Backyard Entrepreneur^TM

Pet Caretaker
 

An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language. -- Martin Buber

Pet Sitter 

Make money working at home as an entrepreneur caring for pets in a variety of ways as a sitter, groomer, psychologist, and trainer. Give pet massages and sell pet gifts.

Pet caretakers are needed for busy families.  Apartment owners need a place to drop their pets off during the day. Your backyard is the perfect place. A pet daycare will provide you with an income and entertainment at the same time.  Provide an over night service, or maybe you might go to the pet's home and check up on the lonely one.  Negotiate and provide whatever service is needed.  Don't forget that pet birds need caretakers, too.

Dog Trainer

Train dogs.  Teach them to do tricks or teach them obedience.

Walk and exercise pets for busy owners. Show up at 5 a.m. to walk the dogs while the owners get ready for work. Show up at 3:00 p.m. and do it agian.

Pet Groomer

Provide a dog washing service right in your big backyard.  A real need and growing trend is now to have the caretaker come to the customer's home.  Consider a mobile pet grooming center.  Put everything you need in a van and take the show on the road.  Folks will want to know that you are a professional.  Books are a really good way to do this.  Display your library on pet care.  Allow your customers to check out books overnight.

Sell Pet Products

Figure out how to eliminate fleas organically and spread the word. Package it and sell it.  There are several recipes for mixtures of various products.  Do some research and figure out what works for your neck of the woods.  Seems garlic in the food and a smear of orange juice on the coat works for some.

Make and sell fancy, personalized leashes. See our leather tooling page for this.

Make cat trees and climbing perches for cats.   Make a special chair for cats to sleep in and hang a sign on it that says "Boss" or "King Kat".  You live with your cat only by his/her permission, remember.

Make gourmet pet treats.  Grow cat grass to sell.  Catnip, too.

Make and sell special pet clothes.  Pets are people, too.  Create your own special line.  Just be certain that you do not dress a Mexican Chihuahua the same way you would dress a Scottish terrier.  Create ethnic lines of clothing and include folk tales relating to the various countries.

Make special personalized plates for pets to use at dinner time. Check out these kits.

Pet Psychologist

Offer your services to help stressed-out pets.  Be certain that you have the required credentials and have experience.  Start young as you work with one already certified, then get the required college degrees and get to work.  There is much to be done.

Gift Baskets

Sometimes you get gift baskets and the goodies inside are exciting, but who needs another basket?  In this case, after the pet supplies are used up, there is a pet bed left over. Or a dog house.  Make the bedding and stacks the gift items on top.  If you take orders ahead of time, you can personalize the items.   

Sell Personalized Pet Products

You could offer other services for your customer.  For instance, check out our page, Stepping Stone Mason, for information about putting paw prints into a stepping stone.  Or make a paw print wall hanging using plaster.  Perhaps your customers would like a stone engraved with the pet's name.  Check our page, Stone Engraver.

Pet Show Host

Draw attention to your pet care business by hosting an annual Pet Show.  Folks will pay an entry fee.  You will hire judges.  Depending upon how many and what kinds of pets enter, set up some catagories, and pets compete within the catagories and for Best All Round.  Give prizes.  Maybe you can get some local businesses to help you sponsor for free advertising.

Pet Food Delivery Service

Pets can run out of food so super fast.  Big bags are just extremely heavy.  There is a need for one who can deliver pet food.  People who live alone and are older need pets for comfort and companionship.  Provide this service so that owner and pet can stay together.

Petting Zookeeper

Set up a few activities around your backyard that young children will enjoy such as a big blow up moon walk jumping enclosure.  Bring out the animals.  Just be certain they don't bite and that you have insurance in case a small child gets nibbled by a chicken and the parents sue you.  Small animals such as ducks and bunnies are a big hit.  Goats and pigs, too.  Set up for birthday parties in your backyard, or "Have Petting Zoo, Will Travel".  Give pony rides.

Pet Photographer

It takes a special person to get just the right photo of a beloved pet.  You must have agility, patience, and a love for animals.  Do pet pen and ink sketches.  Paint the pet in oils or watercolors.  Ask for a favorite photograph from which to work.

Backyard Poop Detail

Set up a regular schedule to come by a customer's house for 10 - 20 minutes to clean up the poop in the backyard.  Set up a payment schedule depending upon how many dogs and how big they are.

Install Pet Doors and Dog Runs

Offer to go to your customer's homes to install cat and dog doors.  There is also a need for dog runs using artificial or real grass.  See our page Lawn Expert for more ideas.  Also on that page are instructions for a grass sofa to make any puppy happy.

Pet Massage

Provide the calming influence stressed-out pets need. Learn pet message and offer your services to owners of high-strung pets.  All pets love being stroked and if there is not enough time in the day for busy pet owners to give their pets all the love they need, provide this service for them.

Sell Flea Products

Put together kits of natural flea powder and soaps to sell.  Make certain that your organic, natural products work.  Test it first.

Cafe Press

Check out our products at Cafe Press.

"Dogs are People, Too", "Are We There Yet" and "Flea Bag in the Pet section.

© Backyard Entrepreneur^TM 2007

Link to us.   Contact us if you wish to have your site listed here as a resource in Pet Caretaker or related areas. 

Here are some ideas to get you started.

Links 

Advertise Your Business

Beds

Birds

Books -- Business of Pet Care

Books -- Pet Grooming

Books -- Pet Shows

Cat Grass

Cat Houses 

Cat Tree Furniture 

Clipart for your Newsletter 

Free Clipart and Web Graphics
A huge collection of totally free clipart! No pop ups, trick links or registration required. Just high quality images!

Decorations

Dog Houses

Grooming 

How To

Build a Cat Tree

Steps to Becoming a Pet Psychologist

Liter

Magazines

Organic Flea Control

Wiseman Trading

Partners and Resources

The Perch Store -- The safest quality products for all your pet brid needs.  Treats, bird toys, foraging toys, cages, cleaning supplies, even gifts and apparel for the pet bird lover. It's all here and much more!

Parrot, bird and egg laying cages - Supplier of bird cages, parrot cages and egg laying cages

Aviaries, powder coated bird and parrot cages manufactured in South Africa aviaries,bird cage, budgie cages,canary cages,finch cages -- Manufacturer of aviaries, parrot and bird cages - buy direct and save.

Petting Zoo Activities

Pet Portraits

Pet Portraits by Sarah Theophilus - Beautifully lifelike & sensitive pet portraits capturing the spirit of your dog, cat, or horse in oil pastel from your photos. Art cards, prints, wallpapers & free e-cards also available.

Supplies

Water and Food Dishes

Wholesale Baskets for Gift Baskets

Bodacious Baskets

Wholesale Fabric for Bedding and Clothes

The Fabric Club