If you are a dog owner you likely consider your pet part of the family and want the best for them. If you work a full time job out of the home you may find this especially difficult. No one knows this better than PAWS Dog Daycare owner Eric Yeung. His goal is to give your dog all the love and exercise they need while you are at work. We caught up with him to learn more.
What is your business called and what does it do?
We are called PAWS Dog Daycare. We keep dogs exercised and socialized so busy dog owners, aka PAWrents, have one less thing to worry about. We offer dog daycare, pet sitting, dog grooming, pet food, supplies and accessories.
What made you want to do this work?
I decided to trade my 9 to 5 for a 24/7 entrepreneurship journey when I got a lovable and energetic puppy named Keira over 14 years ago. I enjoyed her company so much that I wanted to do something that allowed me to do that. So I eventually quit my oil & gas job and started a doggy daycare. Even though she’s crossed the rainbow bridge, her legacy lives on.
What problem did you want to solve with the business?
We help busy dog owners manage their dog’s exercise and socialization. We provide our PAWrents a peace of mind while ensuring dogs receive ample exercise, socialization and care even when their owners can’t be with them.
Who are your clientele/demographics?
Dogs are gregarious animals and they thrive in environments where they have company. Our clients are often busy professionals who need care for their dogs during the day. We help provide exercise and socialization for their dogs. Our dogs go on daily pack walks, are given multiple outdoor potty breaks and interact with others in a kennel-free environment. From our social media stats, our followers are mostly females between the ages of 25 to 45.
How does your business make money? How does it work?
We make money by charging for dog daycare, pet sitting and grooming services as well as selling a small selection of dog food, accessories and supplies.
Where in the city can we find your profession?
You can find us at 1313 16 Ave SW in Calgary, Alberta just outside of the downtown core.
What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.
The best question for a prospective customer is to ask “How do you manage the dog’s excitement?” The rationale being that calm dogs are less likely to get into trouble (fights, arguments, injuries from playing too rough) whether they are in a group or out on a pack walks. Safety is always our first priority.
The answer: We manage dogs’ excitement two main ways: via our Intro Day and with consistent daily pack walks. Our Intro Day is what we call each dog’s very first day and we only allow one new dog per day. First day of school is always scary, even for the most social butterflies, so our Intro Day is designed to maximize the care and attention we give to each and every new pack member. From outdoor potty breaks to outdoor pack walks to our famous photoshoots, we have lots going on during the day. The goal of the Intro Day is to ensure each dog is integrated successfully. A well integrated dog is a happy dog!
Secondly, we believe in the power of the walk. Our daily pack walk provides a consistent and constructive form of exercise. Our dogs learn on pack walks to ignore various distractions such as bikes, buses, skateboards, people, rabbits and squirrels to name a few. Ignoring these distractions allows them to practice self control and is a very satisfying form of mental stimulation. Over time, our dogs become much more relaxed and happy.
What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?
The best part about what we do is when we get a dog that is either shy, anxious or fearful becomes a social butterfly. The worst part is non-dog owners not understanding the amount of hard work it takes to ensure dogs of various breeds, energy levels, and different levels of obedience training to coexist peacefully.
Where can we follow you?
Website | Email | Facebook | Instagram
PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?
Check out Cultured Canines. They are our favourite dog training company here in Calgary.
