Do you have pets? please read?

Question

I opened a business and I need some advice. If you were dealing with a place that did grooming, behavioral training, counselling and behavior modifications for your pet no matter what species, what would you look for? How much would you want to pay? what services and or problems would you want help with? And what advice would you give?

Answer 1

I would want a business that truly has pet loving employees, that would be the most important asset to that business. Pet lovers can sense the evil nonlovers and the last thing we want is our pet being groomed or watched by that type of individual.

Suggestions for your business:

1. I would want a place that offers "pet sitting" for the older dogs or exotic animals that can't go to kennels like my parrot.
2. Grooming should also include anal gland excretion--not all places do it and they should.
3. As a courtesy, if you were grooming my pet and you noticed a lump or ear mites, etc. it would be nice to know about it.


If I were you, I would try to get a connection with a vet in your area- someone you can call and also refer clients to. This would be an extreme benefit for you and your clients. I now pay $40 for a bath, haircut and nail trim for my cocker spaniel- it's a cocker cut so there really isn't much shaving and mostly trimming. I live in NE PA and our median household income in our city is about $40,000 for a family of three, so it is a very low paying area. As fare as the behavioral training and counseling, considering the price for puppies these days I would think you could charge by the hour just like counselors for humans do- and again, that would be proportionate to the median income in your area and you really should find out the numbers because it can either make or break your business.

Oh one more tidbit- my groomer always buys materials for the holidays and makes her own little scarfs to put on the dogs and sometimes little bows in the hair in their ears--- its not that expensive but really looks nice and not that expensive....\


good luck to you on your new endeavor.

Answer 2

I have had dogs and cats all my life.

My first question to you Angela is why would you open a business and risk so much, and ask questiones like that. Please be sure of what and how you handle someone pet.

I first would want to know that the person/company I was leaving my best friend with was sure of what they are doing, friendly to myself and showed geniune care for my child. I treat my dog as a member of my family.
As far as grooming the whole area must be clean and secure as to not let any harm come into play.
Behavior training I believe that considering what type of animal you need to allow certain attributes come into play. For instances if your dealing with a chimp, you can not expect it to act like a cat/ or a cat to act like a dog.
Consulting, you better have a whole lot of knowledge about a wide varity of all animals, dogs, cats and parrots, because the breed of a dog diffiently defines its personality.
What would I want to pay. Here's some old cliches' You get what you pay for. What does simular companies in your area charge. If you have the knowledge say like the dog whisperer than you can get the big bucks. If you provide service such as at home training then you get more $$$. So my advice is before jumping into the deep end of the pool and getting over your head. Take a good long hard look to see if you have what it takes to not only deal with the peoples pets but handle owning & running a business. It takes a lot of moxy. GOOD LUCK in your endeavor.

Jode'

Answer 3

First of all i would make sure the owner and workers were trustworthy enough so i could leave my pet there. Try putting up your permit and show that your a real animal lover. The prices shouldn't be too expensive. Look around at the other pet stores around you and see how much they charge and try offering a little less. Another trick is to have some treats lying around so you can give regular customers some special treatment. Also maybe you could have an advice center for confused owners and classes to teach people how to groom the pets themselves. The best advice i can give is to always remember, quality over quantity.

Answer 4

Here are a few ideas that come to mind..

I suggest you send some of your friends into businesses like yours to find out what the competition is price-wise..then adjust your accordingly.

In terms of grooming, you want to be able to fulfill the owners request and not just do what you think looks best on the dog being clipped.

Behavioural training needs to be simple, because the majority of pet owners believe their pets are their children they will find it hard to understand that you really need to treat the pet as an animal and use extremely basic training methods etc.

Be sensitive with your clients emotions, because when pets are involved feelings are immediately heightened...i.e. be patient and gracious at all times.

Always know what breed you're dealing with, if you get it wrong (i.e. mix up a King Charles Cavalier for a Springer Spaniel) the owner will immediately have little respect for you and believe that you don't know what you're doing.

Ok, hope that helped a little, it's a pretty broad question and tough to cover everything.

Answer 5

I'd be a little suspicous if a place offered these services regarless of the type of pet. I would want someone to come to my home. I would want to be able to pay via c.card, cash or interac, price would depend on number of animals seen, qualifications of staff, problems dealt with, etc. Services and problems? Training for cats, dogs, birds, birds especially, few people are good at training their birds it seems. Proper education as to cat and dog socialization and behaviour. Teach people when the animal is dominant it is not "cute". Tips in home grooming between professional visits. Alternative approaches to medical troubles. Advice on diet and education on things like raw food for dogs, etc. Hope that helped.

Answer 6

you mean like a grooming business for pets?

it sound's like a nice idea.

well if i were, to have my cat or dog or somthing groomed, i would probley wan't to pay them about 4 to 5$ depending on how good of a job they do.

about the behavioral training, although i don't do any thing with cat's or dog's on behavioral training, i do in fact do horses.
when the animal(s) do somthing right you should offer a treat.

and you said you would give advise, too.
you mean like my dog, sleept all day, is there any thing worng with him? you mean like that kind of advise, or like would i breed my dog too some other dog?

any way i hope this help's and i hope your business goes well!!!

i think kimmyannbell has good advise, if you were to sell pet's rehoming them, it's a very nice idea!!!!!

Answer 7

i would want a place were i feel comfurtable letting my pets stay i would like a place that is not concerned of what i think its more important of making the real custemer happy the animal.

write up panflets telling everyone why you chose to work with animals. and as for price i would say make it pricey but not wallet busting
shure we like cheap when we already know results like we like to buy cheap cloths we can already see whats gonnna happpen but when i see a pricy but affordably grooming place it the one im most likly to go to.

also have a tip box there or have people fill out card or surveys asking them how your service was and what you need to improve on...

one more thing treat the animals human and as equals and if you get card or letters thanking you for a job well done make a scrap book to put in the waiting place... for an emergancy vets clinic i read one of those they were as expensive as hell but they fixed my puppy

and realesed my older dog who was like my brother from his pain there scap book gave me more confidance in them.

Answer 8

nice people, good products, and i would think for paying you would want to do cheap but not to cheap, for example like a really good grooming brush at pet-co is like 12$ if you put it a little cheaper people would want to buy yours because its a little cheaper. and for services i think if you sell animals you should ask shelters if you could help re-home some of there animals, for problems, i would like help on what kind of cage i should get or what feed is best, and you should make some care booklets on all types of animals for people with like how to care for them. hope this helps

Answer 9

I would want service to diagnose my pet with a sickness at a low cost. I would also look for potty training, obedience, and that kind of thing. Nothing way to outrageously expensive though.