How to Become a Dog Daycare Specialist

Dog daycare specialists are the go-to for families seeking friendly people to look after their pups. From getting the right qualifications to having the perfect personality and skills, there are a few different things to know about becoming a dog daycare specialist. We give you the lowdown. 

In what is a busy, demanding and exciting sector, running a dog daycare franchise could be the ideal opportunity for you to take your career into your own hands. But with so many people looking to make such an exciting change, how can you make sure you’re the best dog daycare specialist around? 

What does a dog daycare specialist do? 

Dog specialists are the main contacts behind the day-to-day running of dog daycare franchises. From taking responsibility for overseeing and processing the financial accounts of the franchise to bringing in new team members and making sure that high and exacting standards continue to be met - dog daycare specialists have a varied role. 

But of course, much of the time, being a dog daycare specialist is taken up by working closely with dogs and their owners. You’ll not only need to be confident working with dogs and their owners, but ideally have some qualifications to prove it - as well as having a friendly and warm way with people. 

You are the focal point for the forward energy of the business, so no two days will ever be the same. 

How to become a dog daycare specialist

So many people dream of becoming a dog care specialist, but only a few people can actually do it. If you want to turn this dream into a reality, here are some practical steps you can take to push your chances. 

1. Get qualified 

You don’t necessarily need any qualifications to make a go of things as a dog care specialist, but it certainly won’t do you any harm either. You could look at getting some different qualifications to establish trust and prove to your potential customers you are what you say you are. Even if you don’t have these qualifications, your franchisor may even let you study towards them. If this sounds good, consider studying for one of the following: 

• Level 2 Certificate of Technical Competence in Dog Walking
• Level 2 Certificate of Technical Competence in Pet Sitting
• Level 2 Certificate of Technical Competence in Animal Health, Husbandry and Handling
• Level 3 Certificate of Technical Competence in Animal Nutrition

Again, there’s no obligation to get a qualification, but it’s certainly something that could help develop your own personal skills. 

2. Pick the right franchise for you

A lot of the success of individual franchisees comes down to what franchise you work with. There are lots of different franchisees out there that you could choose to work with, but not all of them will be a good fit for you, so before you sign on the dotted line, ask yourself the following questions and assess to what extent some franchises will be a better fit for you.

• How much additional training and support will you need? 
• What are your financial constraints? Will you need third-party support? 
• How many franchise units will you be expected to run? 
• How flexible will you be able to work? 
• Do you agree and buy into the ethos of the franchise? 

Based on this research, you will be left with a good idea as to which franchises are a better fit for you and which ones aren’t. If you were looking for a good place to begin your inquiries, why not take a closer look at franchises such as Pet Stay, Barking Mad or Dogknows? Each of these exciting franchises will have different levels of investment to meet and will in turn offer different levels of support and mentoring. 

3. Develop your own skills

Your franchise business will only be as strong as yourself and your employees. In a customer-facing business such as this, you’ll be earning your trade on the basis of excellent customer service, great results and creating a beneficial overall experience for everyone involved. This business really will come down to you.

When it comes to recruitment, ongoing development and even just brushing up on your skills as they currently are, becoming a dog daycare specialist is as much about you as it is anything else. Some useful skills could be:

• Organisation 
• Good business sense
• An eye for recruitment 
• Knowledge of how to create a good customer experience 
• A friendly and welcoming way with people
• Confidence when working with dogs and a commitment to reaching exacting standards

4. Commit to a long-term business 

Ultimately, running a franchise is about developing a long-term business that reaps profits and satisfaction in equal measure. Running a business is never easy, but if you’re willing to put in the hard miles and give it everything, being your own boss and starting a dog daycare franchise could be a life-changing opportunity for you. 

Become a dog daycare specialist today

Becoming a specialist in your industry is as good as it gets. Once you’ve learnt all the tricks of the trade, you’ll be in a great position to start your own business. If you’re looking for more advice, keep looking on Point Franchise as there are dozens of guides to help you along the franchising journey. But, if you don’t feel like this is the right sector for you, have a look at the UK franchise directory for a complete list of other franchise opportunities.