Saturday, January 8, 2011

Pet Services

It has been said that one of the keys to success in business is for entrepreneurs to work in a field they enjoy or are passionate about because doing so ensures that an entrepreneur would enjoy what he is doing, which would make putting in the necessary work to ensure the success of the business not seem like work at all. This is true for most people because of the fact that people tend to work more or work harder when they enjoy what they are doing. For people who have a passion for animals, there are business opportunities that they can take advantage of that center around pets and pet care.

Among the different business opportunities that are open for animal lovers, perhaps the most lucrative opportunities and utmost fulfillment are those that involve providing pet services. This is because apart from the huge demand for such services, the interaction between those running the business, the pet owners, and their pets can give animal lovers a chance to very close to some of the most lovable and charming animals. One of these opportunities include starting up a pet sitting or pet day care services, which can be very lucrative given that there is a huge demand for such services, especially in urban areas. Another example of such a business opportunity is starting up a pet grooming service, which can also be very lucrative because such a service provides pet owners a convenient way to care for their pets. Other business opportunities that involve providing pet services include putting up an online pet supply store that also offer helpful information with regard to taking care of pets, putting up an animal boutique, and putting up a pet bakery.

Nowadays, animal lovers can do a job that they love. This is especially true with regard to businesses that aim to provide different pet services. This is because apart from the huge demand for various pet services like grooming and pet day care services, these kinds of businesses also allow business owners to interact with other animal lovers and with the animals they are passionate about and love.

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Ways to Start a Pet Sitting or Dog Walking Business

Are you thinking of starting your own pet sitting or dog walking business?
Here is a great starting point:
Step by step instructions to getting set up for success!
  • Decide what sort of services you would like to offer. Many will start out offering pet sitting and dog walking then will branch out as suggestions from current clients roll in. Once you are secure with the pet sitting and dog walking end of it, start branching.
  • If you have a lot of competition in your area, offer something to set yourself apart from others. One thing I offered in my business was a coming home service. I would charge a small fee to run to the grocery store and pick up some milk, bread and any other fresh item for my client so they do not need to bother with that. I did that because I know how much I hate coming home and having to stop at the supermarket.

 

  • Once you know what you want to offer, it is time to set up the business.

 

  • First, you need to set up a business name before you can get a license or go any further. Your name should be catchy. You want your potential clients to look over all the other "common" and "cutesy" names and go straight to yours. The trick to being at the top of the list is to start your name with the letter "A". Having a name that ties you to the community works best, in my opinion. For example, if you live in Westtown, you can call your business, "A+ Westtown Pet Care". Just make sure no one else took that name first. Try to get creative as well. There are tons of Pampered Pets and such. They have been played out enough. Move on to something else.

 

  • Now that you have a name, you can get licensed. Here is a link to the SBA, to see if you need a business license in your state. Just find your state and click on it. Many will just need to register with the state and will not need a license, but it varies....http://www.sba.gov/hotlist/license.html . After you check with your state, try your local, township office. Sometimes, they want to know about your business as well and you may need approval. Just make sure all ground is covered so you don't run into any surprises. I actually went to a township meeting this month and they discussed another individual wanting to start a business selling cars on EBay. He said the cars would be in a garage and never seen by neighbors, but he still needed to get approval. This surprised me. I never thought about township approval.

 

  • Once you are licensed, it is time to set up the paperwork part of your business. You will need a service contract for your clients to sign. You will need a report card to record what you did during visits. You will need a way to track medications you may need to administer, you will need instruction sheets on how to take care of the pets and the home. Those are the most important and "necessary" forms you will need. Sound overwhelming? Do you have the time and skill to develop these forms? Don't fret. Go to http://www.businessformsstore.com/ . All these forms are there for you as well as more you may need. The kick with these forms is that they come personalized. They will come with your business name and logo if you have one. They also have many flyers to choose from which will also have your business name and phone number on it. When you are ready to hire employees or independent contractors, you can get those forms there as well. When I developed my forms, it took me, literally, months of research and design and I am pretty creative. It was tough. That is why they are now offered to you all!

Alright, now you have a business name, license and the paperwork. You are getting closer...

  • Next you need insurance. Insurance is a MUST. There are so many things you can run into and you should be protected. You may think you can get away with it, but, Murphy's Law, something will happen when you are not prepared. Insurance is pretty cheap, running less than $200/year. You can get insurance from your local carrier if offered or you can get from a specialist. Most pet sitters will go through organizations to get their insurance, like PSI or NAPPS. I used Pet Sitters Associates, LLC. It skipped over all the bureaucratic nonsense I didn't want. It is strictly insurance. They say it is a membership, but I never got hassled with anything, so I liked it. PSI and NAPPS require you to be a member of their organization, which runs around $200/year. Then you have to pay for the insurance policy which runs around $200. Pet Sitters Associates, LLC is just a flat rate of $164 which includes membership and insurance. PSI and others have an accreditation test to take and more. I never signed up for any of those, so can't really tell you much. You should definitely check it out ALL insurance carriers to see the benefits of each and decide on your own.

Here are the websites:

Pet Sitters Associates, LLChttp://www.petsitllc.com/

PSI: http://www.petsit.com/

NAPPShttp://www.petsitters.org/Insurance/insurance_index.htm

Napps and PSI use Insurers of the Carolinas. You can check them out directly at http://www.petsitterinsurance.com/ .

 

  • Next is bonding. Now, bonding is not necessary if you are working alone. If you have employees, you would want it. Bonding is there to protect your company against employee theft. Some bonding companies, however, will include the owner as an employee and, therefore, you will be covered. Make sure you check on this. The way bonding works is if your client accuses you or an employee of theft, the police are involved. If you or an employee are convicted of the crime, the bond pays out and you then repay the bond. Some clients want you to be covered and people will get it as a marketing tool. It is up to you if you want to purchase it. Pet Sitters Associates, LLC offers a special additional coverage which will cover theft and accidents. It is around $95/year. The special part of that is it is like bonding, only you don't have to pay it back and don't have to get convicted. Check out http://www.petsitllc.com/ for more information.

Okay, you are bonded, licensed, insured and physically ready to start. Now you need to get clients...

 

Marketing is the trickiest, most frustrating and time-consuming part of this business. Once you get some clients, the ball will start rolling more by word-of-mouth, but for now, you need to advertise...

  • Flyers are the cheapest and are best for getting just your immediate area. Go get your personal flyer at http://www.businessformsstore.com/ and start distributing. You can't put them in people's mailboxes without going through the post office...it is illegal. But, you can put them on people's doors and cars. The best places I have found are the pet food stores...not only PetSmart or Petco but local smaller stores. Pet Stores also work good. Post office bulletin boards are great and so are supermarkets. Basically, anywhere you go which has a bulletin board, put your flyer there. The best would be a Vet offices. If they offer boarding, you may want to get on their good side so they will refer their clients to you especially when they are booked.
  • Another good advertising technique is the community newspaper. It is cheap, about $10/week and everyone gets one for free.
  • After that we go up in price. Getting in the yellow pages is expensive and you can only get in at the right time of the year when they are publishing their new book. Call for rates.
  • A website has been proven to be the best marketing tool.  Website design can range from free to $500.  As long as you are on the web, that is what matters most.  How you would like to appear would make the cost go up.  That is a personal choice. 
  • Not only having your own website, but getting listed on the internet on places such as Google Maps and Yahoo Local will help tremendously with your marketing.
  • Home Business Forms has compiled a list of places where you can do Internet advertising for free. Click here. You can also get a directory listing in the Pet Care Directory with a purchase.

Alright, now you are advertised and you should be getting that first call any day now...but what are you going to get asked and are you ready to answer questions?

 

  • They are going to first ask what your rates are. Do you know what you want to charge? Keep it simple. I see people charging flat rates to all these extras. Don't confuse your potential clients and don't make it seem more difficult. This will turn them away. Be straight to the point. This is what I did... I charged $1o for a 15 minute visit, $15 for a 30 minute visit and $20 for an hour. Now, keep in mind this was 5 years ago and gas certainly wasn't even close to this expensive. I did this to make things easy. If a client just has a cat, you want a simple, cheap alternative for them. If they have 5 cats, 4 dogs and 2 rabbits, you know it will take some time for you to clean litter, cages, feed, water and then give them attention, so you know the $10 and even $15 rate doesn't apply. If you are going to service a larger area, you may want to do a mileage surcharge, but that is up to you. Even though gas prices are up, your really are not spending too much more per day. Maybe a dollar or too. Work it out. You will see. If you want to offer extra services as optional to try to make more money, that would work just fine. For example, pooper scooper. You may want to charge $5 per day or per trip, it depends on how many and how big the dogs are. If you want to charge extra for watering their garden for them, you can do that. Have all you want to offer and rates written out and ready for their call.

 

  • They will ask you what is included in the pet sit. Make sure you have a list of that also. For example, you may offer free mail and newspaper pick up, free light alteration, free trash to curb, etc. Be prepared to talk about your services. You should also tell them what you will be doing with the pet, which is what they do everyday to keep the pet in it's same routine. This is the purpose of having a pet sitter over boarding. Home Business Forms has a great pet sitting package which includes all you will need. In this package is a telephone reservation form and pet and client instruction sheet. You will use these to document all they will be requesting.

 

  • They will ask you if you have insurance and bonding. They may ask some specific coverage questions. I have a Q&A on the yahoo group PetProabout this. Go to http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/PetPro/ to sign up and read about these coverage questions. This is also a good support group for those just starting out and those already pet sitting.

 

  • Lastly, hopefully, they will ask if you are available and will book you!

 

It may seem overwhelming reading this, but it will become second nature once you get started.

For more information on this business and other aspects of pet care, go to http://www.businessformsstore.com/. This website covers areas such as pet sitting, dog walking, boarding/kenneling, in-home boarding, aquarium maintenance, pet taxi, house sitting and so much more. When you visit the website be sure to go to each category and click on the FAQs and also read the newsletter archives. All of this information is discussed in more detail over there. You can also email Stacy with any questions.

Good luck with your business endeavors!

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Types of Dogs for Seniors

Dogs are company and good companions for seniors who live alone or even senior couples. A dog gives them someone to love and lavish attention on. 
You should consider size and temperament of the dog breed when choosing a dog for yourself or someone else. Also, remember that each dog or puppy will have his own personality and traits. Visit a breeder that has the dog breed you want and check out the puppies or dogs and play with them.
Smaller toy dogs are usually a good choice. Most of them are lap dogs and don't require a lot of exercise, can live in an apartment or even a RV quite comfortably. 
So here are some dogs good with seniors to consider: 

Miniature Schnauzer

There are two sizes: miniature and standard. They enjoy being around people and are very affectionate. They like companionship and are eager to please. They do require a brief walk and regular grooming. 

Shih Tzu

There are two sizes: miniature and standard. They enjoy being around people and are very affectionate. They like companionship and are eager to please. They do require a brief walk and regular grooming. 

Chihuahua

This toy breed is well suited for seniors. They bond with their owner and are very protective of them. They were bred to be a companion. They require lots of attention but they are quick intelligent and loyal. They do make a good guard dog.
Yorkshire Terrier

This cute toy dog is a lovable and lively companion. He is highly energetic, clever, fearless and a lap dog. They get along quite well with the exercise they get indoors. They do need daily brushing, however. 

Poodle

This dog loves to be pampered and loves the company of people. They are happy, highly intelligent and very trainable. A good choice for seniors. 

BOSTON TERRIER
This small and friendly dog is mellow and protective. This would make seniors feel secure and safe. They are playful and affectionate which makes them also a good choice for families as they like to be part of the family. 

Pomeranians

The Pom is considered a toy dog but he is fearless. He makes a courageous companion just right for seniors. They are intelligent, happy, even-tempered and have acute hearing. They do enjoy being pampered and are highly trainable. 

SCOTTISH TERRIER
He is a small short-legged dog with a jaunty attitude. He is loving and gentle with people. They are alert, loyal, curious and a sensitive dog. He does need daily exercise.

Here are some more articles.

Puppy Training

Dog Training Is Fun!

Early Dog Training Is Essential. Not all dog training is created equal, and is more than just telling your dog to stop behaving the way he is right now; it's one of the most important fundamentals of owning a pet. The important thing about dog training is to get started today because tomorrow the naughty behaviour will just continue.

Do you know that the key to successful dog training is getting your new pet to understand you? Dog training is for every dog or puppy and is not breed specific, it's more a temperament and drive specific thing. It's the process of training your dog to display certain specific acceptable dog behavior in various circumstances.

Basic dog training is available for most all breeds. Performing the correct dog training is something that will better your relationship with your dog. Dog training is definitely not rocket science and is easier than you would expect particularly if you can get help from a good dog training book or guide. Dog training is a must for ALL dogs large or small.

The final major mistake we all make is thinking that the dog training is over. The main advantage of traditional dog training is the high reliability of the trained behaviors. Other advantages are that positive dog training is easy to understand and fun to carry out. The thing needed in training your dog is what most experts define as "positive reinforcement". This is a method of rewarding the dog or puppy when they do something "right" and leads to them wanting to do the right thing all the time.

Dog and Puppy House Training Stops Them Piddling And Pooping in the Wrong Places.

Raising a Puppy and Basic Dog Training is best started with a puppy. House breaking a puppy is an integral part of dog training and will control this behaviour for their lifetime. Did you recently acquire a puppy that you want to train? Some important things to keep in mind when training your puppy are gentle reinforcement, both positive and negative, always consistency and lots of initial practice. If you have a puppy, you must start training him or her early, and do it gently and correctly.

Do you want to teach your dog or puppy some useful commands and amazing tricks? Have you ever wondered what exactly is up with puppy in-home training? There is no time like the present for training (or re-training) a puppy or adult dog to fit into your human world. Puppy Training is for every dog, regardless of breed, size or temperament.

Dog Obedience Training and Behavior Modification. Behavior (or obedience) dog and puppy training is very important in today's society because many people take their dogs everywhere they go. When your dog does something wrong or that is an undesired behavior, do NOT reinforce that behavior. Our recommended training course can effectively and humanely correct unwanted behavior, as well as establish proper behavior and respect. There is no question that behavior is reward driven, so always make sure to properly reward your dog when they do something acceptable.

Does your dog have some behavior that you just can't find a way to stop? This type of bad behavior could have been avoided with early dog obedience training. But it's never too late to start!

Solutions for all behavior problems, including aggression towards people and other animals.

Training allows caregivers to safely and humanely control their dog's behavior and help them fit in better with their human partners. When you have a dog or puppy, dog obedience training can make a large difference in stopping or solving behavioral problems. Dog Obedience Training is a must when you want your dog listen to you. This is very important when you're out on the street or in a public park.

Obedience and agility training for all dogs.

This helps to teach it more dependency on others and obedience to you. A new and novel approach to dog obedience training. Using rewards during obedience training is a very valuable tool. Training collars can be used to teach basic obedience training, advanced training, and sport dog training. Visit our site at www.FastBreaking.info to learn more about dog obedience tips and more. The important thing about dog training is to get started today. Effective dog training is not a mere option.

Free Dog Training Tip:

Dog Training is an INVESTMENT in your dog and your home. Although Dove Creswell's Puppy & Dog Training Online training course is a dog-training online system, it is not like any other. We highly recommend it!


Here are some links to articles about puppy training

Pet Theft and Insurance Cover

Panic then hits home, you think to yourself, i hope they have not run away or got lost and in an instant you start to worry an panic until a little later after many calls of their name or making that familiar noise with their food bowl, they finally come bounding back which then makes you feel happy and relieved once again.

So how do you think you would feel one day if your favourite pet did not return to you?

Pet theft accounts today for about two million companion pets stolen each year from their owners homes or whilst in parks or off the street. Recent crime statistics released state that pet theft has overtaken mobile phone and i pod robberies to become the most rapidly growing crime in the UK.

Some are taken under false pretense and sold through ads, abducted from their owners yards, or taken from pet care shelters called pound seizure. These animals are then sold to research laboratories or dog fighting rings where they are often abused and sometimes killed.

There are many organised criminal gangs at large scouting areas looking to abduct pets for ransom reasons. If the owner does not pay up then the pets are usually killed or let loose many hundreds of miles away from the area of abduction. Cats are especially vulnerable to abduction as they are small and make little noise when stolen.

If this happened to you, then you would want the very best help as quickly as possible. VPI Pet Insurance care cover is a must if you want the very best assistance in this situation. These VPI Pet Insurance policies cover legal assistance where a private investigation team could work on your behalf to retrieve your pet as quickly as possible for you.

They work closely with the local police and investigate thoroughly and are professionals at what they do. Usually these pet abduction gangs are run by well known criminals who can be familiar to the police, so this information is released over to the specialist team working on your behalf who can carry out surveillance of the pet abduction gangs,looking for your pet.

If a ransom note is received, the specialist vpi pet insurance team will take over the operation so you wont ever need to come face to face with any criminal minds. Some VPI pet insurance policies also cover the ransom amounts up to a specified and agreed figure with the customer.

In the unfortunate instance that your pet is never returned, the vpi pet insurance company will offer you anything from £500 to £1500 for the value of your pet, usually the only condition in your policy will be evidence that your pet has been missing for thirty to ninety days.

Included in many vpi pet insurance policies are the covering costs of advertising in your area and local newspapers for your lost pets safe return. These pet care policies also pay for the costs of offering a reward to anyone with information or return of your pet.

VPI Pet Insurance services offer high street name pet insurance cover companies like Sainsbury, Pet Plan, Marks & Spencer, Argos and the RSPCA to name only a few. The best way to find or even if your just considering this pet care insurance is to use the internet. On the internet you can obtain quotes from all these different companies in a matter of a few minutes.

Many VPI Pet insurance companies also offer anything up to 10% discount if you buy online which can result in great savings. We recommend that you shop around on the internet between the various online pet care companies as you will be surprised what you could save on each policy offered.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Herbert

Here are some links to more articles about Pet theft Insurance

Chewing Puppies and Dogs

There could be many reasons your puppy or dog is chewing. First, be sure he is healthy so have your vet check him out. Aside normal instinct for puppies to chew there is a medical condition that could be causing your dog to eat non-food items in an attempt to deal with nausea.

Second, do you have a dog breed that tends to chew a lot? Some dog breeds are bred for hunting like retrievers so they have a predisposition to chew things.

Third, is there a change in his daily living lately? Dogs like the same routine. This stress could come out in chewing everything in sight.

Fourth, is your dog bored? Does he get enough attention? Dogs like being around people so spend time with him. Be sure he gets plenty of time outside and exercise.

However, if he is just following his natural instincts and a part of a puppy's development to chew like puppies do there are things you can do.

Puppy proof his environment as much as you can to prevent this behavior. Put leather items and shoes away. Also put dangerous items away like poisonous houseplants, household chemicals, electrical cords, etc that could cause harm to your puppy.

It is important you give your puppy a toy specifically for chewing. Of course, give your puppy the right size of toy for his size, a variety of chewing toys and rotate them. Do not give him a chew toy that is similar to a household item.

You can try commercial anti-chew sprays, a small amount of cayenne pepper mixed with water or a mixture of one part vinegar and six parts of water to items to shop chewing. (Test first for discoloration)

When he does chew on his toys be sure to reward him. Train your puppy early by saying "no" when you find him chewing on something he should not be and take the item away from him. Try saying "no' and spray him with a water bottle or a light tap on his nose.

Another way that seems effective is crate training.

One final note. You do not want to stop your puppy or dog from chewing altogether
Since is a healthy habit for him.

Here are some links to more articles

Reasons to Teach Your Dog Tricks

Sit! Roll over! Jump! Teaching your dog tricks might not be the easiest thing in the world, but it's highly beneficial to you and your dog. Teaching your dog tricks can help strengthen your relationship with your beloved pet in many ways. Below are some great reasons why you should start teaching your dog tricks.

1. Make everyone safe- While learning to teach your dog tricks, you learn many training techniques which can also be used to gain control over your dog. Teaching him basic tricks like sit and stay can also be used in life situations like crossing the street or entering a store.

2. Give Your Dog Something to Do- It doesn't take long before your dog gets bored and decides to take on a new hobby of chewing anything in sight, including your brand new sofa. Teaching your dog tricks will keep him focused on the task at hand, and will entertain him for hours!

3. Help Keep Your Dog's Mind Sharp- Training your dog will keep his mind active and responsive. As dogs get older they become less physically active, but learning tricks will keep his mind active and alert. 

4. Help Create a Better Bond between You and Your Dog- Your dog will look up to you as being the pack leader, and will listen to you instead of trying to get your attention in destructive ways. Best of all, once your dog learns tricks you two become a team when training or performing.

5. Show Off- You can show off your dog if you teach it some cool tricks, and your dog will get people's attention. Dogs love attention and they love being in the spotlight so they will like performing in front of your friends and family. Of course, you will also get the recognition of being a star trainer.

6. Make Vet Check Ups Easier- Both the veterinarian and you hate it when your dog can't control itself during a check up. If you teach it to be calm during the check up, it will make both of your lives easier, and you won't be embarrassed that your dog is acting up.

7. Gives Your Dog a Hobby- We all have hobbies we like to do such as watching TV or playing games, but dogs also need things to do. Training dog tricks is great to do on rainy days when you can't take him for a walk.

If these reasons have inspired you to teach your dog tricks, then you've come to the right place. Dog Trick Academy and our community is devoted to help teach your dog tricks, we keep it fun and entertaining!

Here are more link about training dogs.

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