The Importance of Adding Enrichment Programs to Your Pet Care Services

June 23, 2021

Robin Bennett and Susan Briggs from The Dog Gurus, the #1 in staff training and business consulting group for the pet care industry, are strong advocates for pet care facilities charging what you are worth and making profitable pricing decisions. One way to increase your revenue is by adding enrichment programs (2.0 model) to your services.

With a combined 50 years in the pet care industry, both Robin and Susan were long-time advocates and pioneers for “daycare day long play.” However, about six years ago, it became apparent to this daycare duo that daylong play was no longer a profitable service.

Fortunately, there is an alternative model that The Dog Gurus encourage every pet business to include in their services. The Enrichment program is a safer, healthier and more profitable option for pet care facilities.

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“All day play worked well for many years, but overtime we realized that not only was it no longer profitable, it also left both dogs and staff exhausted by the end of the day,” says Susan, “We recently adopted this new model and tried out the enrichment program with many clients. The results left us feeling extremely enthusiastic about it.”

The enrichment program offers numerous benefits for staff, dogs and the business overall. For a daycare facility, the day consists of some group play with smaller groups of dogs, individual time with staff (great bonding time), mental engagement (activities like puzzle toys, learning tricks, platform training, etc.) and rest time. This model is scheduled, which creates more of a routine and variety for dogs that really helps them thrive.

Robin says, “The enrichment model allows for dogs to go home tired in a healthy way, and it’s more exciting and fun for the staff because they are able to actually engage and interact with the dogs instead of just strictly supervising all day.”

Safety and health are definitely a priority for pet businesses, but The Dog Gurus also understand that profitability is also a crucial component. The Dog Gurus clients who switched to the 2.0 Daycare model were able to increase their rates $10 – $15, both in cities and rural areas. Although more staff may be needed, the increase price per dog will pay off in the long run.

“The enrichment program has proved itself to be a win-win for the dogs, the team and the business, so it’s really a no brainer,” expresses Susan, “All pet daycare, lodging, trainers, groomers and sitters should be offering this model as an option!”

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