Josh Rickey is no ordinary dog walker.
His company, Canine Adventures, specializes in taking Richmond’s resident dogs on extended walks, such as six-mile hikes in the James River Park and Dogwood Dell.
And now the company, which Rickey founded in October 2008, is turning a profit, leaving open the possibility for Rickey to start serving more areas, such as the Southside, the West End and Short Pump.
The idea for Canine Adventures came about after Rickey’s dog, a stray he rescued while on a hiking trip, wasn’t satisfied with the usual walk around the block.
“We’d walk three times a day, and it wasn’t enough for him,” said Rickey, 32. “I started taking him on five- and six-mile hikes every weekend and in the evenings.”
His dog’s behavior started to change for the better, leading him to believe he was on to something.
He then took a couple of his friend’s dogs on these hikes, and that’s when Rickey realized he could turn his hobby into a business.
After some online research, Rickey found there weren’t any dog-walking services in the area that offered such extended hikes.
“There were the standard 30 minutes around the neighborhood, and it’s something, but it’s not enough for every dog,” Rickey said.
By November 2008, Rickey quit his job as an insurance claims adjuster, set up a website, bought a vehicle to transport the dogs and had Canine Adventures up and running for about $4,000.
The company now offers four- to six-mile hikes, half-hour walks and pet-sitting services for owners that live in the downtown Richmond area.
The Adventure Walk takes up to three dogs on a two-hour hike on local trails and costs $32.
“Most folks do [that walk] twice a week,” Rickey said.
The company’s half-hour mid-day walks are $17.
For the first year, Rickey was running the show by himself with only a couple of clients.
To grow the business, Rickey began working with local rescue organizations such as Ring Dog Rescue and ADRATI.
“They were really happy with the service and started mentioning me to colleagues, and people they knew would recommend me,” he said.
Through word of mouth and referrals, Rickey’s dog-walking business has grown to six employees and 50 to 60 regular clients. He said he’s picking up one to two new clients every week.
In spring 2009, the business was doing eight to nine hikes a week. Now Rickey said the company handles about 25 to 30 hikes per week.
The Adventure Walks and the mid-day walks make up about 60 percent of the business, and the rest is the company’s pet-sitting service.
“We’re killing it,” he said. “It’s overwhelming.”
Rickey said that the company works with a couple of local trainers and that all of the employees are certified in pet first aid and CPR.
“I don’t hire the neighbor’s kid,” he said. “It’s someone that wants to do this on a professional level.”
Ironically, the business has grown so quickly that Rickey, like the dogs he helps, doesn’t get out for walks as often as he’d like. He’s handling more of the day-to-day operations now, but he still averages about eight to ten hikes a week.
Josh Rickey is no ordinary dog walker.
His company, Canine Adventures, specializes in taking Richmond’s resident dogs on extended walks, such as six-mile hikes in the James River Park and Dogwood Dell.
And now the company, which Rickey founded in October 2008, is turning a profit, leaving open the possibility for Rickey to start serving more areas, such as the Southside, the West End and Short Pump.
The idea for Canine Adventures came about after Rickey’s dog, a stray he rescued while on a hiking trip, wasn’t satisfied with the usual walk around the block.
“We’d walk three times a day, and it wasn’t enough for him,” said Rickey, 32. “I started taking him on five- and six-mile hikes every weekend and in the evenings.”
His dog’s behavior started to change for the better, leading him to believe he was on to something.
He then took a couple of his friend’s dogs on these hikes, and that’s when Rickey realized he could turn his hobby into a business.
After some online research, Rickey found there weren’t any dog-walking services in the area that offered such extended hikes.
“There were the standard 30 minutes around the neighborhood, and it’s something, but it’s not enough for every dog,” Rickey said.
By November 2008, Rickey quit his job as an insurance claims adjuster, set up a website, bought a vehicle to transport the dogs and had Canine Adventures up and running for about $4,000.
The company now offers four- to six-mile hikes, half-hour walks and pet-sitting services for owners that live in the downtown Richmond area.
The Adventure Walk takes up to three dogs on a two-hour hike on local trails and costs $32.
“Most folks do [that walk] twice a week,” Rickey said.
The company’s half-hour mid-day walks are $17.
For the first year, Rickey was running the show by himself with only a couple of clients.
To grow the business, Rickey began working with local rescue organizations such as Ring Dog Rescue and ADRATI.
“They were really happy with the service and started mentioning me to colleagues, and people they knew would recommend me,” he said.
Through word of mouth and referrals, Rickey’s dog-walking business has grown to six employees and 50 to 60 regular clients. He said he’s picking up one to two new clients every week.
In spring 2009, the business was doing eight to nine hikes a week. Now Rickey said the company handles about 25 to 30 hikes per week.
The Adventure Walks and the mid-day walks make up about 60 percent of the business, and the rest is the company’s pet-sitting service.
“We’re killing it,” he said. “It’s overwhelming.”
Rickey said that the company works with a couple of local trainers and that all of the employees are certified in pet first aid and CPR.
“I don’t hire the neighbor’s kid,” he said. “It’s someone that wants to do this on a professional level.”
Ironically, the business has grown so quickly that Rickey, like the dogs he helps, doesn’t get out for walks as often as he’d like. He’s handling more of the day-to-day operations now, but he still averages about eight to ten hikes a week.
That is so awesome! I love it when someone finds something they love and branches out from the norm. I wish him continued success!