Attention Animal Lovers: Here Are 4 Dog Care Franchises You'll Love

Alice Tuffery, writer

Published at 08/03/2019, Updated on 04/05/2022 , Reading time: 6 min

Attention Animal Lovers: Here Are 4 Dog Care Franchises You'll Love — Photo © dogsitting-business.jpg

Looking for the perfect dog care franchise? Here are four fantastic ones from our network of thriving businesses, plus some information on the health of the industry.

The dog care sector

According to the PDSA, 26 percent of the UK adult population owns a dog. Here are some other stats about the current state of the dog care industry:

90 percent of owners keep their pets in kennels when they go on holiday
They pay an average of £17 a night
Pet care and boarding is now a £4.3 billion-a-year industry

(Compare Your Life, Channel 4)

However, 38 percent of dog owners feel guilty about leaving their pets behind when they go away and 27 percent are interested in using pet-friendly hotels. Most pet owners want to go on holiday without their pet at one point or another, and many choose to spend some time abroad every year.

Given that 17 percent of adults decide not to get a pet because of the potential issues involved with going on holiday, there’s plenty of scope for business owners to capitalise on a growing market. When owners are away, they want to make sure their dog feels loved and mentally stimulated.

That’s why new types of pet care have emerged over the past few years. Today, the number of owners opting to steer clear of traditional kennels and invest their money in a true home-from-home experience is on the rise.

Other pet care services

The demand for pet sitting businesses is clearly there. And many pet owners are forking out for increasingly lavish products and services for their dogs, from day care, grooming and training to food, toys and even clothes.

Also, Mintel has revealed that almost half of cat and dog owners would like to invest in a webcam or app that monitors their pet’s activity while they are out during the day. Additionally, seven percent have booked their pet into exercise classes and a further 16 are interested in businesses offering services like this.

As you can see, owners are increasingly willing to pay a significant amount of money to make sure their pet is healthy and happy. So, there’s no reason why you can’t build a highly profitable dog care franchise.

4 fantastic dog care franchises

Here are four of our best dog care franchise opportunities. If you’re interested in running your own business and working with animals, these options could be ideal for you. Find out more about them by visiting their profile pages here on Point Franchise.

1. Barking Mad

When it was launched in Cumbria in 2000, Barking Mad offered an alternative to traditional kennels. Trusted dog carers are hired to look after owners’ pets while they’re away. The dogs stay in the carer’s home, rather than in a kennel, so the pet should feel more at ease in a relaxed atmosphere. Alongside its bespoke dog care service, this dog franchise offers quality dog transportation, photo updates and a ‘mini sleepover’ for one night before your dog moves into your host’s house for a longer stay. Barking Mad has grown into the industry’s most trusted dog-sitting service, with a score of 9.9 on Trustpilot.

Becoming a Barking Mad franchisee: It goes without saying that you’ll need to have a love of dogs. You should also have a can-do attitude and the drive to support an expanding business.
How much you need to invest: If you want to join the franchise’s 80-strong network of dog-sitting carers across the UK, an investment of £14,995 + VAT is required. However, if you choose its ‘PAYG’ option, you can start your franchising journey from just £10,000 and spread the cost over your franchise agreement term.
What you get for your investment: As well as a comprehensive training programme, Barking Mad offers franchisees operational equipment, FIDO business software, corporate apparel and marketing materials as part of its franchise package.

>> Read more:

Wagging Tails

Having cared for pets since 2007, Wagging Tails is one of the leading dog boarding services in the UK. It believes dogs need a holiday too, so it makes sure it matches dogs with carefully selected, licensed Wagging Tails carers. Also, this business is a member of two respected organisations, the British Franchise Organisation (BFA) and Encouraging Women into Franchising (EWIF).

Becoming a Wagging Tails franchisee: The dog care business’ first franchise unit was launched in 2010 and, ever since then, the franchise network has expanded to comprise 20 franchisees across the UK today. To become the 21st, you’ll need to be responsible and have a love of animals, as well as plenty of business acumen.
How much you need to invest: Potential candidates need to invest a minimum of £7,995 and a total of £12,995.
What you get for your investment: If you join, you’ll benefit from a comprehensive training programme that addresses topics such as the recruitment of carers, using Wagging Tails’ bespoke systems, marketing and taking bookings.

PetStay

PetStay was founded in 2005 as a dog care business dedicated to giving personalised and specialised care. The franchise cares about the happiness of its dogs, so it never mixes pets from different households. So far, PetStay has opened 35 branches across the UK and recruited over 500 carers to look after dogs from across the country. The franchise is also a member of EWIF and works to make sure all its vets, groomers and trainers are fully licensed and insured.

Becoming a PetStay franchisee: This franchise is seeking entrepreneurs who are on the lookout for a flexible business opportunity. You’ll need to love dogs and have great customer service skills to launch a profitable PetStay franchise unit.
How much you need to invest: In order to invest, interested franchisees need a minimum investment of £17,000.
What you get for your investment: After investing, they’ll be able to attend the dog sitting franchise’s dedicated three-day induction programme at the company’s head office in Yorkshire.

>> Read more:

Canine Creche

Canine Creche provides an alternative to traditional kennelling methods. Its ‘creche’ model has certainly proved popular; last year, it racked up over 20,000 day visits and 3,600 overnight stays across its franchise network. Every dog is kept safe and happy, as the business installs viewing panels, security procedures, temperament testing and CCTV cameras throughout its franchise locations.

Becoming a Canine Creche franchisee: You’ll need to be passionate about dogs and have the drive to start your own business in the doggy day care world. Other than that, there are no specific requirements or qualifications you’ll need to start your Canine Creche franchise unit.
How much you need to invest: To get involved, you’ll need to make a total investment of £85,000.
What you get for your investment: Canine Creche supports its franchisees throughout the franchise agreement term, so you’ll be able to turn to the franchising team with any concerns or questions.

Start your own dog care franchise today

If you’re still unsure whether the dog care industry is the right fit for you, there are plenty of online resources you can access to learn more. The more you find out about the opportunities on offer, the demands of the industry and the requirements of dog care franchisees, the more confident you’ll feel about making your final decision.

When you’re ready to take the leap, you can browse our selection of fantastic investment opportunities. Whatever type of franchise you’re after, we’ve got you covered; just click on the links below:

• Dog day care franchises • Indoor dog park franchises • Dog and pet grooming franchises • Pet franchises • Pet food franchises