The perfect holiday marketing strategy for profits and exceptional pet care!

This is the time of year that pets are given as gifts, and pet parents spoil their little furry friends with gifts, toys, treats and luxuries.

As a pet care business owner, it is easy to see the opportunity for gift items…if you dig a little deaper you can tap into a way to not only support pet owners but acquire new clients in the process.

In addition to the usualy Holiday discounts and pet accessory sales what you do to market your business during the holiday season differentiates your business-establishing you as the pet care leader in your community?

I’ve listed a few of my favorite Unity Dog holiday marketing strategies below (for more great ideas visit our services page):

• Design an elder visit package

The elder visit package is a customized service that involves you or a staff member along with a well balanced, mild mannored dog visiting the ederly in their homes, at nursing homes or retirement communities.

The program can be tailored to be sold to individual families or retirement communities.  What family wouldn’t love to be able to send their mother, father or grandparent a gift of a visit and an adorable dog?

The visit lifts spirits and improves the state of mind of the recipient - truly an invaluable gift.

• Create a new puppy potty training program

What a blessing it would be if the new puppy mommy and daddy were planning to bring home for the holidays already had a head start on potty training.  Think of the stress reduction for the new puppy owner.  Your program could incorporate in home or in your store potty training sessions.

If you accept puppies in your store who have not completed their puppy shots - you must provide a safe place to work with the puppy away from other dogs in your care.

The program does not have to guarantee potty training by the Holidays.  A jump start on potty training along with continued support after the family brings the new puppy into their home is a valuable gift.

• Obedience before Christmas program

In a similar vein as the puppy potty training program, you can offer a basic obedience program for the new dog or puppy that can be performed with or without the initial participation of the new pet owners.

In this way, you not only help the puppy get a head start on obedience, regardless if the new pet owners are willing to make time to attend an obedience class, but you also almost assuradly guarantee that the parents will attend a future obedience class.

If the pet care owner knows the puppy already understands basic obedience, they may be more inclined to attend an obedience class to learn the commands for themselves.   Either way, you have given the new puppy a much stronger chance of staying in the new families home.

All three of these unity dog marketing strategies are designed for optimal benefit.  Revenue generation, acquisition of new clients, client retention and client skills development.

All required elements of a successful pet care business and successful pet care ownership.

Warm Holiday Waggles,
Fran
fran@dogbusinessdaily.com

Little Olive to those who love her.

We picked up our rescue puppy today and if someone doesn’t adopt her soon - I am going to need a bigger bed!

(find more videos at YouTube under my screen name UnityDog)

She is sweet, very smart, good with dogs, even better with people, great with children. We have had an amazing day getting to know this little bundle of soft fur. She loves to be in my lap, can hold her own with Lucy and had 5 kids around to play with, 3 of them under 3 years old and she was wonderful.

She needs someone who has time to work with her. With all the smarts comes potential that needs to be realized. She is also a high energy pup - needs to play and run. Take a look at the videos we shot of her today and contact me via email with a phone and best time to contact with any questions. She has one more round of shots, due in two weeks. fran@dogbusinessdaily.com

CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO SEE FULL SIZE

Pet care professionals - it is that time of year again…

Fun and candy for all little ghosts and goblins. But what about our four legged friends? Shouldn’t this holiday be special for the souls who bring us unconditional love, joy and wet noses?

Many pet care businesses promote the holidays as a way to generate income and we are going to suggest adding a candy cane twist. This Halloween, why not do something for the less fortunate pup in your community.

Imagine having to watch all the other neighborhood dogs don their capes and fancy costumes and have no where to go and no one to play with on this very spooky night. What if our local doggy day care opened its spooky doors to the canine community - all would be welcome, even those without the resourceful parents to make goolish costumes.

Have a bobbing for critters bowl and hobo hats to give out to the dogs without costumes. No dog should spend Paw-olleen alone. Take this opportunity, where treats and goodies are the topic of the day to talk about Canine Cavities and Dental Hygiene. You could hold a “how to brush your dogs teeth” clinic. Let’s face it - Halloween is just too spooky to be left alone with ghosts and goblins roaming the streets.

Keep our communities dogs safe and secure this Halloween. Make sure you promote dog safe treats and dog safety during the “haunting hours”.

Have a panting good time!

Waggles,

Fran

fran@dogbusinessdaily.com

NOTICE: Pet care professionals - please spread the word to your customers…

Mars has issued a recall for several of their branded products including Pedigree for:

Potential Salmonella Contamination.

Please visit: http://www.petcare.mars.com for details.

Take preventive measures by bleaching feeding areas, food containers, bowls and preparation areas. Be sure to notify your clients. Post a bulletin in your storefronts. Send out e-mails - with signs and symptoms to be on the lookout for.

Pet sitters - Be pro-active…check your clients brand of food and take the initiative to call clients who’s food may be affected.

One sick dog is one too many.

One sick dog can spread throughout your client base quickly. Be sure to always practice good hygiene. Wash and sanitize your hands before and after each client visit. It is our responsibility to protect the animals in our care.

We should not be responsible for causing harm or spreading disease by lax hygiene practices or inaction. Advise and act as if your own pet were at risk…she may be!

Do the good work and be a blessing to your clients.

Happy 4th of July to all!

It is especially important for pet care business owners to take extra measures to care for their pet sitting, kennel and doggy day care dogs this weekend.

Any time dogs are going to be left alone - whether in a day care, kennel or in their own homes we need to take precautions to be sure the animals are safe and comforted. Dog Kennels and doggy day cares should know whether fireworks will be shot off in the vicinity and take care to shield their dogs from the noise.

Pet sitters who are caring for dogs while their owners are traveling out of town need to rally the troops and do their due diligence to identify homes where pets are especially sensitive to the noise or whose homes are close to a fireworks display.

Fireworks can be dangerous and scary for dogs.

Please take extra precautions this weekend - go above and beyond what your clients expect. Think of ways you can reduce the dogs stress. Pet sitters should get permission from the owners to leave a radio or CD with soothing music playing during the peak fireworks hours.

Doggy day cares and kennels can pipe in soothing music and even schedule extra staff time to occupy the dogs with play and activity to get them through with the least amount of stress.

Pet sitters, If you can - stay with the pets that are at risk of the most stress. If you don’t already know if a dog is afraid of fireworks - it is something you should be asking owners.

Don’t be afraid to call an owner you are scheduled to sit for at this late date. They will appreciate how conscientious you are.

Ask if there is a particular place in the home the pet goes to when frightened and be sure the dog has access to this area. For example, my beagle, Bailey hangs out in my walk in closet. I have a doggy bed in there for her.

Any loud noise and she heads for the closet where she feels safe. She gets all snuggled in and falls asleep in her bed in the corner of the closet. If someone, like a cleaning crew, accidentally closed the closet door - she would be unable to get to her safe place.

Getting to know your clients and their pets is the best way to identify ways to go above and beyond in service. Communication is key.

Have a safe and tail wagging fun 4th.

As pet care business owners we are not only obligated to care for and protect the animals entrusted to us by our clients. It is our responsibility to be alert for and take action on animal cruelty in our communities.

As a group The Humane Society, animal shelters, ASPCA and pet care business owners there is no one else as acutely aware of the animals residing in our communities. Dog sitters are out and about in the community, even more so than animal protection….just due to the number of sitters compared to the animal protection agency.

We can and must be the eyes and ears for Animal Protection in our community. In an effort to help support your communities animal safety efforts I have received permission to publish the ASPCA’s list of State Anti-Cruelty Investigatory and Arrest Powers.

Please refer to your state’s regulations and contact information and be aware of opportunities to protect the animals in your community.

Good Morning Dog Care Business Owners,

It is a wonderful world where we get to play with dogs for a living. Our commitment and love for animals is an honorable and worthy life purpose. The best of what we offer is the ability to serve our communities …and when our mission is one of service and love we can be rewarded financially.

Today I want to talk about the summer season and potential risk for dogs and children and how you can help serve your community through eduction.

Summer time means more pets and children outdoors together. The potential for dog bites increase significantly when children fearlessly approach strange dogs.

Remember, our marketing strategies are always consistent with the greater good. Actions and strategies we recommend serve the dog business owner and the client or community.

So, take this opportunity to run a clinic to teach parents and children how to safely approach a dog.
Explain the risk of a dog biting and teach children to respect dogs. Help children to establish a non-threatening dominant stance when around dogs.

Help keep children in your community safe this summer. When you do you are also protecting dogs and increasing your value to your community.

This is an all too real side of the business we like to think of as warm and fuzzy. As a Doggy Day Care Business Owner (Dog Sitter, Doggy Day Care or Dog walker) you know that providing for the safety of the dogs in your care is a real part of your obligation.

We all know that dogs who regularly participate in Doggy Day Care are less likely to attack people or other dogs; and while reported incidents of serious dog injuries are relatively rare-fights do happen. The reality is that in an environment where dogs with varying social skills interact - fights are an inevitable part of the equation.

As a Doggy Day Care Business Owner I am more concerned with how you prevent fights and how you are prepared to handle them if/when they do occur.

There was a horrific attack at a Doggy Day Care in Springfield over the holidays. If you haven’t read the story - read it here and then come back and comment on what measures you have in place to prevent and confront a similar situation.

If I were a client of this Doggy Day Care or a Dog Owner in the community I can tell you right now that I would not entrust the care of my beloved dogs to them after reading this story.

I am an obsessive “parent” - I am certain even if the answers to all of my safety questions were satisfactory - you can be assured that I would have “popped” in from time to time to see if my baby was supervised as promised; and to be assured there weren’t too many dogs per day care provider.

I recommend that all of my Pet Care Business Owner clients take the initiative to give their clients peace of mind when entrusting an animal to their care. Show them you have the ability and strategies in place to safely care for their animals. One suggestion I make is to install a web cam and keep it live in the Doggy Day Care.

When you have nothing to hide - it only serves your best interest.

In addition, I recommend inviting your clients to “pop” in on you anytime. You welcome the opportunity to build their trust.

Pet Care Businesses are popping up everywhere we turn. Many business owners are animal lovers who want to turn a passion into a business but sadly do not know enough to create a safe environment for the animals. Business owners need to make sure their business meets certain standards. Professionals stand out in a crowd and prosper no matter how many new competitors pop up in the neighborhood.

Pet Care Insurance is necessary but in no way should possessing liability coverage for negligence replace competent, professional care. You need more than a love of dogs, a business license, insurance and a room to call yourself a doggy day care! Educating your clients and prospective clients about what to look for in doggy day care only sets you up as an authority.

Make sure that your daycare rooms are clean, roomy, well-ventilated and visible to the outside world in some way, via a large window or even better a webcam. Insist on strict cleanliness measures. Stay on top of your employees to clean up quickly after the dogs and practice sanitary measures to lower the chance for disease (clean toys, water bowls, use of stainless steel bowls…).

If you don’t require up-to-date dog vaccinations with proof - you are not a serious business owner and need to go back to serving fries!

Invest time getting to know your prospective clients. It does not serve anyone’s interests to accept any pet who’s owner is willing to hand over a credit card. Require that your clients dogs are well socialized and not aggressive.

Do you have a veterinarian on staff or on call? You certainly need to have waivers signed by your clients in case emergency medical treatment is required. Provide your clients with a disaster plan: what is your procedure in an emergency, such as an earthquake, hurricane etc.

Of primary concern in the Dog Attack incident is this business owners’ apparent lack of preparation for swiftly and safely dealing with the situation. Punching dogs until your hand breaks is a horrifying solution. What preventive measures do you employ to avoid fights? What systems do you have in place to swiftly deal with a fight that breaks out?

This business owners apparent lack of involvement with the treatment and recovery of the injured animal is even more disturbing. I am certain there is a real legal fear of accepting blame or responsibility, however, as a business owner your response to a terrible situation like this is as important if not more than the incident itself.

In an effort to support doggy day care owners and businesses that employ the staff, systems and skills to safely care for man’s best friend we have established the Pet Care Safety Association.

Prior to the Pet Care Safety Association there was no single place to search for such information as dog attacks at day cares; to find a doggy day care that complies with minimum safety procedures; or to easily identify a safe haven for your dog at a doggy day care staffed with competent help.

Visit us at: www.PetCareSafetyAssociation.com

The Association will provide a safe Pet Care Professional list for pet owners to search; it will also provide a single source for Pet Care Owners and Professionals to find & report on pet care safety issues including….

• Report Doggy Day Care Safety Issues
• Research feedback on Doggy Day Care’s in their community
• Get Safety Certified (see site for more information & benefits)
  • Certified Doggy Day Care Centers get listed on our site
  • Dog Owners can locate Businesses with Safe Doggy Care Seal
  • Use of Seal of Certification on all marketing materials including websites
  • Your Certification Helps improve Doggy Care throughout the US