How to Start a Guard Dog Business

Part 1 - How to start a Guard Dog business - Background

Guard dog businesses are becoming very popular, especially in urban areas where nighttime burglary is on the rise. Business owners train guard dogs to protect the property of customers during all non-business hours. Guard dogs can be rented or sold to companies or individuals that require protection.

Our guide is in 3 parts:

• Part 1 - How to start a Guard Dog business - Background
• Part 2 - Our planner tool to see if this idea is the right fit for you
• Part 3 - Action plan to get started

What are the costs involved in opening a guard dog business?

First of all, you will need a location from which to operate that has well-built kennels and space for the dogs to run. You will also need to purchase transportable sizable locked cages. As business owner, you will need to either train the dogs yourself or pay for the cost of having them trained and handled. Depending on the square footage needed, and the number of dogs employed, you’re looking at start-up costs of up to $50,000.

What are the ongoing expenses for a guard dog business?

Ongoing expenses for a guard dog business include food, maintenance, and veterinary care for animals, upgrading or purchasing new kennels and cages, vehicle maintenance and gas, training costs, and salary for any handlers. You’ll also incur monthly phone and website maintenance costs.

Who is the target market?

Preferred clients are business or operating in high crime areas, or private homeowners, who wish to rent or buy a trained guard dog.

How does a guard dog business make money?

A guard dog business makes money by either renting out guard dogs or selling highly trained guard dogs to individuals.

How much can you charge customers?

Guard dog rentals without any security handlers can run up to $80 for an eight-hour shift, which includes pickup and delivery of the dog. Guard dogs that are housed in cages in the location’s perimeters average about $100-$150 per day, which includes visiting the dog daily, feeding it, and providing any clean-up. If you rent out guard dogs with security handlers, it will run from $150 to $200 for 8 hours. Sales of trained security guard dogs range from $10,000 to $12,000 for a level I dog, and $20,000+ for a level III dog.

How much profit can a guard dog business make?

Guard dog trainers command a salary of approximately $35,000 per year. Rentals of dogs including kennel on site service and pick up and delivery services include all costs associated with dog care, veterinary care, and transportation costs. Sales of trained dogs are much more lucrative, although it does take a substantial investment of time to train the dogs before they are ready to be sold.

Depending on the level of training a guard dog receives, and the amount of salaries and rent or mortgage payments, guard dog business owners can expect to see profits of approximately 20-25% annually.

How can you make your business more profitable?

If you can train and sell guard dogs, this will add a significant amount of profit to your business. Likewise, if you provide much of the training and handling yourself, your business will be more profitable than if you have to hire other professionals to do the bulk of the work for you.

Day-to-Day and Growth

What happens during a typical day at a guard dog business?

A dog guard business owner will be kept busy with a number of important tasks, including training, transporting dogs to their place of employment, cleaning up after the dogs and locking them up in their onsite kennel after their shift is over, or dropping off rental guard dogs at night and picking them up in the morning. They’ll also need to care for the dogs’ health and transport them to the vet when necessary. A business owner must also be responsible for the upkeep of vehicles, finding new dogs that are suitable for training, and providing 24-hour emergency customer service.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful guard dog business?

Degrees or certification in animal science or related fields and experience with animals is very important. It’s highly recommended that you or your trainer should pursue a training program in dog obedience and behavior modification and as a protection dog trainer. Join a protection sports association like PSA K9, which will give you or your trainers an outlet to practice civilian competitions in controlled protection and canine obedience.

What is the growth potential for a guard dog business?

Depending on the number of dogs you have, the increased popularity of owning a protection dog, and the crime statistics of the neighborhood, there is potential for growth. Keep in mind, though, that quality of care – clean, well-ventilated kennels and healthy, well-trained, cared-for dogs – should be a primary consideration before considering quantity.Growth potential is estimated at 15-20% annually.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a guard dog business?

You or your future trainers should attend training courses that specialize in canine behavior, behavior evaluation, and training techniques. Get to know the best breeds of dogs for training – German shepherds, Akitas, Rottweilers, Pulis, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Giant Schnauzer, Doberman Pinschers, and Bullmastiffs. Earn voluntary professional certification – either a CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer with Knowledge Assessed) for entry-level trainers or a CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer with Knowledge and Skills Assessed) for more advanced trainers.

How and when to build a team

As your business grows, it will be impossible for you to do all of the necessary training and maintenance yourself. You will need at least one other trainer and a small team of employees who can handle 24-hour emergency calls, advertising, website development, upkeep, etc.

According to www.payscale.com, dog trainers can earn anywhere from $10 – $25 hourly depending on their level of experience and expertise. This translates to around $2,500 per month for each additional full-time trainer. Keep this in mind as you budget to bring on more staff.

Part 2 - Is a Guard Dog business the right fit for you?

Part 3 - Action plan to launch your Guard Dog business in 90 days