Business Spotlight: Doggie Place offers day care, boarding, grooming

Name of Business: Stone's K9 "The Doggie Place"

Type of business: Dog boarding, day care, grooming and training

Owners: Carol and Dan Stone

Founded: 2005

Address: 1275 Delta Road, Knightsen

Phone number: 925-679-1081
Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Early drop-offs/late pickups can be arranged.)

Number of employees: five family members

Products and services: Stone's K-9 provides boarding, day care, grooming and training services for dogs. They also provide services for special needs dogs at no extra charge.

"We strive to create a home-like atmosphere for your pet to stay in while visiting. Our main concern is to make your family member feel like they are also on vacation," Carol Stone said.
"We want them to stay as stress-free as possible, by changing their routine as little as possible and making sure they are comfortable, happy, have a healthy and safe experience."

How did you get into the business: "We breed and raise show dogs and several of our friends starting asking if we could look after their dogs while on vacation," Stone said.
She explained that the business came about by word of mouth, making her small kennel grow into what it is today. "Most of our business is by referrals from clients and veterinary offices in our area," she said.

Best part about the business: "Being able to provide a safe and happy place for owners to leave their dogs for a couple of hours to several weeks at a time," Stone said.

Worst part about the business: "Having to say the kennel is full and we have no more room," Stone said.

Stone said that the dogs that board with them are part of their extended family and she hates to say no.

Key to success: "Loving what you do," she said. "It comes across not only to our clients but to their dogs."

Biggest misperception about the business: Stone said there really aren't any misperceptions about the business and that most people who have pets understand the services they provide.

Future plans: Stone's K-9 will be expending and adding additional play areas and kennels.
"Rescue is a big future goal of ours as we would like to do more at the community level by holding food drives and continuing to help house dogs when possible for rescue groups and veterinary hospitals in the area," Stone said.