This blog feature amusing and heartwarming stories about our late Leonberger dog Bronco, as well as other Leonbergers. It also has a lot of information about the Leonberger breed, the history, care, training, Leonberger organizations, etc. I also wrote a Leonberger book, which I am featuring in the sidebar.
Rollo Go Look Out the Window – that is what we tell our mini-Australian Shepherd Rollo when we have to leave him home alone for a couple of hours. Whenever we say that he runs to the window and looks out the window. He isn’t happy about us leaving but he likes looking at all things that he can see through his window, and he barks at the things he sees.
But what does Rollo see? See the children’s story below. I should say that I will work on this story and try different kinds of images to go with it. For this attempt, the first and second photo in the story are taken with my cell phone. The photo of planet Earth is from pexels.com. All the other pictures in the story I generated with help of ChatGPT. The photos outside / after the story are all photos taken by me.
What does Rollo See out his Window ?
Rollo’s owners are usually with Rollo most of the time, but sometimes they have to leave him for a couple of hours. When that happens, Rollo is not happy.
However, Rollo’s Mama says, “Rollo go look out the Window” and Rollo runs to look out the window.
What does Rollo see? He sees the blue sky and the clouds; he sees birds flying and he sees the black crows walking on our lawn. He doesn’t like the black crows walking on his lawn, so he goes woof, woof, woof, woof.
He sees the green grass and the houses, he sees the jagged edges of the roofs and the chimneys, and he sees workers repairing shingles on roof tops, and that looks scary, so he goes woof, woof, woof, woof.
He sees rabbits running, cats hiding, children playing and laughing, and he sees squirrels running up the trees, so he goes woof, woof, woof, woof.
He sees people walking by our house. Do they see him? Maybe not. But there, someone sees him, and he goes woof, woof, woof, woof.
He sees people with dogs walking by the house and that makes him mad, so he goes woof, woof, woof, woof.
Then the cat asks Rollo if he could come out and play with her. But Rollo can’t. He is stuck inside behind the window, so he goes woof, woof, woof.
Rollo looks out the window and he sees the world, and he knows that the world was made for him, but he has to stay inside.
Rollo’s owners left him alone in his despair for nearly two hours but now he sees them coming home and he runs to the door, and he goes woof, woof, woof, woof.
They ask him, Rollo, what did you see out your window today? And he goes woof, woof, woof, woof.
Photos of Rollo Looking Out the Window
Rollo is looking out the window. Photo taken by me.Another photo of Rollo looking out the window. Photo taken by me.Rollo is looking out the window. I am standing a bit further away from the window.
Daisy and Rollo Looking Out the Window
Rollo grew up with two dogs, our big fluffy Leonberger dog Bronco and Daisy our Pug. Bronco sometimes stood and looked out the window, but Rollo and Daisy loved doing that together. They stood on the sofa and barked at everything they saw outside.
Daisy’s and Rollo’s knock knock joke.Finally, I just wanted to point out that Rollo is named after the Viking king who tried to sack Paris, not the Rolo candy.
A professional content writer by the name of Ryan Goodchild contacted me about me posting an article he had written on daily health habits for busy dog owners. The title of the article is “Simple Daily Health Habits for Busy Dog Owners to Boost Well-Being” and you can see the article below. Ryan wrote the article and I provided pictures.
Hachi a Canadian Leonberger with my book. The owner and photographers are Brenda Saito and her husband. Mak another Canadian Leonberger with my book. Photo by Debbie Ireland. Black and white photo of our Leonberger Bronco when he was three months old. Baylor our Labrador. Baby our German Shepherd. Ryu our Japanese Chin. Daisy our Pug. Rollo our mini-Australian Shepherd.
Simple Daily Health Habits for Busy Dog Owners to Boost Well-Being
Are you a busy dog owner? Shutterstock-ID: 561107650 by Akbudak Rimma.
For busy dog owners balancing work, family, and constant pet needs, personal health often gets squeezed into whatever time is left. The pet owner lifestyle brings common health challenges, irregular sleep, skipped meals, nagging aches from walking and lifting, and stress that builds quietly across the day. Daily health routines that focus on simple, consistent head-to-toe care help turn scattered self-care into a steady baseline for energy, mood, and recovery. The payoff is holistic well-being that holds up even when the dog’s schedule runs the day.
Build a Simple Day Routine Around Dog Care
This day structure helps you care for your body from morning to night without adding extra “projects” to your schedule. It matters because small routines done consistently are easier to keep even when your dog’s needs interrupt your plans.
Start the day with stretching Pexels free photo by Maksim Goncharenok
Start with a 3-minute morning stretch reset Start right after your first dog outing with a quick sequence: neck rolls, shoulder circles, gentle hip hinges, and calf stretches while the coffee brews. Focus on slow breathing and comfortable range of motion, not intensity. This is a simple way to reduce stiffness from sleep and make walks and lifting feel easier.
Choose a 60-second mindfulness “pause point” Pick one reliable cue you already have, like clipping the leash, washing your hands, or opening your laptop. Do one minute of box breathing or a quick body scan from jaw to shoulders to hands, then relax what you notice is tense. This tiny reset can lower stress spillover before it snowballs into the rest of your day.
Pair your hydration with your dog’s water routine Each time you refill your dog’s bowl, drink a full glass yourself and keep a bottle where you feed them. Learning the signs of dehydration in pets like dry gums and lethargy also helps you stay alert to your own needs, since busy days often mask thirst as fatigue. The goal is steady sipping, not chugging at night.
Lock in oral hygiene with two “anchors” Tie brushing to two non-negotiable moments: after your first meal and after your final dog walk. Follow the simple rule to brush your teeth twice a day so it becomes automatic instead of optional. This protects your mouth and supports overall health with almost no scheduling friction.
Use a dog-friendly bedtime routine that protects sleep Set a fixed “last call” window: final potty break, dim lights, prep tomorrow’s leash and poop bags, then phone on charger outside the bed. If your dog wakes you, keep it boring and brief with low light and no scrolling, then return to bed immediately. Consistency trains both of you to settle faster.
Digory with Leonbergers friends on the beach. Photo by friend Jen O’Keefe.
Keep Your Mind Sharp With Lifelong Learning You Can Schedule
Lifelong learning keeps your mind active and engaged, which can strengthen mental well-being over time by promoting personal growth and building confidence. As you practice remembering and applying new information, you reinforce memory retention and create a steady sense of progress that can reduce stress and make busy weeks feel more manageable. An online degree can deliver these benefits no matter what career track you’re on, because it offers a structured, self-paced path you can fit around dog walks, work, and home responsibilities. For example, a bachelor’s in information technology online can provide hands-on knowledge in networking, cybersecurity, cloud computing, data management, and systems administration, building practical skills alongside personal confidence.
Neural Networks. Black Hole Stock Illustration ID: 2476711459 by Vadim Sadovski. Malware, Shutterstock asset ID: 1916985977 by Sashkin. Artificial intelligence, Shutterstock Asset id: 2314449325 by Stock-Asso. Stock Illustration ID: 1372134458 by Boris Rabtsevich
Tiny Habits That Boost Health and Your Dog Bond
Small, repeatable actions work because they lower the friction of self-care on busy days. Give each habit time to stick, since 59-66 days is a realistic window for many routines to feel more automatic.
Our Leonberger dog Bronco as an adult. He is coming up to me. He wants my attention.
One-Minute Skin Sweep
What it is: Notice new spots or irritation while brushing your teeth.
How often: Daily
Why it helps: Early awareness keeps you proactive and reduces health anxiety.
Gentle Face Cleanse
What it is: Wash with a mild cleanser after your last dog walk.
How often: Daily
Why it helps: It removes sweat and grime without overdrying skin.
Leash-Up Breathing Reset
What it is: Take six slow breaths while clipping on the leash.
How often: Daily
Why it helps: It downshifts stress before the next task.
Food-as-Training Microgame
What it is: Use a few kibble pieces to practice name and recall.
How often: Daily
Why it helps: It builds trust and mental stimulation in minutes.
Our Leonberger Bronco and our mini-Australian Shepherd Rollo.
Common Questions Busy Dog Owners Ask
Q: How can dog care actually help my sleep quality? A: Aim for a consistent last potty break, then keep lights low and screens off after you come back inside. A short, calm walk can reduce restlessness for your dog and help your body shift into wind-down mode. Many owners find that predictable evening cues lead to fewer middle-of-the-night wakeups.
Q: What are easy hydration tips when I forget to drink water? A: Tie your water to your dog’s water: every time you refill their bowl, take 6 to 10 gulps from a bottle you keep nearby. If plain water feels boring, add ice or a squeeze of citrus and keep it visible on the counter. A “first drink before first scroll” rule also helps.
Q: When my routine gets interrupted, how do I keep up with oral care? A: Use a two-minute minimum: brush once, even if you skip floss. If you truly cannot brush, rinse well with water and set your toothbrush out so it’s the first thing you see next time.
Q: Can a quick walk really count as self-care when I’m exhausted? A: Yes, because movement and daylight can improve mood and energy without needing a full workout. Even long walks with your dog can support physical fitness for both of you when you have time.
Q: Should I feel guilty if I only manage one tiny habit a day? A: No. Consistency beats intensity, especially on chaotic days. Pick the smallest action that keeps your identity as “someone who takes care of themselves” intact.
Paintings of our Pug Daisy and Leonberger Bronco.
Lock In One Week of Health Habits With Your Dog
Busy dog owners rarely struggle with knowing what’s healthy, it’s the constant handoffs between pet needs and personal needs that break consistency. The health strategy reinforcement here is simple: commit to health routines that are small, repeatable, and designed to survive imperfect days, so sustainable wellness habits become automatic rather than aspirational. Over time, that approach supports a balanced lifestyle for dog owners with better energy, steadier sleep, and fewer “start over Monday” cycles. Consistency beats intensity when life is crowded. Pick one one-week upgrade you can keep during your busiest days and do it daily. That ongoing self-care motivation builds resilience for both you and your dog, week after week.
Today we started looking for a new car for our daughter, so we visited some dealerships and she test-drove some cars. This reminded me of when we bought our Subaru some years ago. We felt that it was very important that our Leonberger dog Bronco, or Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle, which was his full name, was happy with the car. So, we let him take the car for a test drive. My wife and I sat in the back seat. Naturally, we had him in a leash. There are leash laws here in Dallas and we are not crazy.
More recently the Texas Legislature passed HB64 and SB14, which made Texas the first US state to allow dogs to drive. Any dog of any breed is allowed to drive a car as long as they are two years or older and are facilitated by a DDAD, a dog drivers assistance device. The Texas legislature isn’t crazy after all.
A DDAD is a device that reads traffic signs for the dog and takes cues from the dog’s body language to turn the car and control it in other ways. DDAD utilizes a multi layered neural network (deep learning style neural network, like LLMs) that has been trained using several thousand dogs that included all of AKC’s approved dog breeds as well as 100’s of mixed breeds. Rollo, our mini-Australian Shepherd, passed his driver’s ed test and now he has a driving license. In the picture below he is coming back from a visit to grandma and grandpa. He drove there all by himself.
Rollo coming back from a visit to grandma and grandpa. He is driving our old Toyota Prius. We are not letting him drive our new car. We are not crazy after all.
The True Story
OK, I must confess, the stories above are not entirely true and the picture of the Leonberger driving a car, that is not a photo of us. That is a picture I generated with the help of ChatGPT. So, the top part of this post is not 100% truthiness. However, below is the true story of when we bought our Subaru and our Leonberger Bronco was part of the decision.
Do you remember the old joke about the man who heard a woman speak to her cat as if the cat understood her? He thought it was so funny that he went home and told his dogs about it, and they laughed and laughed. Well, it sorts of happened at the Subaru car dealership. We had our Leonberger dog Bronco with us. He was going to help us test cars. We wanted him to be comfortable in the back seat.
Well, the salesman at the dealership told us a story about a woman who kept talking to her dog as if he was a person. He was laughing and told us that she was probably crazy. He put his finger to his temple and twirled it in circles to underscore his point. But we didn’t think his story was funny. I mean, what dog owner doesn’t talk to their dogs?
Anyway, that day at the dealership, we let Bronco walk in and out of the various cars we were considering, and he sat in the back seats. The salesman didn’t seem to mind. But at the end we told him that Bronco had told us which car to buy. I mean in practice, you can say that it was Bronco who chose the car we bought. Maybe the salesman thought we were crazy too. Below are some photos of Bronco.
Very young Bronco is giving me a hug.Bronco in the back seat. Going for a car ride. He is almost 13 years old.Bronco in the back seat again. He is almost 13 years old.
I think there are many great quotes, so it is difficult to pick a specific one. However, I think that one quote by Richard Feynman, the physicist who won the Nobel Prize for his work on Quantum Electrodynamics (QED), stands out.
The first principle is that you must not fool yourself—and you are the easiest person to fool.
The quote means that people naturally tend to believe what they want to believe, making self-deception much easier than tricking others.
The first principle is that you must not fool yourself—and you are the easiest person to fool. Don’t believe what feels right. Scrutinize your beliefs. Picture created with the help of ChatGPT.
Ask yourself, what if one of your beliefs isn’t true. How likely is it that all of your beliefs are true? It is pretty much impossible that all of our beliefs are true. If we want to align our beliefs about what is true as much as possible, then we need to scrutinize our beliefs. If they are true, they will withstand the scrutiny. Yes, we need to understand the topic in question and the evidence. Once the facts and the science have given you a conclusive answer you have to accept it. Rejecting an answer that is based on evidence because you don’t like it is not critical thinking.
If you disagree with the world’s experts on a topic on which you lack expertise, then that is a good indicator that you are wrong. Respecting expertise is not the appeal to authority fallacy. It is just common sense. Denial or outright dismissal of a fact you don’t like is not critical thinking, that is denial.
I’ve been there. I grew up in a religious environment that did not accept evolution. I thought evolution was a hoax. However, I loved science, I was good at it, and I went to the natural science high school (naturvetenskap) in Sweden before studying physics at the University. I came to realize from my studies that the various claims, and the faulty evidence I had accepted, that Earth being 6,000 years old, etc., was nonsense, that the second law of thermodynamics did not contradict evolution, that evolution was not “just a theory” but a scientific fact as well. I did not come to that conclusion by arguing with people. I came to that conclusion by learning about the related science. It turned out that my creationist beliefs were not because I knew something others didn’t. I had just been bamboozled.
About 15-20 years ago I was very skeptical about climate change, global warming, climate disruption, whatever you call it. That was the result of me almost exclusively reading rightwing news sources and blogs. But I did not really know much about the science, and I was not even aware of the scientific consensus, and for ideological reasons I did not want global warming to be true.
However, I came across a few red flags, and I was curious, and I took a deep dive into the topic. After listening more carefully to the climate scientists and learning about the topic, I came to realize that global warming was real, and that the evidence that the current rapid warming was not natural but caused by us, chiefly because of our burning of fossil fuels, was for all practical purposed conclusive. I had been bamboozled again, because I trusted the wrong sources, and because of what I wanted to believe.
In think most of us do these kinds of mistakes. The many implausible conspiracy theories out there and all the anti-science are a result of that. But we need to be willing to scrutinize our beliefs and try to understand the topics. Sometimes that is difficult, but at least you can try not to be dismissive, or think you know better than the experts in a field where you lack expertise. And second guessing the motives of most scientists in a field is a trap. You will only fool yourself doing that. Intentionally seek the truth not confirmation of your belief.
I have a second blog, I call it superfactful. The goal of this blog is to create a list of what I call super facts. That is important facts that are true with very high certainty and yet surprising, misunderstood, or disputed by many. This blog is educational and fun but challenging. Below I am listing a few of my blog posts that fall in the category of being disputed by many non-experts for various reasons. They might be challenging, perhaps even provocative facts.
A professional content writer by the name of Ryan Goodchild contacted me about me posting an article he had written on how to launch a mobile Pet Grooming Business. The title of the article is “How to Launch a Successful Pet Care Business in Simple Steps” and you can see the article below. Ryan wrote the article and I provided pictures.
A woman is grooming a small hairy dog. From pexels.com by Tima Miroshnichenko. Photos from Pexels.com by Nataliya Vaitkevich. Ten Leonberger puppies, about two months old. Shutterstock-ID:561107710 by Akbudak Rimma. Our mini-Australian Shepherd puppy Rollo playing with an orange ball. Grooming French Bulldog. Shutterstock asset id: 1340980898 by hedgehog94. Dogs and volunteers at dog shelters. Shutterstock asset id: 1817304344 by miniwide
How to Launch a Successful Pet Care Business in Simple Steps
For practical new business owners who want flexible income without a steep learning curve, pet care entrepreneurship is getting easier to enter and easier to validate. The tension is real: many small business startup ideas feel risky, crowded, or misaligned with day-to-day life, and it’s hard to tell what people will pay for consistently. At the same time, pet industry growth and shifting work habits are expanding pet business opportunities in neighborhoods, apartment buildings, and online communities. With the right fit, startup pet services can become a steady business built around real demand.
Animal shelter volunteer takes care of dogs. Animal volunteer takes care of homeless animals. Shutterstock asset id: 2390820575 by andysavchenko
Choose a Pet Business Model That Fits Your Life
Pet care is growing, and flexible work schedules make it easier than ever to build a small service business that starts simple and scales. Use the ideas below as a “menu” to match local demand with your skills, time, and comfort level.
Shutterstock asset id: 2469644009 by PeopleImages
Start with the simplest schedule-friendly service (dog walking): If you can reliably show up and handle leash manners, dog walking services are a low-setup way to test demand fast. Try two “time blocks” you can commit to (for example, weekday lunch walks and early evenings) and offer 20–30 minute walks within a tight radius. This works because convenience is the product, busy pet parents pay for consistency more than fancy add-ons.
Add pet sitting opportunities for higher-value bookings: Pet sitting turns your time into longer appointments, which often means fewer clients for the same revenue. Decide whether you want drop-ins (10–20 minutes), half-hour visits, or overnight stays, then write clear boundaries: how many pets, medication comfort, and how far you’ll travel. A practical starting package is “2 drop-ins/day + photo updates,” which fits the trust-building expectations many owners have.
Choose a pet grooming business model that matches your space and stamina: Grooming can be strong demand, but it’s physical and quality-driven, start with a narrow offer you can deliver safely. Consider basic services first (bath, brush-out, nail trims) before full haircuts, and set a realistic daily cap (like 2–4 appointments) while you learn timing. The pet grooming services market crossed $11.5 billion, which helps explain why many owners are willing to pay for regular care, especially when you’re reliable and gentle.
Layer in ecommerce pet products only after you know what clients request: Ecommerce can be great, but inventory guesses get expensive, let real customer questions guide you. Track every “Do you sell…?” request for two weeks, then test with a small batch (like a month’s worth) of one or two items that pair with your service, such as paw balm after winter walks. This approach turns your service clients into your first product customers instead of starting from zero.
Try niche pet services to stand out in a crowded area: Niche services help you become “the obvious choice” for a specific need, which can raise prices and reduce competition. Options include senior-pet support visits, puppy potty-break plans for remote workers in meetings, cat-only drop-ins, or fear-free handling for anxious dogs. Pick one niche, write a simple checklist for what you do each visit, then ask your first five clients what they valued most.
Build your pet care business models like building blocks (then decide what to keep): For 30 days, run a small experiment: one core offer (walks or drop-ins) plus one add-on (nail trim, medication support, or “last-minute coverage” fee). Review what sold, what drained you, and what you can repeat weekly without burnout. Your best model should fit your life as much as it fits the market. Once you know your core offer and niche, it’s much easier to choose a business name, colors, and a simple look that pet parents instantly recognize.
Our Leonberger Bronco at three months old.
Build a Simple Brand Kit That Pet Parents Remember
Once you’ve chosen a pet care business model that fits your life, a simple brand kit helps people recognize you quickly and feel confident booking.
A well-designed logo is one of the easiest ways to market your new business because it makes a strong first impression, builds brand awareness, and helps separate you from the competition. It doesn’t need to be complex, just clear and memorable so it looks good wherever pet parents see it.
Pet Business Logo. Shutterstock asset id: 2312035167 by stivesmith
If your startup budget is tight, you don’t have to pay for logo design services right away. Explore and compare logo design options. You can use online logo maker offerings to create an appealing logo yourself: pick a style, choose an icon that fits your vibe, add the name (and any short text you need), then browse the options and fine-tune details like fonts and colors until it feels right.
Once you have your logo and basic visuals, keep them consistent across flyers, social profiles, and booking pages so your business looks established from the start.
Next, you’ll turn that polished first impression into action with a step-by-step launch plan to go from idea to first clients.
From pexels.com cottonbro studio
Build a Simple Launch Plan for Your Pet Care Business
Pet care can be a real business when you treat it like one from day one. Use the steps below to turn your idea into clear operations, smart funding choices, a ready-to-go launch checklist, and practical marketing that helps you get your first paying clients.
A launch plan. Shutterstock asset id: 2684334261 by Master1305
Step 1: Write a one-page business plan Start with what you offer, who you serve, how you’ll deliver the service (hours, service area, supplies, policies), and what you’ll charge. Add a simple money snapshot: expected monthly bookings, basic costs, and a break-even target so you know what “good enough” looks like.
Step 2: Pick a starter budget and funding path List your must-have startup items (insurance, leashes and crates, booking system, basic marketing) and decide what can wait until revenue comes in. Because the forecasted growth of 2.9% suggests a steadier pace in parts of the market, plan for a lean start: self-fund first, then consider a small loan or low-limit credit only if you can cover payments with conservative booking estimates.
Step 3: Turn operations into a launch checklist Create a checklist you can actually run every week: onboarding steps, intake questions, meet-and-greet flow, safety rules, cancellation policy, and how you handle emergencies. Then set up your back office basics: a way to track bookings, collect payments, store client notes, and follow up after each visit.
Step 4: Pre-sell with local-first marketing Start with the channels that build trust fastest: a simple service page, a Google Business Profile, and a consistent social presence that matches your brand kit. Offer one clear first-time booking incentive and ask every happy client for a short review, since proof beats promises when pet parents are choosing care.
Step 5: Run a two-week client acquisition sprint Set a target like 10 conversations, 5 meet-and-greets, and 3 paid bookings, then block time daily for outreach and follow-ups. Track what works, and adjust your offer and messaging quickly because the pet care market reached $188.3 billion and competition is real, so clarity and consistency win early.
You don’t need perfection, just steady action that turns interest into booked visits.
A modern pet shop cafe bar. Shutterstock asset id: 2473075763 by DuxX
Quick Answers for New Pet Care Owners
Wondering if you’re missing something important?
Q: What are some simple pet care services I can start with limited experience? A: Start with low-risk basics like dog walking, drop-in visits, feeding and water checks, and litter box or yard cleanup. Keep services short, repeatable, and easy to price so you can build confidence fast. Add a clear safety routine: leashes you trust, a simple pet profile, and an emergency contact plan.
Q: How do I manage the initial steps without feeling overwhelmed? A: Shrink the launch into one weekly “must-do” list: set your offer, set your boundaries, and book one meet-and-greet. Use one place to track inquiries, schedules, payments, and client notes so nothing lives in your head. Stress drops when you decide what “good enough” looks like for week one.
Q: What kind of local permits or certifications do I need to begin pet care work? A: Many pet care businesses need a basic business license, and some areas require a home-occupation permit if you work from home. The average price ranges from $25 to $550, so budget for it early. Certifications for pet sitters are often optional, but pet first aid training can boost trust.
Q: How can I attract my first clients while keeping marketing efforts manageable? A: Choose two channels you can stick to, like a simple service page and a Google Business Profile, then post one helpful update weekly. Ask every early client for a short review and referral, because local trust compounds quickly. A focused approach matters since 19% of startups die because they get outcompeted.
Keep it simple, keep it steady, and let small wins build your certainty.
Build Momentum With One Simple Pet Care Business Step
Starting a pet care business can feel like a tug-of-war between caring for animals and handling the business details that keep you legitimate and paid. The most reliable path is a steady, service-business mindset: validate demand, set clear boundaries, and put simple systems in place so the work stays sustainable. When those pieces align, the pet care business benefits show up fast, predictable bookings, calmer days, and entrepreneurial motivation that comes from real progress. Start small, stay consistent, and let trust do the heavy lifting. Choose one concrete action today, draft your basic service list and pricing, or schedule the license and insurance tasks for a single hour this week. That small move builds stability, confidence, and a business rooted in community care.
Digory and Obi two old sweetheart Leonbergers sending all of your pets their love and sending all of you their love as well. Photo by Jen O’Keefe a friend.
Imagine my delight when I saw the post above. Sally is sharing my super fact 57: Super fact 57 : Half the World’s Population live within a circle that covers 2% of the world’s surface, or 10% of earth’s land area. This circle is often referred to as the “Valeriepieris Circle” or Yuxi Circle, and it is centered on southeast Asia. In addition, she is promoting my Leonberger dog book for which Robbie wrote a great review. Thank you so much Sally and Robbie. Please hop over to that the Smorgasbord blog magazine and read it.
A professional content writer by the name of Ryan Goodchild contacted me about me posting an article he had written on how to launch a mobile Pet Grooming Business. The title of the article is “A Step-by-Step Guide to Launching Your Mobile Pet Grooming Business” and you can see the article below. Ryan wrote the article and I provided pictures.
Our Leonberger dog getting washed in a kiddie pool. Our mini Australian Shepherd puppy Rollo with a brush. Our Pug Daisy getting a bath. Our Pug Daisy with a bath hat. Our Leonberger Bronco is hiding in the bushes. Amie a Swedish Leonberger standing on a bench. Fluffy black Newfoundland dog by Emma Johnson. Saint Bernard dog Stock Photo ID: 1713912484 by fred12. The photo of five Leonbergers wearing patriotic hats lying on grass by a lake was taken by Jen O’Keefe, (from left to right; Obi, Delfi, Aslan, Gryphon, Digory).
A Step-by-Step Guide to Launching Your Mobile Pet Grooming Business
For service-minded workers, career changers, and local business owners who want a practical small business startup, a mobile pet grooming business can feel like a rare fit between steady demand and flexible operations. The core tension is real: pet care services must be consistent and safe, but most aspiring owners also need a model that can start lean and earn trust quickly. The mobile grooming market meets busy households where they are, turning convenience into repeat business and clear entrepreneurial opportunities. With the right expectations, this can become a reliable local service brand.
Mobile Dog Wash and Grooming van Shutterstock asset id: 2248201135 by Vineyard Perspective
Build and Launch Your Mobile Grooming Service
This simple sequence helps you turn a love of pets into a real mobile pet grooming business with a plan, the right gear, and repeatable daily operations. It matters because small early decisions, like what services you offer and how you schedule, can prevent costly surprises later.
Grooming French Bulldog. Shutterstock asset id: 1340980898 by hedgehog94.
Start with a simple business plan Use start with a business plan to define your services, pricing, ideal customer, and what “success” looks like in the first 90 days. Keep it short: one page is fine if it clearly guides your next choices. A basic plan also makes it easier to estimate costs and avoid undercharging.
Define your offer and your boundaries Decide what you will do on day one, such as baths, haircuts, nail trims, de-shedding, and what you will not handle yet, like severe matting or aggressive pets. Write down your service times, cancellation policy, and any add-on fees so you can explain them calmly to clients. Clear boundaries protect safety and keep your schedule realistic.
Choose essentials and build a safe setup List the non-negotiables you need to groom hygienically and efficiently, such as clippers, blades, shears, combs, towels, cleaning supplies, and secure restraints. Buy for reliability first, then upgrade as revenue grows. Do a dry run in your workspace so you can reach tools quickly and reduce stress for the pet.
Set up operations that run on repeat Create a weekly routine for booking, travel time, service time, cleanup, and restocking so your days do not spiral when you get busy. Use a simple intake checklist for allergies, coat condition, bite history, and owner preferences, then store notes for next time. Consistency is how you deliver safe grooms and earn referrals.
Market locally and ask for the first bookings Choose two channels you can maintain, such as a Google Business Profile and a neighborhood social group, and post clear before and after photos with your services and prices. In your plan, include basics like your mission and target market because business plan outlines make marketing messages easier to write and repeat. Then invite every satisfied client to leave a review and refer one friend.
Brushing a double-coated dog close-up. Shutterstock Asset id: 2441132455 by Gayleen Froese.
Strengthen Your Business Skills Before You Scale Service
Once you’ve got the basics of launching and operating your mobile grooming setup in place, the next growth lever is often strengthening the business and marketing skills that turn steady bookings into a scalable service.
For some owners, going back to school for a business degree provides the structure to sharpen how you plan, position, and promote your services, especially as your route gets fuller and your choices carry bigger financial stakes. If you want a quick grounding, building those fundamentals can help you build confidence in core business and marketing concepts you’ll use every week.
A master’s in business administration equips you with skills in leadership, strategic planning, financial management, and data-driven decision-making to excel in diverse business environments. And because online degree programs are designed for flexibility, it’s often possible to keep running your business while you’re in school.
Well-groomed Leonberger standing in a snowy forest. Shutterstock-ID: 705193912 by Eric Isselee.
Plan → Groom → Follow Up → Improve
Your mobile grooming business grows faster when each day runs on a repeatable loop, not memory. This rhythm helps you protect pet care quality standards, reduce missed details, and keep your calendar predictable even as requests increase. It also builds trust so clients rebook without needing extra reminders, especially when many owners prefer scheduling sessions on a steady cadence.
Dogs and cats with brushes and towels, scissors, shampoo bottles and hair dryer. Shutterstock asset id: 2681547649 by myteamart.
Stage
Action
Goal
Plan the route
Confirm addresses, time windows, services, add buffer time
Fewer late arrivals and smoother drive time
Pre-visit prep
Sanitize tools, restock supplies, review pet notes
Follow checklist, monitor stress, take quick before and after photos
Consistent results and pet comfort
Close and follow up
Share care tips, collect payment, book next visit, request feedback
Higher satisfaction and repeat retention
Review and adjust
Log time per service, update notes, refine pricing and buffers
Better margins and fewer bottlenecks
Because each stage feeds the next, small improvements compound: cleaner prep speeds the groom, clean intake reduces callbacks, and follow-up keeps your appointment scheduling system full. Over time, your customer satisfaction management becomes measurable, not guesswork.
Healthy Leonberger posing in front of a forest. Shutterstock asset id: 1474761425 by AnetaZabranska.
Mobile Pet Grooming Startup Questions, Answered
Q: What licenses or permits do I need to groom pets from a van? A: It depends on your area, but plan for a basic business license plus any mobile vending, zoning, or parking rules that apply to operating from a vehicle. If you collect sales tax on products, you may also need a sales tax permit. Call your city or county business office and ask for a checklist for mobile services so you do not miss a step.
Q: How much insurance should I carry, and what does it cover? A: Many owners start with general liability and then add tools and equipment coverage, commercial auto, and care, custody, and control if offered. Budgeting is easier when you know that mobile pet groomers pay an average of $65 per month for general liability insurance. Ask an agent to quote the exact services you offer, like nail trims, de-shedding, or handling anxious dogs.
Q: How should I price services without undercharging? A: Use a base price by size and coat type, then add clear line items for mats, heavy shedding, special handling, or extra brushing time. Track your true minutes per dog for two weeks so your prices reflect labor, drive time, supplies, and vehicle costs. If clients ask for discounts, offer a maintenance plan for repeat visits instead of lowering your standard rate.
Q: When should I require deposits or cancellation fees? A: Deposits help protect your day when a no-show leaves an empty time slot you cannot fill. Keep it simple: a small deposit to book and a cancellation window that feels fair, like 24 to 48 hours. Put the policy in writing and confirm it at booking to avoid awkward conversations.
Q: How do I handle common grooming concerns like mats, fleas, or anxious pets? A: Start with a quick coat check and explain what is safe and humane before you begin, especially if shaving is the kindest option for matting. For fleas, have a sanitation plan and be ready to reschedule if the infestation is severe. For anxiety, shorten the session, use breaks, and recommend a vet consult for medically appropriate calming support.
Shutterstock Asset id: 450770140 by everydoghasastory.
Turn a Mobile Grooming Plan Into a Consistently Full Schedule
Starting a mobile pet grooming business can feel like juggling licensing, insurance, pricing, and pet safety while still needing clients on the calendar. The steadier path is a community-first, systems-minded approach: use the business launch recap to clarify your offer, follow through reliably, and let trust, not hustle, drive growth. Applied consistently, this builds entrepreneur motivation through visible progress, stronger customer loyalty building, and fewer preventable setbacks on the road to long-term business success. A full book comes from consistent service, clear communication, and repeatable operations.
Leonberger swims with a ball. Stock Photo ID: 720242263 by Christian Mueller.A majestic and well-groomed Leonberger on a grassy knoll. Shutterstock-ID: 731020957 by Peter Josto.
Photo of Moälven river/ Photo taken in November 2005. Babiarne, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
A riverbank is the sloping terrain that directly borders the river. It separates the flowing water from the surrounding land and helps maintain the river’s path. I grew up nearby a river in northern Sweden called Moälven. Moälven is a small river, 140 kilometers, or 87 miles long. Moälven goes through Bredbyn, Själevad and Örnksöldsvik and it ends in Örnsköldsviksfjärden, a bay, or a fjord, in the High Coast region of northern Sweden. See the map below.
This map shows the path of Moälven. That is the blue thin winding line. The dark areas depict mountains. Moralist, CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons.
Moälven was used for timber floating in the past. Forestry and logging used to be a big business in the region where I grew up, and it still is. However, timber is usually not transported via timber floating now a day. Moälven features a lot of wildlife, including fish, birds, and beavers. Moälven was a stronghold of the Eurasian beaver already 50 years ago as it was recovering in Europe from near extinction. You could sometimes see foxes and moose in the forest surrounding the river and you could pick blueberries, raspberries and other berries in the forest.
In addition to living nearby the river, we also used to have a summer cabin that was located not far from the river. For these reasons I spent a lot of my childhood and youth on the banks of Moälven river. I used to jump into the river from the riverbank, I sat or stood on the riverbank as I was fishing, and we docked our small boats by the riverbank, tying them to a tree with a rope. There were also bicycle paths next to the river.
A Google Maps close up of where our summer cabin was.
Some of the riverbanks were sandy, a result of the river being so winding and this caused the riverbank to flatten out were the stream was slow. So, there were several small sand beaches along the river that people rarely visited. That way you could have your private beach.
I should explain that in Swedish the word “flod” means a big river like “fleuve” in French. The Swedish word “älv” means a medium sized river or smaller river like “rivière” in French. The Swedish word “å” means a small river, stream, or creek.
Our late Leonberger Bronco’s birthday is today July 3rd and therefore I am holding a promotion. The price of the Kindle version of my book “The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle” is now only $2.99 and the price of the paperback version is 17.95 (normal prize is $19.95). I will keep that price until July 15th. The prices in all other countries, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Australia, etc., are lowered by the same amount. Below is some information about my book.
This is the front cover of the book “The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle”. Click here<<Link-2>> or on the image to go to the United States Amazon location for the paperback version of the book.
Advance Praise for the book
A wonderful tribute to the author’s beloved Bronco. The stories are heartwarming as well as informative—a true glimpse into life with a Leonberger. The adorable illustrations are icing on the cake.” —D’Nae Wilson, President, Leonberger Health Foundation International
“A lovely tribute to Bronco, with lots of resources for general Leonberger information.” —Julie Schaffert, Leonberger Club of America breeder since 1992
Amazon’s description of : The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle: Stories and Tips from Thirteen Years with a Leonberger by Thomas Wikman
If you’re thinking of getting a Leonberger, or if you’ve already owned one and know how rewarding the experience can be, you’ll want to read the story of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle, called Bronco, who came into the lives of the Wikman family of Dallas, Texas, in 2007. Bronco, a recipient of the Leonberger Health Foundation International’s Grey Muzzle Award, lived an unusually long life for a Leonberger—almost thirteen years. His human family is convinced that what helped him exceed his breed’s normal life expectancy was his brave and loving heart.
Here you’ll read about some of Bronco’s amazing feats: the night he scared away a prowler; the day he performed a hamster search and rescue; the time he stumped the Geek Squad; and the late night he snuck into the kitchen and ate a two-pound bag of dog treats, a box of pastries, a loaf of bread, a grilled chicken, and a Key lime pie, all in one sitting. You’ll also read about his unflappable calm during a north Texas tornado and his stoicism as he endured health challenges in his later years.
In addition to entertaining stories, these pages contain a wealth of practical guidance, including
a history of the Leonberger breed;
advice for the care of very large dogs;
breed-specific health and genetic information;
training and feeding tips;
suggestions for finding a breeder;
the official breed standard; and
an extensive resource guide.
Bronco’s fearlessness, tolerance, and affectionate nature warmed the hearts of everyone who met him, and his sometimes uncanny adventures with his human and canine companions will bring a smile to the face of every dog lover.
The author is donating the proceeds from the sale of this book to the Leonberger Health Foundation International
This is the back cover of the book “The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle”. Click here or on the image to go to the Amazon.com location for the kindle version of the book.Again, these are the endorsements for the book by some very prominent members of the Leonberger community. Click here or on the image to go to the Barnes and Noble location for the book.
Getting My Book in Other Places
You can also get my book in many other places including Amazon in every country where Amazon exists, for example Canada, and other bookstores such as Chapters Indigo, Apple, etc. To see a list of the options visit my Book Page by clicking here.
This post is about Lego blocks and Legoland. Lego blocks in their current interlocking form were invented in Billund, Denmark, in 1949. However, the history of Lego blocks started already in 1932 (in Denmark). You can read more about it here.
When I was a kid, growing up in northern Sweden, I loved building with Lego blocks, or if you call them Lego bricks (either way is fine). I’ve always wanted to visit Lego land in Denmark, but I never got the opportunity to do so. However, about 20 years ago me and my daughter (she was a young child at the time) visited Legoland in Carlsbad, California, a 128 acre theme park. Do you know how many Lego blocks there are in Legoland California? There are 60 million Lego blocks. Below are some photos from that trip. I should add that since this was 20 years ago, a lot has been added to Legoland.
A model of Manhattan made from Lego blocks. The Lego Empire State building is close to 30 feet tall.A model of Manhattan made from Lego blocks.San Francisco built with Lego blocks.My daughter is in front of Lego Capital building.A Lego block cityLego Albert Einstein. Mindstorm is a Lego Science center.Sydney Opera House made from Lego blocks.This Taj Mahal model is made from Lego blocks.A large Lego Octopus playing music.This model of the White House is made from Lego blocks.This is a Lego model of Washington DC.City made from Lego blocks.Sleeping beauty and the prince, all made from Lego blocks.Lego model of Hans and Gretel.Lego model of Aladdin and the King of Thieves.
Leonberger Life 