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Setting up a kennels


Magnolia

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Hubby and I are thinking of starting up a small kennels in the Pyrenees when we move but we obviously need to know how to go about it. Where can I get info on how to set one up, if we need to take an examination, rules and regs etc etc. Our idea is to have about 6 large kennels for holidaying dogs but these pooches will get taken into the home as well. Alongside of this, we want to have a gite for people who want to take their dogs on holiday with them and if they need dog-sitters so they can go out for a meal etc we can look after them. We will also continue to foster dogs and look for new homes for them but also, if you have problem rescue dogs and you're worried about leaving them in a kennels whilst you have a holiday, we have the experience to deal with the usual issues ie: seperation anxiety, stress etc etc.

What does everyone think and how do I go about setting it up? Any information would be gratefully received as well as your thoughts on the matter. [:)]

 

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Thanks Clair

I didn't expect it to be easy after all, we are in France aren't we! I'll try and get an idea from someone who's taken the 3 day course how complicated it is. I can speak french but i'm not sure if i'm up to 3 days of it [:'(]. I don't mind taking qualifications etc and having to wade through all of the french beurocracy (I think i've come to accept that in everything I do now) but I have to be sure that my french is up to it before committing.

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Hi

 

Just a thought - but perhaps something you might consider, I breed and show Belgian Shepherd Dogs ( Groenendael)  - here in the UK the current gene pool is small and we do have a significant  problem with inherited epilepsy so last year I bought a puppy bitch from one of the top kennels in the breed in France - she is beautiful and comes from  4 generation epilepsy clear lines so should prove very useful to the breed in this country.

However I did not want to put her through quarantine and knew she needed to stay in France for her 6 month wait as part of her Pet Passport -( rabies regulation). I found it really difficult to find someone that would take her for the 6 months - raise her as a part of the family - socialise her and do  a little show training as well if possible. Eventually after a frantic search I found a lovely foster home in Normandy who treated her as one of their own dogs - took her ,along to the local market and made sure that she was well socialised with people and other dogs. I paid around £ 2,000 for this service ( comparable to quarantine costs her in the UK)  and it is perhaps a gap in the market that you might consider filling ?.

I am not the only breeder who imports from other European countries and many of us will not consider placing young pups in the  6 months solitary confinement that is quarantine - why not try an advert offering the service in one of the UK dog papers ( OUR DOGS or DOG WORLD ). As this type of work would not require kennels or indeed large numbers of dogs at any one time I would imagine that the kennel regulations may not apply ? - we visited 'Bijou' several times over the 6 month period and it would have been good to stay in a gite 'on site ' - another income producer perhaps ?.

the total cost of importing Bijou came to over £3,000 - sounds like madness - but then her pups here in the UK will sell for £1000 each - and we already have 6 booked by fellow breeders. There is an untapped market for those able to provide the show world the kind of personalised service I got for my French girl !!!.

 

Yvonne

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Hi Yvonne

Thank you SO much for that. What a wonderful idea! I will definitely look into that. We do want to have a gite on site along with agility equipment for the dogs if they show interest. We currently take dogs into our home when people go on holiday but we have to limit it as we run a B&B here in the Charente-Maritime and some guests aren't keen on the menagerie. However, when we move i want to dedicate my time to dogs so your idea is absolutely fantastic.

Maybe we can communicate a bit more so you can tell me exactly what you'd expect from someone like myself looking after your dog. Would that be ok?

Jacqueline

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