Unusual Pet Care Business - Pet Photographer

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Today I found a great interview with a pet photographer - Jamie Pfughoeft in the Seattle Times in their nwjobs sectionÂ where they profileÂ interesting careers. Jamie shares someÂ fantastic information about how she became a pet photographer, the equipment she uses, what at typical workday looks like for a pet photographer, andÂ how much competition there is in the pet photography market.Â She also shares some tips on getting started asÂ a pet photographer and her favorite resources.Â You can find the complete interview at Seattle Times nwjbos.

Pet Photography My first pet sitting client was a cat photographer (Helmi Flick)Â who needed me to look after her cats while she travelled to cat shows around the country to photograph cats for breeders attending the shows. She took some great pictures of my cats that I love and hang proudly in my office. Here is one of both my Burmese kitties - Cozzy and Bouie.

Since taking my photos almost 4 years ago she has been invited to international pet shows and her photos have been featured on the cover of Cat Fancy magazine several times. Her business has grown in leaps and bounds.

Pet Photography is a specialized field as taking photos of pets required patience - pets don’t like to sit still for photos and have to be coaxed into position using toys or other distractions.

Pet photographers don’t only cater to the pet owner and breeder market but are also needed for commerical photographs that are used for pet product advertising online and in magazines, billboards, and on product labels. Â As the market for pet services and products grows so does the demand for great pet photos.

If you are interested to find out more about pet photography be sure to read the interview with Jamie at Seattle Times nwjbos

Dancing Porcupine - Pet Business Interview

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Tellington TTouch for Dogs Excited to be back with another unique business to highlight. Today I am interviewing Stacy Lewis owner of Dancing Porcupine Tellington TTouch Practitioner and author.

Stacy describes herself as a “Creature Teacher” and uses TTouch to overcome dog behavior problems. She is also an expert in Shamanic healing and Animal Communication and holds workshops, does consultations and is a speaker and author.

I was curious to find more about TTouch so I visited the TTouch website. On the website they describe TTouch as :

Using a combination of specific touches, lifts, and movement exercises, TTouch helps to release tension and increase body awareness. This allows the animal to be handled without provoking typical fear responses. The animal can then more easily learn new and more appropriate behaviors. By using the TTouch and a variety of other tools, like the Confidence Course, you can assist the animal in experiencing self-confidence in previously frightening situations. Even the most difficult problems are often eliminated. You can also learn how to apply the Tellington TTouch to assist with recovery from illness or injury, or just enhance the quality of your animal’s life.

The Tellington TTouch can help cases of excessive barking, leash pulling, jumping up, aggressive behavior, extreme fear and shyness, resistance to grooming, car sickness and excitability and nervousness.

1. What type of pet business do you run?

Dancing Porcupine - Better Pets, Better People. Better Planet. Tellington TTouch - Shamanic Healing - Animal Communication

2. How long have you been in the pet business?

5 years

3. Why did you choose to start a pet business?

I had a wonderful and challenging dog show up in my life who nudged me to move in another direction. Java is the reason I do what I do for a living. On another level, I do this work because it is my way of giving back and there is a definite need for balance among pets, people, and the planet.

4. What advice would you give someone about to launch a new pet care business?

Be clear on what your mission is - why you’re doing the work, who your competitors are, and what your niche is - do your research!

5. What has been the greatest challenge in growing your business?

Having the time to grow it while working as an Art teacher. So, I let go of my full time job this past June to pursue my passion full time - working with animals and people together. It’s amazing what a difference that has made!

6. What are the pros and cons of your profession?

People want their animals to be “fixed” but want fast results with very little work on their part. If I could wave a magic wand, I’d have double the business. But what I love about what I do is that it’s thorough, it works, and it helps to balance creature on all levels - mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The best part about this profession is that the level of consciousness is rising so there are more people interested and aware of holistic methods.

7. What daily tasks do you enjoy most?

Every day is different, so there is not a specific task each day other than making sure Java and I have some playtime together in some way. I absolutely love teaching classes and doing private sessions. Depositing money in the bank is really wonderful too!

8. If you could have done anything differently what would it have been?

I’m not a person who looks back with regret. I’m incredibly pleased with the way things have gone in my life and career with animals and people. But, if I had to pick one thing, I would have put Java in a different place the day she was attacked by a group of dogs so that I still learned the lessons of life but she didn’t have to suffer the consequences for a lifetime.

9. Did you have a mentor or business coach? If so, how did they help you?

I’ve had a number of coaches and I wouldn’t be where I am without them. I worked with two professional life coaches and business coaches to get me to the place of letting go my “day job” in order to live my passion, and have also worked extensively with one of my coaches on internet marketing and promotion. Their input has been a goldmine!

10. What form(s) of marketing have you found the most effective in reaching pet owners?

I have a large mailing list with a sign-up on my website. That’s been the greatest source of getting information to animal lovers. I’ve also done teleclasses, written a number of articles, done some television and radio spots. And then, there’s the tried and true tactic of handing out your business card at the gas station or Target.

11. Do you offer clients incentives for giving referrals?

Yes, I do. I think it’s really important to acknowledge people who are referring. I give my clients a free shamanic healing or animal communication session when they send new clients to me.

12. At what stage of your business growth did you choose to take on help?

I’m not there yet in the big sense, but when I teach large classes I hire an assistant to help me out. This started happening after about 2 years - when the business was growing and the need was growing.

13. Did you choose to use employees or independent contractors? Why?

Independent contractors because my need is sporadic.

14. What have you found is the best way to find new staff members?

I work with other Tellington TTouch practitioners as independent contractors for my TTouch classes. They are familiar with the basis of the work that I do and are able to offer their expertise. My shamanic healing and animal communication work doesn’t call for added help from contractors.

15. What have you done to differentiate your business from your local competitors?

My niche is working with extreme cases. I won’t turn a person away or an animal away and believe that if they came to me, they came for a reason. From a marketing standpoint, my business stands out because I keep myself in front of people. My truck has my business name on it and many people notice my truck all over town. I send out a newsletter and updates to my mailing list a few times a month, and I write articles and also lecture about my work in a variety of venues.

If you would like to learn more Stacy’s journey with Java you can pick up her book “JAVA The True Story of a Shelter Dog Who Rescued a Woman” at her website.

Thank you Stacy for so much for sharing your business with us!

If you would like to share your business by and be interviewed here at Working with Pets please email me at daniellechonody@gmail.com

Dog Chefs of America - Pet Business Interview

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Hope you enjoyed our first interview yesterday. Our second comes hot on it’s heels and we have the pleasure of hearing from Micki Voisard the owner of Dog Chefs of America. Dog Chefs of America is a kitchen, gallery, and dog park in Tubac, Arizona just south of Tucson.

At the kitchen Micki holds cooking classes that show dog owners how to prepare nutritionally sound meals for their pets. She advocates that improvements in your pets diet can improve their health and behavior.

1. What kind of pet business do you run?

My Dog Chefs of America business is 4 fold - it is a Dog Chef Cooking School, where people learn what natural food works for their particular dog and how to prepare it - and how to buy meat and other food that is inexpensive and healthy.

The 2nd part is the dietary consultations I do, usually over the phone for an hourly charge. People fill out a consultation form and tell me the problems that their dog is having with his present food and we go from there. It’s real popular, since most people will never be able to come to my Kitchen in Arizona and take a Cooking Class.

The 3rd part is my speaking - I get paid to travel and speak around the country and many places around the world on Cooking for Dogs. This is my favorite part.

The 4th part are the sales of my book, Becoming the Chef Your Dog Thinks You Are and my 4 DVD’s on Cooking for Your Dog and why one would want to do it.

2. How long have you had your pet business?

I created Dog Chefs of America in 2000 but have been involved in dog health and food for 28 years, working for many years in shelters and dog rescues.

3. Why did you choose to start a pet business?

A pet care business was always a natural transition for me since I have been involved with pets since I was 8 years old. I’ve done other things in my life but always came back to pets on some level.

4. What advice would you give someone about to launch a new pet business?

Make sure you know your avenue real well. I see a lot of people in the pet care business who know very little about dogs but are just following the latest trend or money. That doesn’t work well, since working on any level with dogs can have liability problems - so volunteering at shelters, dog walking, and fostering are good ways of learning about many different dogs.

5. What has been the greatest challenge in growing your business?

Staying clear and focused

6. What are the pros and cons of your profession?

Pros: I get tremendous rewards working with people and their dogs and seeing the changes that happen pretty quickly when changing a dogs food from heavily processed to a natural diet.

Cons: Lots of resistance from the pet owners and unwillingness to make changes.

7. What daily tasks do you enjoy most?

My consultations - each one is different and like a mystery puzzle.

8. If you could have done anything differently what would it have been?

Nothing really. I firmly believe that everything I do and what happens to me - whether I perceive it as positive or negative - is all in the big picture and has led me to where I am today. I don’t look backwards - I’ve learned to live like a dog - in the moment!

9. Did you have a mentor or business coach?

Every pet owner was a mentor. I never wasted that energy - even if they were not receptive - somehow, I did not communicate my information properly or the timing was off for one of us.

10. What form (s) of marketing have you found the most effective in reaching pet owners?

I stayed away from the obvious - never do pet expos or shows - those are for people in the business of selling a product. I’ve always stayed on the “fringes” and it has always worked.

11. Do you offer clients incentives to give you referrals?

No I don’t offer incentives for referrals - I like people who come to me on their own accord.

12. At what stage of your business growth did you choose to take on help?

My dog Carlos, is my only employee. He just shows up with me and acts like Carlos, goofy and cute. Will not take on help unless I need something I cannot do, then I hire independent contractors.

13. How do you differentiate your business from other local competitors?

I don’t have competitors like most dog businesses, but I always change my approach every 2 years and never ride the wave where everyone else is. The media loves that approach - they are always seeking me out because I am always 10 steps ahead of the curve.

Thank you so much Micki for your time and for letting us learn about another unique pet business.

Please visit Micki at www.dogchefs.com to learn more about nutrition for dogs.

If you would like to see your business interview here at Working with Pets please email me at daniellechonody@gmail.com

Four Paws Acupuncture - Pet Business Interview

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Our first professional interview on Working with Pets is with Jeanie Marie Kraft, the owner of Four Paws Acupuncture in Salem, Massachusetts.

Jeanie specializes in acupuncture, herbal medicine, and nutrition and primarily treats dogs that suffer from pain or have difficulty moving due to dysfunction syndromes such as hip dysplasia. Jeanie graduated with her masters degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine and she is a Licensed Acupunturist in Massachusetts

1. What kind of pet business do you run?

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine for dogs. I make house calls.

2. Why did you choose to start a pet business?

I love dogs. When I was in grad school working on my masters of Traditional Chinese Medicine, my German Shepherd had hip dysplasia. I learned how to treat him with acupuncture, herb, and a diet change and decided to specialize in treating dogs.

3. What advice would you give someone about to launch a new pet business?

Research the field, check out the competition and find a niche.

4. What has been the greatest challenge in growing your pet business?

Educating the public that most acupuncturists are trained much longer than vets in the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine with about 3,500 hours of school. Depending on which state, vets are only required to take 4 weekend courses and allowed to practice after that. Even hairdressers are required 1000 hours before they are allowed to cut hair!

5. What are the pros and cons of your pet business?

Pros: Besides doggie kisses and happy wagging tails, I love those positive feedback calls or emails from owners after a treatment saying their dog can walk, or stand up, or is out of pain.

6. Did you have a mentor or business coach? If so how did they help you?

My husband is my marketing genius. He does my website and takes care of my ads.

7. What form (s) of marketing have you found the most effective in reaching pet owners?

Writing articles, blogs, my website, referrals from vets and pet sitters. Wearing a t-shirt with my logo. Having my logo and website on the back of my car.

8. Do you offer clients incentives for giving referrals?

I send a thank you card and some sort of gift, like a t-shirt.

9. At what stage of your business growth did you choose to take on help?

I am solo.

10. What have you done to differentiate your pet business from your local competitors?

House calls and being better educated in the field.

Thank you Jeanie for sharing your experience.

You can learn more about Jeanie at her website - www.FourPawsAcupuncture.com . Jeanie also has a blog which covers pet news and health which you can find on the links page of her website.

Please visit Jeanie and thank her for sharing her business knowledge with us at Working with Pets.

If you would like to be interviewed for a future post please send me an email at daniellechonody@gmail.com.

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