DailyFranchiseNews.com

Affording Your Four-Legged Friend

Times are tight and, unfortunately, many Americans are being forced to choose between paying their rent and paying for pet expenses. Thankfully, Central Bark Doggy Day Care co-founder Jackie Jordan provided the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel with some great tips on how to better afford your dog on any salary.

Stock up: Many dog food companies offer frequent buyer programs that reward loyal customers with perks, she says. Fromm dog food offers a frequent-buyer program giving customers one free bag for every 12 purchased. Find additional discounts online at DoggieCoupon.com.

Check your credit: "Ask your veterinarian about a weekly or monthly payment plan option to temporarily defer the cost of a large bill," Jordan says.

Listen to Bob Barker: "If your dog isn’t spayed or neutered, visit your local animal shelter as many offer discounted procedures based on owner income level," Jordan says.

Share as you care: If you send your dog to day care while you work, start a car pool with other pet parents doing the same. It will save everyone gas.

Dig for deals: "Proprietors of many pet care operations understand the plight facing pet owners today and are more willing than ever to help out in terms of pricing," Jordan says.

It’s Time to Celebrate, Doggonit!

Need a place for Spot to stay during the day? What about somewhere that teaches Fido how to heel, fetch or roll over? If you’re in the Broadview Heights, Ohio area, look no further than Central Bark Doggy Day Care: It's celebrating its grand opening celebration on May 2nd!

The NEO Biz Blog reported Central Bark owner and lifelong dog lover Peggy Farrell-Kidd is inviting all leashed and socialized dogs and their owners to attend Saturday’s celebration. In addition to ongoing tours of the facility’s play areas and pet boutique, guests can observe or take part in carting, rally and obedience demonstrations and have 8” x 10” family portraits taken for free by nationally-known breeders and photographers Dale and Kerrin Churchill of DogPhoto.com. Marilyn’s Voice and Second Chances Dalmatian Rescue will also be on site, as will Broadview Heights’ mayor Sam Alai.

“My dogs are like children to me and this mentality is shared by every dog owner I’ve ever met,” said Farrell-Kidd. “I treat each dog at Central Bark like one of my own so come on by and join the family!”

To reserve your free photo from DogPhoto.com, register here prior to the event and for more information about the grand opening celebration, contact Central Bark at 440-526-2276 or visit www.centralbarkusa.com.

Photo: Peggy Farrell-Kidd with pups Phoebe, Jackson, Zasu and Joey.

Central...Oink?

Since its inception in 2003, Central Bark Doggy Day Care has been known for providing top-notch care and training to its canine clientele. This is no different at the chain’s Sheboygan outpost except that one four-legged client doesn’t bark - he oinks.

The Sheboygan Press reported Lyle – a 90-pound, silver, black and white Vietnamese miniature pot-bellied pig – already enjoys baths in the family tub and sleeping in his owners’ bed but Lyle’s owners, Jessica and Paul Falck, decided to really go to the dogs by enrolling the pig in a Central Bark obedience class. "We just want him to understand that we're the boss, because he's very pig-headed," said Jessica Falck.

After several rejections from other trainers, the Falcks finally succeeded in placing Lyle in with a group of dogs that meets every Thursday evening at Central Bark. Lyle certainly stands out among his smaller four-legged classmates, and while there's a fair amount of sniffing between the animals, Lyle is going through the same six weeks of training and doing well.

Since Lyle is considered a domesticated animal, Central Bark owner-manager Linda Gurath said he was welcome to join the class, provided he didn't become a threat to the other dogs. So far, no problem. "He has socialized with other dogs before, which is my understanding, and the dogs don't seem to mind him at all," Gurath said. "So it's working out really well and it's interesting to watch." Gurath said Lyle is on track to graduate with his class, and the Falcks are taking the training seriously. "I think he is," she said. "They're doing all the homework with him like all the parents need to do, whether it's a dog or a pot-belly pig."

Photo: Jessica Falck and Lyle in a Central Bark obedience class.

Business Opportunities Journal is BACK!

Though many publications have announced that they are decreasing their circulations or ceasing publication all together, one is going against the grain. Check out the newly-relaunched Business Opportunities Journal!

Editor Mark Adkins put together a great February issue with a focus on pet-related franchises like Central Bark Doggy Day Care. But that’s not all this month: Check out the fantastic story about Martinizing Dry Cleaning’s 60 years in business and the remarkable life of company chairman and CEO George Strike. You won’t be disappointed!

Their Businesses of Choice

Franchised businesses have always attracted a wide cross-section of people and those living in Wisconsin’s Oak Creek area are no exception.

OakCreekNOW.com reported that many area residents have taken advantage of franchising opportunities in recent years. Take Sue Ann McCotter: After 27 years working in casual claims insurance, McCotter found herself longing for a change and it was her love of dogs that drove her to open Central Bark in Oak Creek in 2006. The facility provides daily and overnight care for dogs, as well as grooming, training, retail offerings and other activities, and serves an average of 25 dogs per day. At first she thought about opening her own indoor dog park or day care, but realized launching a business from the bottom up would be a complicated, time-consuming task. When she discovered a friend was already operating a Central Bark elsewhere in Wisconsin, McCotter decided to interview for a similar franchising opportunity. It was a perfect fit, she said. “Obviously I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t really love dogs,” she said.

There are also those individuals that enjoyed their past careers and wanted to take them one step further, like brother and sister Thomas Jones and Cheryl Jones. They’d worked for Cousins Subs since 1998 – first at the restaurant level and later in their marketing office – and liked the company so much that Thomas purchased his first franchise in South Milwaukee in January 2006. He was so pleased with the results that he opened a franchise in Franklin in May 2007, and two more in Oak Creek and Greenfield in April 2008, eventually asking Cheryl to become his business partner. The duo handles everything from scheduling and payroll for their 60 employees to filling in shifts and keeping up employee morale. “It’s rewarding to know that the harder you push and work, the more profit you can make,” Thomas said.

Though operating a business is hard work, franchising can take away the risk of establishing a new brand or service from scratch; and experts say that now is a perfect time to explore the option. Phil and Patti Bowen, owners of Spring-Green Lawn Care in Oak Creek, agree and often rely on the support services franchisors provide especially since their business has doubled since they began operating it about five years ago “Our support reps are invaluable in terms of helping us know and understand how to go about what we do, and they’re always available, not just in terms of knowledge but also in relation to encouragement,” Phil said. “That type of moral support goes a long way.”

Keeping Your Canine Cozy

It’s January and in most parts of the country, it’s pretty dang cold. While people can combat the dropping temperatures with layers of clothing or a piping hot cup of coffee, their four-legged counterparts are often overlooked because of the fur coat they wear year round.

The Daily Herald reported that extreme cold can be just as harmful to pets as it is to people so Cyndi Faulkner – the owner of Central Bark Doggy Day Care in Gurnee, Illinois – provided a few helpful tips to guide your dog safely through the winter. Take a look, for Fido’s sake!

• A dog's ears are particularly susceptible to frostbite. If you suspect frostbite, warm your dog by bringing him inside and covering him in warm blankets. Do not rub his ears.

• Water is vital to your pet's health. Make sure your dog or cat has unfrozen water available. (Many pet stores sell heated water dishes.)

• Rock salt can irritate dogs' paws. Consider using a pet-friendly alternative, or buy boots or paw wax for him.

• Cold weather can exacerbate arthritis in elderly or overweight dogs. Call your veterinarian if your dog is having difficulty walking or moving.

"A Dog's Disney World"

If you aren’t fortunate enough to have a pet-friendly office like ours, don’t fret: Fido and Fluffy don’t have to sit at home waiting for you all day long any more.

The Sheboygan Press reported that Central Bark Doggy Day Care, a franchised operation with 30 locations in seven states, is the equivalent of a dog's Disney World. Children's plastic "Little Tyke" furniture, tennis balls, pea gravel pit stop areas and wading pools enhance the outside and inside play areas. Rubber mats provide traction indoors, while the outside play area is paved for easy cleanup. Soothing classical music plays in the air-conditioned nap rooms, dog murals and paintings by local artists adorn the walls and a welcoming full water bowl sits at the front entrance next to a pet boutique.

"We want them to want to be here," said Sheboygan Central Bark owner/manager Linda Gurath about her clients. "Really. I am one of those parents who was feeling guilty when I went to work every day ... the dogs look at you with those big sad eyes. We really want to take the stress out of it for them." Gurath, a former corporate controller, opened her Sheboygan Central Bark location in late August. She appreciates being able to bring her four canine "kids" to work, she said, and also enjoys being a surrogate mother, noting that the dogs grow and develop as they get used to their new daytime digs. "Some come in and they're a bit shy — to see them blossom and start to participate with the other dogs is really great."

Adrianne Spaulding, owner of the Manitowoc Central Bark location, reiterated the social benefits to participating dogs. "You can take your dog to the dog park and meet the random dog, but you don't know what you're dealing with. You're more likely to know what to expect in an environment like this. We see our clients regularly, we have a one day per week minimum commitment, and any changes in attitude and behavior, any nuances, even very subtle ones, we're actually quite in tune with." Central Bark owners also make a point of being in touch with their surrounding communities. "We're always doing something fun, seminars and parties and training," Spalding said. "If day care doesn't work for you, there are other things going on." Franchise owners are also required, per the corporate offices, to donate a portion of their profits to charities, with many, said Spaulding, choosing to support Dog Bless America, a charitable organization that helps to provide war veterans with service dogs.

Business is Going to the Dogs (and That’s a Good Thing!)

Balancing work and family can be a formidable task but it can be done. Just ask Stacie Shaw: Shaw brings her kids – seven-year old Hannah and 11-year-old Bailey – to work with her every day, where they spend most of their time playing with other clients. The twist is that Shaw owns and operates the newly opened Central Bark, a day care for dogs in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and her kids Hannah and Bailey are golden retrievers.

Once dogs arrive at Central Bark, group play lasts from 7 a.m. until about 11:30 a.m. then quiet time runs from noon to 2 p.m. – “In our experience, dogs need time to chill and relax,” Shaw said – and from 2 to 5 p.m., dogs enjoy more playtime and receive one-on-one attention and some training if needed before pickup between 5 and 6:30 p.m. The site includes play equipment, agility-based and “old fashioned” toys and three part-time associates are trained to care for and work with the dogs, including addressing any behavioral issues, and are trained in canine first aid, CPR, as well as animal behavior.

Previously, Shaw was in the financial services industry, mostly in 401k education, and her job took her on the road. After 12 years, she decided to turn it in for a new “leash” on life, so to speak. The inspiration for her new career came from her experience as a client of Central Bark in Milwaukee: She used the facility for about eight years as she traveled around the country for work. Being a responsible pet owner, Shaw got to know the staff and system at Central Bark, and really valued what it offered. About a year a half ago, Shaw committed to the organization, but it meant moving away from Milwaukee, where the market was saturated with similar facilities. Shaw, who grew up in Wisconsin, zeroed in on the Twin Cities as a possible new home for herself and the business.

“I always had this secret desire to live here,” Shaw told the Eden Prairie News. Market research confirmed her thought that the Twin Cities would be a right choice. “Minneapolis was just prime for me. It was a match made in heaven.”

While the majority of pet owners love and care for their pets, difficult economic times may force many owners to make choices about how to spend their money, including for pet items and services. As Shaw begins her new business venture, she understands the issues surrounding the economy.

“Time will tell, and that’s something we’re all aware of,” she noted, adding that, regardless, pet owners still need to make sure that their pets are well cared for. “At Central Bark, it’s all about the dogs. That’s what we’re here for.”

Turning a Hobby Into a Career

It’s said that when one finds something they truly love, they should hold onto it at all costs. Laura Kriofsky did just that.

Fetch magazine reported Kriofsky served as a distribution coordinator for Ocean Spray Cranberries for nearly two decades but it was her part-time profession that she truly enjoyed. Always an animal lover, Kriofsky regularly volunteered at a local no-kill animal shelter for 14 years and decided to take her familiarity with and affinity for her four-legged friends to the next level. She began researching concepts that employed her past experience as well as her future goals and found Central Bark Doggy Day Care to be the perfect match for both.

“I’ve always loved animals, especially dogs, so I thought owning a Central Bark would be a great new career,” said Kriofsky, 42. “I’ve rescued and fostered countless dogs over the years and knew that experience would lend itself to this new role.”

It is estimated that “dog parents” spend more than $40 billion a year on their pets – a statistic the folks at Central Bark are well aware of. Central Bark is the nation's largest network of day care for dogs that offers programs specifically designed to enhance the safety and well being of dogs in its care, while still providing a social outlet for “dogs to be dogs.” Services are not just limited to doggy day care. Other services include dog training, grooming, overnight sitting and the Central Bark Boutique, which specializes in canine products and gifts for the discriminating dog-loving shopper. Doggy birthday parties can also be arranged.

DAY CAMP FOR DOGS

Today, as young couples are waiting longer to have kids and empty nesters are looking for additional companionship lost from their adult children fleeing the coup, Americans are increasingly investing in their pets. According to a recent article in the Rocky Mountain News, U.S. families housed almost 74 million dogs and spent approximately $2.7 billion on grooming and boarding for their pets last year.

A loving pet owner herself, Heidi Flammang had a genius idea to improve the basic pet-sitting services available for animal care. Flammang is the founder of Camp Bow Wow, a Boulder-based doggie day-care company. Since the sale of their first franchise in 2003, Camp Bow Wow has franchise agreements in 28 states and Canada and recently sold its 170th franchise.

Catering mostly to DINKS, or double income no kids, Camp Bow Wow is exactly what it sounds like – a day camp for your doggie. There is no tea time with biscuits, massages or pretty pink bows. A simple and fun place for your dog to eat, play and nap – Camp Bow Wow does offer to give pets a bath before going home. You can also watch your dog from a webcam to ensure that he or she is having fun and getting along with the other campers.

We have to say, we're almost a little jealous – playing outside all day with your friends, a private bunk for a nap and lunch…these puppies are living the life!