Businesses That Work
The Canine Learning Center
Julie Yamane, Owner 

The answer to a dog's prayers can be found at the Canine Learning Center in Fort Collins, Colorado. Instead of staying home alone and trying to be good, the 30 dogs that were here during our recent interview with owner Julie Yamane were happily playing together in the clean and spacious building. There is a total of 4,000 square feet of room in the facility. Each pupil has a day of play, activity and socializing both inside and out. At the end of the day, each happy and tired dog goes home, complete with its daily report card. 

   That's when CLC's other shift kicks in, with the facility hosting dog obedience, show and agility classes. Could it be that Fido will one day soon be able to get a university degree? Smart growth and sensitivity to the needs of dogs and their owners makes a powerful combination. Although there are other doggie daycares in this town, Julie's customers are almost fanatically devoted to this service that makes both dogs and people happy. It's possible that the only problem that the Canine Learning Center has to face is that it might be TOO popular. Julie is looking for the right facility in order to set up another center more conveniently located for her southern Fort Collins customers.

(Dogs are barking in the background. Julie's paying attention to the dogs' behavior as she talks to us. A group of 30 dogs are playing, sitting, laying, or wandering around in the room in front of us. Julie occasionally takes time out of the conversation to discipline a dog for playing too rough or exhibiting inappropriate behavior.)

VC: When did you first know that you liked dogs? 

Julie: I had wanted a dog for many many years. When I finally got one, he was not a nice dog. When I was 12 my mom said, "Train him or get rid of him." So, I started going to classes and got hooked on training dogs!

VC: What made you decide to start your own training center?

Julie: I had been training on a part-time basis as a vacation fill-in for several trainers in the area. Then for 5 or 6 years I [worked as a trainer] for a business on the south side of [Fort Collins]. When [that business] closed down I decided that someone needed to take it on. I was the youngest and the most energetic so I was elected out of the group of trainers that worked together. The main reason we opened the [Dog] day care was that we knew from our previous location that the retail part [of our business] was not as productive as the training part. When you rent retail space you have to maximize the number of hours you use it, so we decided this was a good way to use the daytime.

VC: Did the idea of Dog Day Care take off rather quickly?

Julie: Yes, it did. The only limitation we have is space. [For the space we have] we guessed at how many dogs would be comfortable and have enough room to play. There might be more playing done if they had room, but I doubt it. We like having one group of dogs right now. Many of the owners are worried about the size differences, but it doesn't matter to the dogs at all. The big dogs are gentle to the little dogs. 

VC: How did you decide on your location?

Julie: Affordability. At the time the north location [of Fort Collins] was the only one I could find. We've looked often since then. There isn't much available [in south Fort Collins].

VC: How long have you been in your current location?

Julie: We were across the parking lot for four years and we've been here for almost three years. It was very nice when our lease was up across the way. We knew we needed more space than we had over there. The landlord offered us a good lease because we had gotten a good recommendation from across the parking lot.

VC: How long was it from deciding to start your business and opening your doors?

Julie: Three months. We were fast. We hit the ground running. We already had the clients and we had the staff, and all we needed was the location.

VC: Is there anything you know now that you wished you would have known when you first opened?

Julie: No. Everything has just been fine tuning. (Aside comment as she watches the dogs: "It's always interesting to watch the dog postures that go on.")

VC: Did you use any special financing to get your business started? 

Julie: No. We just used our credit cards. There really wasn't a lot a financing needed. We used our savings, too. We bought products slowly. It really didn't take a major investment or a lot of financing at all.

VC: Do your customers feel that their dogs are happy when they go home?

Julie: That's been my feedback, yes. The dogs are always excited to get here in the morning, and then they're excited to go home in the afternoon. They drag their owners in, and then they drag their owners back out, and then they get in the car and fall asleep.

VC: How do you choose to advertise?

Julie: We don't advertise much, if at all. We've tried radio and little in the newspaper. Of course, the phone book is always helpful. That's pretty much where I draw the line. All of it worked. But word of mouth is really the most effective.

VC: Are there any associations that you belong to? 

Julie: Yes. The National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors, and Association of Pet Dog Trainers. No one certifies trainers, which is too bad.

VC: Are you able to get enough personal time?

Julie: (Laughing). There's never enough personal time!

VC: Have you considered finding investors to help you finance an expansion?

Julie: That's an option, certainly. But I might want to be stubborn and do it all myself!