If you’re considering starting a dog daycare business, you’re probably wondering who’s the real target market for dog daycare.
After all, not everyone who has a dog will need a daycare for it. So how do you distinguish between dog owners who do and those who don’t?
Dog daycare can be a great solution for busy pet parents who need to leave their dog at home during the day or when they cannot take it on a vacation. But not all dog owners are the same. Each looks for different things in a dog daycare.
In this article, we will review the target market for dog daycare by analyzing why people need someone to look after their dog and what they look for in a business that provides this service.
Who is the Target Market for Dog Daycare?
To best understand the target market for dog daycare, we need to focus on the need that dog owners have to leave their pets at a daycare.
Segmenting the market based on customer motivation gives us the following segments:
- Dog owners who cannot take their dog with them during the day
- Dog owners who cannot take their dog with them on vacation
- Dog owners who want their dogs to socialize
- Dog owners who want their dogs to exercise
- Dog owners who want their dogs trained or groomed
Let’s look at each of these segments closely.
1. Dog owners who cannot take their dog with them during the day
The first target market for dog daycare includes people who work long hours or have other obligations that prevent them from taking their dogs with them during the day.
These pet parents may feel guilty about leaving their dog home alone all day or the dog might be young and so they look for a daycare solution. Some of these people may live in a small apartment and leaving their dog alone at home may not be an option.
Dog daycares provide a space for the dog to stay during the day where they will be supervised, played with, and given attention.
This target market is usually willing to pay a premium for these services.
2. Dog owners who cannot take their dog with them on vacation
Another target market for dog daycare is people who want to take a vacation but cannot bring their dog with them.
There are many reasons why someone might not be able to bring their dog on vacation such as the destination not being pet-friendly or the owner going away overseas.
In these cases, owners will look for a dog daycare that can provide a safe and fun environment for their pets while they are away. They also need a place where the dog can stay for an extended period from a few days to a few weeks.
3. Dog owners who want their dogs to socialize
Some dog owners see the value in having their dogs socialize with other dogs. This is especially true for young puppies who need to learn how to interact with other dogs.
Dog daycares provide an opportunity for the dog to play and socialize with other dogs in a controlled environment. In this case, a dog owner may take their dog to the daycare just for a few hours a day and maybe only on some days of the week or weekends only.
4. Dog owners who want their dogs to exercise
Dog owners who stay in smaller houses or apartments often struggle to give their dogs the exercise they need.
In these cases, dog daycares can provide a solution by giving the dog a chance to run around and play during the day.
Some dog daycares charge by the hour and this can be convenient for owners who only need to send their dog to the daycare for a few hours to get exercise.
5. Dog owners who want their dogs trained or groomed
Another target market for dog daycare is people who want their dogs to be trained or groomed while they are away.
Dog daycares that offer these services can provide owners with a convenient way to get their pets groomed or trained without having to take them to a separate location.
Some dog daycares offer discounts if the owner books multiple services at the same time.
What do people look for in a Dog Daycare?
When dog owners select a daycare for their dogs, they do so just as carefully as a parent selects a daycare for their child.
So what do these pet parents look for in a dog daycare?
Here are the 7 most important things:
- A safe and clean environment
- Convenient to reach
- Trained staff who can handle different types of dogs
- Activities and exercise options for the dog
- Additional services such as training or grooming
- In-house veterinarian
- Reasonable pricing
Let’s look at each of these in some detail.
1. A safe and clean environment
Without a doubt, the most important characteristic that pet parents look for in a dog daycare is a safe and clean environment.
The last thing any pet parent wants is for their dog to get sick or injured while at the daycare.
To ensure the safety of the dogs, reputable dog daycares will have a high standard of cleanliness and will also have staff that is trained in dog first-aid.
They also provide dogs with healthy food based on the needs of the breed of the dog as well as based on any preferences that the dog’s owner might have.
Many daycares will get their premises certified by a professional organization such as the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters.
2. Convenient to reach
Convenient access to a dog daycare is also an important factor for most pet parents.
They tend to look for daycares that are close to where they live or work. This makes drop-off and pick-up easier.
Some dog daycares also offer pick-up and drop-off services which is an added convenience for busy pet parents.
Convenience also depends on how long dog daycares remain open. Dog daycares that allow early drop-offs and late pick-ups are often preferred by pet owners.
3. Trained staff who can handle different types of dogs
The third thing that pet parents look for in a dog daycare is how well trained is the daycare staff.
They expect staff to be able to handle different types of dogs, including those that are aggressive or have special needs.
The staff should also be trained in dog behavior and be able to provide the appropriate level of care for each individual dog.
4. Activities and exercise options for the dog
Dog owners look for daycares that can provide their dogs with plenty of activities and exercise.
This is especially important for dog owners who work long hours and cannot take their dogs for a walk during the day.
At the very least, the daycare should have an outdoor area where the dogs can run and play.
Some daycares also offer additional activities such as swimming, agility training, and Nose Work.
5. Additional services such as training or grooming
Some dog daycares also offer additional services such as training and grooming.
These services can add to the cost of the daycare but may be worth it for some pet parents as they can get all their needs taken care of under one roof.
Training classes can be helpful for the dog to learn good behavior and obedience. Grooming services can help keep the dog clean and well-groomed while the owner is away.
6. In-house veterinarian
All pet parents have a favorite veterinarian for their pet. Dog owners are no different. So when they leave their dog at a dog daycare they will be more assured knowing if there is an in-house veterinarian.
This is more important when the dog has to stay at the dog daycare for an extended period, for instance when the owner is away on a vacation.
7. Reasonable pricing
Finally, pet parents also look for dog daycares that offer reasonable pricing.
The price of the daycare will depend on a number of factors such as the location, the services offered, and the length of stay.
Pet owners like daycares also offer discounts for multiple dogs or for longer stays.
Summary
Dog Daycares provide an excellent service for pet parents and their dogs. They give owners the possibility of doing activities without their pets and without having to worry about their well-being. It gives dogs the opportunity to interact and socialize with other dogs, something they cannot do when left alone at home.
The target market for dog daycare includes dog owners who cannot take their dog with them during the day or when they go on vacation. Further, it includes those who want their dogs to socialize with other dogs, get enough exercise, have fun, be trained, and even be groomed.
The most important factors that pet parents look for in a dog daycare are a safe and clean environment, convenient access, trained staff, activities and exercise options, additional services, and reasonable pricing.
If you’re starting a dog daycare make sure you target the right market for your services and are clear about what factors your ideal customer takes into account while selecting a dog daycare.