Do you enjoy UK Winters?

I guess the other potential is in indoor play area for dogs but I can't see that being very lucrative because - while it is a good idea - few people will actually want to pay for that. People here (from my experience anyways) are more strict with what they spend their money on and you may find that people that can afford to drive to an indoor play place for their dog and pay to get in will just pay a local dog walker because it's less hassle.

I personally would still love to see actual dog parks become a thing here. I think I've been told there's one or two somewhere in the country but I wish they would become more common of a thing. I actually was going to inquire about how one would go about getting a section of land to do this, etc., but that won't help in winter unfortunately.

I guess the other potential is in indoor play area for dogs but I can't see that being very lucrative because - while it is a good idea - few people will actually want to pay for that. People here (from my experience anyways) are more strict with what they spend their money on and you may find that people that can afford to drive to an indoor play place for their dog and pay to get in will just pay a local dog walker because it's less hassle.

I personally would still love to see actual dog parks become a thing here. I think I've been told there's one or two somewhere in the country but I wish they would become more common of a thing. I actually was going to inquire about how one would go about getting a section of land to do this, etc., but that won't help in winter unfortunately.

If there's a washing station it might help in winter. Get them clean before heading home! But land here is so expensive that unless a council sponsored it I'm not sure how it could be done

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If there's a washing station it might help in winter. Get them clean before heading home! But land here is so expensive that unless a council sponsored it I'm not sure how it could be done

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Oh yeah I was going to look into how you would go about doing that but then I never had the time to do any of it as I was doing it on my own. I was wondering if Broadmoor would donate land because they have so much of it unused and it would be so good to just put a bit of fencing around a small patch. Wouldn't require a lot of effort, but some land where it could be done. I don't know if I'd want to wash my dog outside in winter but it could be beneficial for some people.

I know there is a place up in Newcastle that has 2 indoor areas (about 3000 sq ft each) that they promote as being a dry, warm place to bring your dogs. But, they are more of a doggie day care where you drop them off. Not like a dog park where you can just stop by, play with them and then leave.

We have a few of those types of places here in Seattle though where you can actually go into whenever you want. You have a monthly membership which covers use of the indoor "dog park" and classes if you want to use them. The "dog park" is like an agility course. Yeah you have to pack up your dog and drive (its about a 20-30 minute drive for me) but its warm and dry and I dont have to bath the dog afterwards each time.    Shame the same hasn't caught on over there.

We have a few of those types of places here in Seattle though where you can actually go into whenever you want. You have a monthly membership which covers use of the indoor "dog park" and classes if you want to use them. The "dog park" is like an agility course. Yeah you have to pack up your dog and drive (its about a 20-30 minute drive for me) but its warm and dry and I dont have to bath the dog afterwards each time.    Shame the same hasn't caught on over there.

Again, I'd wager that this is because over here people seem to be strict with their money and on things like that and what they spend it on. Like I know my husband would be saying "you also have to factor in the price of fuel to get there!" (I would literally NEVER consider factoring in the price of fuel because - to me - it's just not something I care enough about to keep tabs on. Yes fuel is more expensive, but not THAT much more expensive that I have to account for it all!). I imagine a lot of people would also factor in the drive itself to get there and would probably say it's "lazy" to drive your dog 30 mins and pay for entry than just walk them nearby without needing to drive. I don't personally view it as lazy, I view it as making your life easier in one way but I find I come across these types of scenarios more often than I would've thought where somebody would rather deal with more hassle than pay a little bit to make their life easier. I don't really bother having those conversations anymore lol (also, I might just be cranky as I've not had coffee yet and I had to commute into London today so more negative about those responses than I should be ).

People here (from my experience anyways) are more strict with what they spend their money on...

Again, I'd wager that this is because over here people seem to be strict with their money and on things like that and what they spend it on.

These are some of the nicest metaphors for "British people are cheap" I've ever read. Well done! 

I agree with KoD on the feasibility of indoor dog play areas. The cost of such a thing is definitely a factor, as is the tendency among some British people (primarily my mother-in-law, but I know she's representative of the type) to enjoy getting all warmly dressed up and putting on some wellies to take the dog for a jaunt through a muddy field in the rain, along with all the attendant messing about with cleaning and drying the dog afterward. The final part of the whole production is yelling at the dog when it goes running through the house while still wet, flinging muddy water droplets all over the place, rather than staying on its mat in the kitchen like it was told to do. My MiL acts like this is all a giant pain in the a$$, but you can tell deep down she's having an excellent time.

On topic, no, I don't enjoy UK winters. Too much grey and rainy and dull. If you're going to have winter, either go all the way and have proper snowstorms where you can be stuck in the house all day with a roaring fire, or just skip winter entirely. Eight months of overcast and a 15% chance of rain makes me want to move to Hawaii.

.. the tendency among some British people (primarily my mother-in-law, but I know she's representative of the type) to enjoy getting all warmly dressed up and putting on some wellies to take the dog for a jaunt through a muddy field in the rain, along with all the attendant messing about with cleaning and drying the dog afterward. The final part of the whole production is yelling at the dog when it goes running through the house while still wet, flinging muddy water droplets all over the place, rather than staying on its mat in the kitchen like it was told to do. My MiL acts like this is all a giant pain in the a$$, but you can tell deep down she's having an excellent time.

You just described a significant portion of my childhood! 

I guess the other potential is in indoor play area for dogs but I can't see that being very lucrative because - while it is a good idea - few people will actually want to pay for that. People here (from my experience anyways) are more strict with what they spend their money on and you may find that people that can afford to drive to an indoor play place for their dog and pay to get in will just pay a local dog walker because it's less hassle.

I personally would still love to see actual dog parks become a thing here. I think I've been told there's one or two somewhere in the country but I wish they would become more common of a thing. I actually was going to inquire about how one would go about getting a section of land to do this, etc., but that won't help in winter unfortunately.

That sounds like a very good business idea. Had no idea dog parks weren't a common thing in the UK. The little pups need the stimulation of socialization with other dogs. There need to be a dog park especially designed for those winters months encompassing a enclosed area from top to bottom. No muddy wet pets, instead a dry happy dog being the business logo. It's a workable idea just need a strong business model and start up capital.

That sounds like a very good business idea. Had no idea dog parks weren't a common thing in the UK. The little pups need the stimulation of socialization with other dogs. There need to be a dog park especially designed for those winters months encompassing a enclosed area from top to bottom. No muddy wet pets, instead a dry happy dog being the business logo. It's a workable idea just need a strong business model and start up capital.

And a complete overhaul of the country's off lead dog walk culture and spending culture - and you are there. 

That sounds like a very good business idea. Had no idea dog parks weren't a common thing in the UK. The little pups need the stimulation of socialization with other dogs. There need to be a dog park especially designed for those winters months encompassing a enclosed area from top to bottom. No muddy wet pets, instead a dry happy dog being the business logo. It's a workable idea just need a strong business model and start up capital.

It wouldn't actually be a good business idea because of the fact you wouldn't make money. When I say "dog park", I am meaning like a fenced in space outdoors you can safely let a friendly dog run around off-lead at the owner's discretion but you wouldn't be making money off of it because it'd just be on a big of publicly accessible land. As mentioned in above post, I don't think an indoor play area for dogs would be lucrative because Brits just wouldn't want to spend the money or make the effort.

You might make some money on beer and chips!

You might make some money on beer and chips!

hah one way you could make it financially beneficial to yourself is to open a pub with enough land to include a sheltered dog-park area. That would cover the beer and chips.

I know there is a place up in Newcastle that has 2 indoor areas (about 3000 sq ft each) that they promote as being a dry, warm place to bring your dogs. But, they are more of a doggie day care where you drop them off. Not like a dog park where you can just stop by, play with them and then leave.

We have a few of those types of places here in Seattle though where you can actually go into whenever you want. You have a monthly membership which covers use of the indoor "dog park" and classes if you want to use them. The "dog park" is like an agility course. Yeah you have to pack up your dog and drive (its about a 20-30 minute drive for me) but its warm and dry and I dont have to bath the dog afterwards each time.    Shame the same hasn't caught on over there.

Hi Buddy

Have a question. In your opinion is the weather worse in the Seattle area or London?

As mentioned in above post, I don't think an indoor play area for dogs would be lucrative because Brits just wouldn't want to spend the money or make the effort.

A girl I worked with left the bank and leased a building in a business park, and opened a doggy daycare. It's ridiculously expensive and always has a waiting list of people wanting a place for their dog.
She also has a self-service dog wash area, and at weekends there is no day care, but she offers Play Days, which are very well-attended.
It was a risk, but I'm glad to see she's having great success.

And a complete overhaul of the country's off lead dog walk culture and spending culture - and you are there. 

Yeah I hear you. Mentality can be a difficult thing to change.