Amina Yakub, the owner of VIP— a dog grooming and boarding business. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
Ms Yakub — a psychologist by profession— started VIP which grooms, offers spa treatments, inside and outside boarding, group plays for dogs.
Grooming means cleaning everything, not just washing the dog. It involves cleaning the ears, brushing the teeth and clipping the nails, which helps with posture.
A German Shepherd and a Cocker Spaniel walk down the runway with their owners at the first Very Impawtant Pets (VIP) dog fashion show in Nairobi. Although scared, the two groomed and well-dressed dogs walked onto the stage with nine others to House music at the Karen Community Expo.
“I wanted an activity that gives bonding time for the dog and the owner, spend time doing the costumes and where the dogs can meet and socialise, and also the owners,” said Amina Shiraz Yakub, the owner of VIP— a dog grooming and boarding business.
And the dogs were not walking around naked; not in a world that contains dog tutus, tuxedos, fedoras, diamond necklaces and diapers.
Most dogs were wearing custom-made clothes except for Princess, a two-year-old Terrier Spitz. Her owner Mary Rose Dela Cruz had dressed her in a tutu and shoes, which she bought in the Philippines.
Spa treatment
For Ms Yakub, her German Shepherd Ben and her Cocker Spaniel Dexter were dressed as a gangster and superman respectively. She has four dogs; Huni and Skittles, the Yorkie Terriers and Chicco, the Dutch Hound who had been left at home that day.
She says her love for grooming dogs started with washing Huni and Skittles every week; shampooing and blow-drying them. She then saw a business opportunity.
In April, Ms Yakub— a psychologist by profession— started VIP which grooms, offers spa treatments, inside and outside boarding, group plays for dogs. The event also gives the owners a chance to socialise. The VIP show drew dog lovers and came at a time when more Kenyans are starting to keep dogs as pets as opposed to just being guards left out at night to protect the home.
“You do not have to have an aggressive dog that you cannot control. It is like having a grenade without its pin, which can go off at any time. It is all about training and a pet dog can also offer protection,” said Yusuf Hussein, who has been a dog trainer for the last 26 years.
He has 60 dogs in a class at any one time at the East Africa Kennel Club on Jamhuri Road, off Ngong Road and many people are hiring him to privately train their pets.
Jennifer Wanjiru is also in the dog grooming business. She grew up having pets. Her dog, Rocky is an eight-month-old Kenyan shepherd (the common street dog) that she rescued. He is her seventh pet. Inspired by her love for dogs, she started grooming them in 2010 and eight months ago joined VIP as a professional dog groomer.
Grooming means cleaning everything, not just washing the dog. It involves cleaning the ears, brushing the teeth and clipping the nails, which helps with posture. Good hygiene means good health, she says.
“A good groomer has to have dog handling skills because some dogs can be scared, anxious or aggressive,” Ms Wanjiru says.
Taking care of dogs doesn’t end with grooming; the owners also ensure they eat healthy, organic food. Six months ago, Jacob Schmalzle—one of the judges at the VIP show and who has two dogs—started Dr Bones Dog Food.
He says feeding his two dogs with imported dry food was becoming expensive with a 15 kilogrammes bag costing Sh6,000. He was also worried that the food contained preservatives. He started making his own dog food with a recipe from a veterinarian. Now a ‘gourmet chef’ for dog food, the feeding cost has reduced.
He later started selling the food and now has eight kitchen staff who make it. A kilogramme goes for Sh200.
“We use kidney and chicken liver, rice and seven kinds of vegetables, minerals and bone meal. It has a shelf life of only two days because we do not use any preservatives. That is why it has to stay frozen until feeding time,” he said.
Mr Schmalzle, like Ms Wanjiru, also keeps the local Kenyan dog breed. However, there are others who prefer other breeds depending on their personality traits.
“We have sold 400 Boerboels so far. People like them for their size and their protective instinct is very high. They have a calm temperament, but it all depends on the training,” said Emmanuel Paul Ochieng of X-treme K9. He also has a dog, Boston—a three-year-old South African Boerboel.
Growing up, his father kept six dogs at any given time in the compound. He is now a professional dog breeder.
Mr Ochieng’ got Boston when he was two months old, trained him and now he is his companion. They spend up to 12 hours together a day.
Walking the dogs also opened a business window for Slyvia Mati of Sulski Events. She walks dogs, plans their parties and photography sessions.
Birthday parties
Her pet is named Sweetie— a four-year old Maltese Terrier. Ms Mati started the business three months ago and has already organised one birthday ‘pawty.’
Before this, she started the Dog Lovers Nairobi Facebook page which now has 600 members. She is trying to organise a regular play group for the dogs and their owners to socialise at the Temiras Bistro & Coffee Garden, a pet-friendly restaurant.
Even movers have entered into the dog business. Two months ago, Cube Movers introduced its pet moving service. Proceeds from the dog fashion show went to the Kenya Society for the Protection & Care of Animals.
