We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Daryana Quintana Cowie a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Daryana, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
When I reflect back on the past 4 years, I can’t believe how many hurdles I have had to clear out of my way to be able to continue with my dog boarding business. Besides COVID, which unfortunately put a halt to a lot of small business operations, I had malicious competitors trying to undermine my Google Business Profile, and I had a neighbor causing me and my business quite a bit of trouble.
But my love and passion for animals has helped me refocus and I was able to bounce back from all the obstacles, small or large. In 2021, after companies had figured out the hybrid or full remote office model, I actually had clients signing up their dogs for my weekly Tuesday and Thursday Crew daycare with me. This has given them an opportunity to work fully focused in their home, while their pups got the much needed exercise, and social interaction that they needed.
Since then, I have expanded my business and moved to a ranch where we are able to provide a larger area for the dogs to roam around in a healthy environment. When their owners go on vacation, their dogs also enjoy a change of scenery. We adapted our business model where we drive to pick up and drop off dogs within a 15 mile radius, and that is also a service that most dog boarding facilities don’t provide.
Raising ranch animals like chickens, cows, goats and emus while running a dog boarding business also has its challenges. When a summer thunderstorm or a winter snowstorm rolls in, our small crew steps it up and makes sure that our animals are taken care of and they are safe from the elements. We also have to be diligent with the safety of the animals, and be as prepared as possible for the unexpected. If and when things go sideways, you just have to brace yourself and get back up and tell yourself that it’s going to be ok. You see, running a small business takes courage and a lot of resilience, so I only recommend it to those that have what it takes, because there will be good days and challenging days, but that’s the beauty of it.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
One of the reasons we stand out in our community amongst other local dog boarding facilities and services is that our husband and wife team have a list of certifications, including animal CPR and we’re highly trained compared to other teams in this industry. We’re also insured, PACFA licensed, and bonded. We constantly upgrade our outdoor play areas and indoor facility to provide the highest quality experience for dogs and owners alike. We offer additional services, like grooming, teeth cleaning, nail trims, bath and brushes for dogs that stay with us. Several of our clients are in our VID (Very Important Dog) program, which comes with added benefits and perks. We do not charge extra for peak times, like holidays and school breaks, which is almost unheard of in our industry. We just don’t nickel and dime for things like crates, bedding, giving medication, playtime and our clients really appreciate that.
We try to be innovative by offering new services, one of which is our Bark & Ride airport transport for dog owners that board with us. Imagine the convenience of someone picking you and your pooch up and dropping you off at the airport and then also picking you up when you arrive back from your vacation or business trip. Our clients love this service because it is very convenient for them. Not to mention the luxury SUV experience that is taking them to and from the airport.
We have served clients for 7-8 years because they like our top-notch facility and our outstanding services. Our clients recognize the benefit of having the same small crew attending to their dog(s), creating both trust and boundaries, which helps in best serving the needs of each dog every single visit. We’re working on exceeding client expectations by keeping a good communication, being flexible, and trying to offer solutions to multiple situations – because life happens! We also pride ourselves on being easy to contact either through call or text at (303) PAWSOME, our www.daryanasbackyard.com website, Google, Facebook, Instagram, Whats APP, X, and email at daryanasbackyard@gmail.com.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The number #1 quality that helped me get to where I am today is my willingness and hunger to learn and improve my skills through certifications and training. I highly recommend everyone to invest in their knowledge and learn from the experts, not only in their industry, but also business. Running a small business requires a lot of marketing and business knowledge.
The #2 quality I would highlight is my passion. People recognize that and they choose you for noticing that you really care about what you do. I haven’t lost this passion since I started Daryana’s Backyard, even though I have mentioned several hurdles that I had to overcome through the years.
And the #3 quality that has helped me from the very beginning was to stay curious. I like researching and watching what others do in my industry and I learn from it. I also reinvent my services and add new ones as I feel the need to do that and based on client feedback.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I would love to collaborate with Colorado-based travel advisors, travel concierge services, dog walkers, in home dog sitters, and small local businesses that make their own dog treats or retail products geared towards dog owners. The best way to reach out is an email to daryanasbackyard@gmail.com or call/text (303) PAWSOME, (303) 729-7663.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://daryanasbackyard.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daryanasbackyard
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daryanasbackyard
Image Credits
Jolie Rodriguez Photography
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