Your Name: Deb D’Andrea
Business Name: 4TheLuvOfDogz LLC, a service for dog care and training
Type of Business: Pet Care
Business Location: Boulder, Colorado, United States
Website www.4theluvofdogz.com
Twitter @4TheLuvOfDogz
Facebook www.facebook.com/4TheLuvOfDogz
Reason for starting
After several years in hi-tech, I found my passion, went back to school, received my certification for Canine Massage from Boulder College of Massage and later a second Canine Massage certification from CSU. I started my company 4TheLuvOfDogz; and now six years later 4TheLuvOfDogz has blossomed into offering Canine Agility classes, mobile Canine Massage, PawQuatics, and Dogz Nanny services along with offering K9 Birthday cakes freshly baked & shipped, and all natural, human grade Doggy Peanut Butter Biscuits for sale locally (enjoyed by canines & their people!). I write seven articles a month for local papers and offer my services for several charity events to raise money for animals in need.
How do you define success?
Knowing I make a difference in animal and people relationships. I help improve the quality of life for both through education, hands-on communication, and increasing awareness of understanding their special relationship with their companions. For instance, I’ve had several people approach me to say I’ve helped them through my articles, and have been refered to by my clients as an “Angel,” a “Healer,” an “Icon,” and a “Doggie Diva”.
Biggest Success
Voted Best of Boulder Canine Massage Therapist, and then Voted Best of Boulder Pet Trainer by my students and clients.
What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it?
Managing business and life; and ensuring I don’t get burnt out. I have addressed this by learning to say “no” to not over-extend myself and have created a support network to refer my clients to when I am not available. Thus, I know my clients are in good hands. I have a great group of like-minded people I can safely refer clients to when I am unable to assit them. I firmly believe in embracing people who do what I do so we have a circle of people we trust and can easily refer clients to. This is essential to success.
Who is your most important role model?
Dr. Suess — if you can imagine it, you can do it.