"Follow your bliss" Seeking Advice from those who know

[Susan Ferree]

At 53 I think I know what I want to do when I grow up. A little background. I have been a nurse for 30 years. I am in my second year and second masters of a dual masters degree program for hosptal administration and business administration.
In the leadership class we are using a workbook to develop and improve leadership skills. One of the exercises was about priorities. It asked what about your job gives you the most pleasure. I got to thinking about what in my life gives me the most pleasure and it has to be my furkids.
Dogs have been a constant nearly all of my life. I would have 20 if I could afford them. This got me to thinking why not follow my bliss and work with dogs. I would love to start a kennel/doggie day care/grooming/pet spa business. I would be able to "play" with all kinds of dogs and mine could come to work with me.
There are a great many folks on the forum with varying degrees of experience with this type of business. I would greatly appreciate your feedback, advice, information, and suggestions. My sister is all for it, now I am consulting my "extended family"
Thanks!!!!!!

 

[NessaM]

Get a canine massage certification while you're at it - I wish there was one near me!!!

 

[charityd]

Susan, I know you will have a lot of research to do, but that sounds like a fabulous idea. I'm excited for you

 

[sarnewfie]

I had that for many years, i was working long long hours long days 7 days a week, much responsibility
remember, not all dogs are good and in my years of working with dogs, i was never so grateful for the experience i gained in handling nasty nasty dogs from the vet clinic.
the vet clinic should be where anyone should start when thinking of working with dogs.
you get exposed to the reality of the nature of the beast.
there also is the consideration of dumb dog owners. demanding dog owners.
those who are inconsiderate of your time and hard work, and the list goes on with the negative views.
the positive,
you are your own boss, but, experience with lots of different breeds is a plus.
reading body language of dogs in various stages, fear, happy, sad, depressed nasty becouse you will come across dogs that get sick while in your care.
some get UTI with the least amt of stress and with them in our care we have to be able to run them to vet of choice to get proper treatment for them, some may all of a sudden get sick becouse people fed them turkey and diahrea is all over, or they may have gotten into the garbage and ended up sick on your watch, it happens a lot!
anyway, whatever path you choose, good luck to you! enjoy!

 

[Bojie]

Susan, I think it's a great idea. Don't have any advice to offer, just support. It's been something I've been thinking of a lot too. I have family down in Greensboro, Bojie and I will come and visit you at your new "business" when we go down to visit!

 

[jane]

Bria on NN has that kind of business. I would PM her. She can tell you a lot about it. It's not always easy, but she can definately tell you about it.

 

[NewfMom]

Just a thought but what about using more of your medical background? I'm not sure what the requirements are for canine accupuncture or physical therapy but they can be a godsend to hurting dogs.

 

[ina/puusty]

Talking to your inner self..that's the step..where bravery..comes out to play. The 50s..are the start of the wonder-years..and all of our 'life lessons'..come out to play. We have learned to do that which makes us stronger, and we limit massively..anything/any jobs/any people..who act to make us feel negative. We HAD the teen years..been there..DONE THAT! When I finished the MS..I got bored and did a second one..which they graded..but said save it..thats your PHD. I stopped..took stock..and realized... "I didn't NEED no stinkin' extra degree!!!!!" One of my better moves in life. Happy meditations..and going for longer walks, finding silent places where the phone won't ring..and wind..teases your mind and heart..to come up, come out..and PLAY... ina n HB

 

[Erika]

I wanna live in a cabin in the woods with all my dogs , no phone , no nuffin.lol.seriously...I would survive just fine and take in any and all who needed shelter...In the real world though, a farm with the family and dogs will do.Id like to train animals too, horses, dogs etc.50's a great time to follow your dreams

 

[JLStorm]

A fulfilling job can give so much depth and purpose to one's life, but from personal experience, I caution you to have a strong business plan and make sure that you live in a market with enough clientele to support that business plan. While, its better to have tried and failed than to have never tried at all, failure due to lack of business still hurts, especially when you had to give up a steady job to follow your dreams. While it is important to follow your dreams, do remember that should your dream fall through, regardless of the laws set forth by the EEOC, it is often harder to find a good job at your age due to an employers expectation of your qualifications vs. salary requirements vs. longevity of expected employment (although in the medical field you may be ok due to the demand for qualified people).

Just some things to keep in mind, but in no way intended to dissuade you from following your dreams and desires.

 

[Jeannie]

I have a dog grooming business and boarding kennel. I love my work but...

My hours are M-F 6:30 A.M. to 7:30 P.M. Saturday 6:30 A.M. to 10 A.M. then 2 - 7:30 P.M. Sunday 7-7:30 A.M. then 2 - 7:30 P.M

These are the hours I am open for customers. A normal M-F day: We feed the dogs at 5 A.M. clean/disinfect runs, let them out to play. Grooming dogs start arriving at 6:30-8:30 A.M. and I groom until 12-1. Daycare dogs arrive anytime from 6:30 to 10 A.M. After a quick lunch at 1 the dogs are let out to play, while the runs are cleaned/disinfected. After bringing them in they are fed their 2nd meal. The daycare dogs go home from 3-5 p.m. and we get food lined up for morning. Remember during the day we have boarding dogs coming and going at the owner's convienence as well as lots of phone calls and people purchasing dog food. We try to have a quick dinner around 6. Then after closing we still have to potty/let out to play all the dogs as well as clean/disinfect runs and finish getting breakfast food ready for morning. Finally at about 9-9:30, after walking the 5 acre play yard to pick up as much poop as we can spot, we call it a day only to be in the kennel again by 5 the next morning. Also depending on the amount of dogs sometimes we get to the kennel at 4:30 a.m.

I love my job/business. It is a committment I wouldn't trade for any office/inside job on the planet. I get to play with dogs daily as well as be with my dogs 24/7.
www.poochparlor.com is my business website.

The downside. I have to purchase my own health insurance. If dogs no show an appointment I loose money. If I take a day off grooming or we go away for a few days we make no money. (We always close down when if we get away a couple of days) Our get away days are usually Tuesday - Thursday because weekends and holidays are our busiest times. ALL HOLIDAYS are swamped. Christmas, Thanksgiving - all of them we work. We are even open for customers to pick up or drop off pets. Of course I groom only M-F and I don't groom holidays. Gary and I rarely go away together as someone has to be here for the dogs. Example: last year the first of June Gary went to the outerbanks of NC to his daughter's wedding. I stayed home. He left on Saturday and got back on Wednesday, Thursday I left for Washington State for my neice's graduation. I came back on Sunday.

Did I say I love my job?