would be happy walking, because that is what they do in the wild (migrate daily). walk, sleep, eat and play! Pretty much what i do.

The lady you are reffering to, does use the shock collar, but it's the owners that send their dogs there as last resort. The farmers are pretty ruthless!!

mr whippy. thanks for the idea. I went to my local hotel (patterdale hotel) and had a word with the manager, not only did i get his custom, but he says as soon as their customers book, they will book a kennel for the dog, because he says it's a common problem. AND a lot of the people leave their dogs at home or in the car!!!!

I live in patterdale on a small farm, just 5min from lake ullswater

 

[mapleaf]

hello,

i found your forum on google when i typed in boarding kennels work experience. it's a really good thing that you're doing and i really love it when people help animals and in the community. well i'm in yr 10 looking for work experience and i thought i would ask you...but i realised you dont live in Australia. or working with puppies would be a fun experience ,yeah when i left my two dogs at a kennel, it was really dirty and they turned fat..

yeah i have four dogs, Golden Retriever, Pomeranian, Tibetan spaniel and a Ridgeback Cross. i also have a rabbit he's a mini lop..his colour is blue fawn. well thanks a lot.