Best area to build dog hiking company

[Hipchik]

True that Boulder is full of dogs and dog lovers. However, it is over-saturated with petsitters, dog walkers, trainers, etc. (as mic111 pointed out) Way too much competition. Just do a Google search.

[rugrats2001]

Originally Posted by GrizzlyBear15

Hello!

My boyfriend and I live in Newton, MA (10mins outside of Boston). We're very excited to announce that we're making the move to Colorado! We currently own a dog hiking/training business and we are looking to expand out to the Denver area. We're not looking for a facility currently as our business is primarily on wheels. We are looking to target affluent working families who don't have the time to exercise, socialize or train their dog during the day. We would like to find an area in close proximity to hiking trails and parks that allow dogs off leash (a must) as our business model is focused on dogs being off leash. We're also wondering if there is a market for this kind of company in Colorado. If so, do you have any suggestions?

Thanks,

From H&A

Most of what is considered a trail in Colorado has some amount of wilderness to it. Unlike Massachusetts, the Colorado wilderness is the home of things that consider a loose running dog to be a threat, or even a meal. Bears, Cougars, Wildcats, or the afore mentioned rattlesnakes are really not that uncommon. How exactly do you intend to retrieve someone else's off-leash dog that takes off after a group of deer in the woods?

[Mach50]

I think you will find that many in Denver are against dogs being off leash, myself included.But I live in the city....

Your business model may not work here.

[davidv]

Originally Posted by GrizzlyBear15

Hello!

My boyfriend and I live in Newton, MA (10mins outside of Boston). We're very excited to announce that we're making the move to Colorado! We currently own a dog hiking/training business and we are looking to expand out to the Denver area. We're not looking for a facility currently as our business is primarily on wheels. We are looking to target affluent working families who don't have the time to exercise, socialize or train their dog during the day. We would like to find an area in close proximity to hiking trails and parks that allow dogs off leash (a must) as our business model is focused on dogs being off leash. We're also wondering if there is a market for this kind of company in Colorado. If so, do you have any suggestions?

Thanks,

From H&A

One of the major differences between Denver and the East Coast is this: On the East Coast people live to work. In Denver, people work to live.

People in Denver tend to make time for their families and their dogs. They exercise their pets every day. They take their dogs to off leash parks frequently, and as many others have noted, dogs are off leash usually only in designated areas. There are too many things that could harm an off leash dog on many hiking trails.

[Suzatlarge]

Originally Posted by davidv

One of the major differences between Denver and the East Coast is this: On the East Coast people live to work. In Denver, people work to live.

People in Denver tend to make time for their families and their dogs. They exercise their pets every day. They take their dogs to off leash parks frequently, and as many others have noted, dogs are off leash usually only in designated areas. There are too many things that could harm an off leash dog on many hiking trails.

Word. I'm not young, wealthy, or athletic. My dog's a little guy who's not a breed that needs high activity levels to burn off energy. But still? I take him to dog daycare at least one day a week so he can interact with lots of other dogs - and the staff there - and run and play to his heart's content.

Off leash dogs on public hiking trails? I'm not a fan of that idea, and I'm glad it's generally prohibited around here.