AGE: 35
THE FRANCHISEE: After graduating from LSU, he got a job as an insurance broker. For a time, he lived in California, where he worked in the veterinary industry. That’s where he discovered Camp Bow Wow. Detlefs opened the Baton Rouge franchise in August with his father, Phil.
THE FRANCHISE: The Denver-based dog boarding and day care franchise now has more than 100 locations nationwide. The new Baton Rouge location ranks as the largest at 14,000 square feet.
[While living in] California, I worked for veterinarians. I transported a dog to a Camp Bow Wow, and I saw that all the dogs were happy. I hadn’t realized that something of this caliber existed. So, my love of animals drove me to this, and in 2011 I became a part of the franchise.
At Camp Bow Wow we take care of people’s “furry children.” We offer day care and overnight boarding for dogs along with in-home pet sitting and training. Our indoor and covered outdoor play areas allow the dogs to go in and out as they wish. We have specialized canine turf that looks like real grass, but it flushes water underneath to stop any odors. Also, we have 90 cabins and eight luxury suites for our “campers.” The dogs are only in their cabins or suites when they are eating or sleeping, since they play and do what they want in the yard all day long. When we put them up at night, they’re ready for sleep.
As a Camp Bow Wow franchisee, I have name and brand recognition. The corporate team offers resources and support so we have the ability to grow. This is the team that has walked with me through this entire process. It is so much more than I could ever do on my own.
The days can be long. We’re open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week, and we can hold up to 185 dogs. I’m fortunate to have a team that I consider my family. They’re all certified in CPR and first aid for dogs.
Anyone who has a dog is our potential customer. It may be someone who works all day and can’t get home to walk their pet, or someone leaving on vacation. Our customers know that their pet will be well taken care of while they’re gone. What most Camp Bow Wow customers experience at their home is a dog that eats well, sleeps through the night, and is a better all-around pet. Also, when we give people ?tours of our operation, they’re amazed and typically say something like, “I had no idea something like this existed. Thanks for bringing this to Baton Rouge!”
One is that via the Camper Cams on our website, or with our smartphone app, anyone can watch our dogs having a great time, since we have cameras throughout our camp. We’re proud of what we do, so we’re completely transparent. Another is that with new pets we conduct a “dog interview.” This includes an introduction following dog behavioral methods to make sure they’re ready to attend camp. For some dogs, this takes a few minutes; for some it can take an entire day. We see that when the dogs are happy, the parents are happy.
