Are you looking to have some fun with your pup?

Now, let’s get to the interview!

Transcription:

Laura Wombwell
Hi there, it’s Laura from Laura Wombwell Photography. And joining me today is Al Wright, the owner of K9 Fun Zone in Caledonia. Hi, Al, I’m so excited to be chatting with you today.

Al Wright
Hey, it’s nice to meet you.

Laura Wombwell
So, I would love to know how did you get started in this business?

Al Wright
Dogs, dogs, more dogs. The way I’m a cheap Scotsman. And the way he says I saw an ad on Kijiji for a free chocolate lab, seven months old, came with a cage of food came with lessons for obedience, and said, Well, I can’t say no to free. So we did a meet and greet with a dog and my wife’s ex military. And the guy walks up and just back from Afghanistan. So she hit off with the owner and Georgie came walking up carrying the Frisbee. So we started playing, sorry I just lost Georgie. I just lost Georgie last year.

Laura Wombwell
Take your time. That’s okay.

Al Wright
Yeah, so that’s that was the start of the Canadian lab Squad. Two weeks later, we ended up with Max, we got Georgie a playmate. Six months later we end up with Gemma. Long story short, Gemma ended up being the previous owner was the owner of suppose a sister with Jersey’s owner. So they knew each other as puppies. So we were meant to have lost those two. So became good friends besides the breeder because, you know, we found out from the breeder because he was microchipped. And then we found out we had a chocolate we had a yellow we had a silver lab. And they became the third people said, Well, we just had a litter of 13 black. Oh, so we got Marley. Kind of with Marley. So he has a half sister. It’s Gemma. We started doing a lot of work with outdoor lab rescues. We’re helping like transporting some of the dogs come up Nola from New Orleans and one of the dogs came up with three little brothers, Huey, Dewey, and Louie. And Louie ended up with Parvo. So he was really sick. And the wife fell in love with him. So while he’s in quarantine. Yes, yeah, we were talking and every every two seconds, we just flipping Oh, by the way I want Louie. You know. When Louie came out of quarantine, we took them in. We had a puppy. We have a puppy party. Cool party, our place. So it has all three puppies. I took off supervision for a swim. And then they got to know having some fun there. And then Manny came out and handed my wife afootball. And suppose What’s this for? So that’s for Louie, for his mum. Oh, he didn’t know about that we already adopted him. For for Louie, so. And that’s how we ended with Louie.

Laura Wombwell
Oh, goodness.

Al Wright
We started doing a lot of come to competitions and Georgie was getting older. So I do home home inspections. So Georgie was a mold detection dog that he could detect mould behind walls. So from the same breeder I picked up a few more dogs. So we picked up Ash and Amber, or the wife says, Satan and Lucifer are the two. But they’re both sweet sweethearts. So that too, so? And that to me, we do compete with them now.

Laura Wombwell
So how did you find your way into competition? I know the lab squad competes in all different sorts of things.

Al Wright
So basically what happened was, you know, we had a big inground swimming pool, and we could not keep the dogs out. They wanted to go and swimming all the time. So we did a Google search and we put in all cool swimming dogs, and we sound out dark dogs. So we went to our competition that to check it out. And all the waves are full so we couldn’t compete or nothing like that. But that’s the main information and signed up. The next competition. And we found out there was one in London on a Saturday. And then until a dog park had one on a Sunday. So we’ll try and both Oh, cool. We went to our first competition. And I think they had like 100 dogs jumping like into like a pond. And our Max came in second overall, never competed before. We went to the dock the next day, both dogs ended up with a whole bunch of metals. And then we were hooked. So then we didn’t know we had the minivan, then we had a trailer, and then we had the RV, too. So that’s how we got into it. And then we saw this property here out in Caledonia. And we installed aboveground swimming pool, or dock train over dock dog training. And we decided, well, I’m going to open up to the public so that when they’re ready to retire, we can make a few bucks to cover the costs over, you know, basically your taxes and stuff like that, too. And it took off and took off and, you know, doubled and tripled. And in that, now like last year, we couldn’t even get our dogs in swimming because our pool was fully booked all the time. So then we booked them when they bought us second pool. And now that’s getting pretty good now as well. So.

Laura Wombwell
So for folks who may not have heard of K9 Fun Zone, what sort of services do you offer out there?

Al Wright
Well, we have like two heated saltwater pools, one is 41 feet, and the other ones 53 feet, because we are some of the dogs I’m teaching are dropping over 30 feet into the pool. So we’ve got a big, big bunch, a bigger pool for those jumping. So basically, you just took everything right online and before as well as the heat of salt water. So you guys should go in swimming with the dogs, which you know, that’s easier, it’s easier to coax the dog into the water if you’re if the owners run. And then they get them some note, some drives and toy drive going in, swimming in that as well. Sometimes it’s just older, you know, 1617 year old dogs are in there just for therapy, you know, put a light jacket on them, they can swim, no pain, because there’s no weight bearing on when they’re swimming and they get some exercise. It’s really good good for those those ones. And then people get into the swing and then the teacher the dogs are jumping from the ramps, and then they said, oh, let’s start cheating the dog to jump from the dog, then they start taking lessons, alpha lessons on. We’ve had over 100 roles in white dogs over the last 10 years. And so I’m an instructor for that and some of the dogs I’m teaching right now or our last competition. Last weekend, we had three dogs on the same day, three different dogs all jumped over 30 feet, which is amazing in that to to see that I think a world record just 3210 at the present time. So that we have some of the top dogs

Laura Wombwell
So you have pools, you have lessons, it seems like you’re creating a whole bunch of new champions. What’s your favorite thing to help with within your business?

Al Wright
Well, one other thing is teaching puppies how to swim, you know that’s got to be the best. Seeing the faces on the some of the owners when their dog, when I teach their dogs to swim for the very first time or getting them to jump off the dock for the first time, that too. Or even when they’re competing. They’re getting personal best after personal best, or getting better and better, more confident. That too – and to see the pride under that owner’s face makes me feel good, you know, as the instructor as well. I don’t care if the dog jumps two feet or the dog jumps 30 feet. As long as the dogs are having fun enjoying it, you know, that’s why I look forward to.

Laura Wombwell
So do the dogs have to have any experience with swimming whatsoever?

Al Wright
And what none whatsoever so obviously if you’re teaching the classes for introduction to doc something is usually a force for students before dogs all or one at a time and the doc pool and everyone’s gonna be looking at different different levels. So some dogs already jumping I’ll work on that level. Some the dogs already swimming the work on getting bigger and more confident swimming. And once you have never swam well we teach them how to swim. So I can know for two dogs can be all different different levels. And by the end of the four week course they’re all jumping 100% success rate so far.

Laura Wombwell
That is incredible. Are there any particular breeds that take to it more quickly or any that have challenges or you can teach anybody?

Al Wright
Any dog can jump you know, but again, you got to be no Reasonable eyes, some dogs will do what you’re telling them to, some will do it because they want to the ones who want to is what you want to really compete with. They want you to do what you ask them to they’re doing they say, well, I’ll do it, I’d rather just going swimming with your dad or mom and dad to some dogs would just rather just go swing that to something I like to see the dog jumping into get all hyped up. Like a lot of our clients, they say, you know, our dogs within like a couple of kilometers this place, they know the routes and we can get nearby, they’ve gone nuts in the vehicle, or whining or crying, they can’t really throw within them to get here. You know, they’re like holding them up the dock, as well. But I can’t wait to get on the dark tables. There are dogs like the two puppies that ash and Amber. Like they’re literally bouncing up and down at the gate trying to get in when I’m trying to do some training with them. And then if I have one of them on the dock, the other one’s going nuts trying to get on to talk with the other ones.

Laura Wombwell
So are you still competing with your dogs as well?

Al Wright
Not as much because like they’re so busy here. So then we have competition share, you know, I tried to compete, we’re actually next weekend is until doc dogs. So I know it’s a club event. So I’m gonna be sitting back a little bit and then actually going to be jumping, having some fun and talking my own dog so

Laura Wombwell
Wonderful. So it sounds like you help owners to have a huge amount of fun with their dogs and teach them something new. Are there any challenges that you face within your business or within teaching the pets?

Al Wright
Like not every breed is gonna be perfect for it. You know? No, say labs are usually great for swimming in that too. But no, like, like any human you know, you know, some are gonna be great at it. Some of them will be okay, some will do it becuase you’re asking them to. So everybody’s gonna be a little bit different. You just play it how’s the dog reacts how the dog reacts to the swimming part, we play it by ear, so as long as the dogs are having fun. That’s all it matters. I don’t care if they’re swimming, or if they’re jumping. As long as they’re having fun in the pool with their owners.

Laura Wombwell
Absolutely. So what’s something that you wish that the general public knew about your business?

Al Wright
Well, right now we have opened up the like we had to close down the doggy daycare a little bit because of COVID we reopened it again this year. That’s taken off we’re really well now we have a lot of COVID puppies here. You know everything from 14 week old puppies all the way up and that two to 16 year old dogs here, keep the exam keep the numbers low per day but we have five year olds and keep it around 10 dogs from doggy daycare that we can spend more one on one time and give them a little bit more cuddle time and that as well with them you know our doors are set for is always open. So our back door is the dogs can go in and out at all times. There’s no crates or be roaming free. So they have free area then we say fields and they want to take them to the big the big one acre field obviously swimming then to go running up to the dock and they’re all going swimming so sometimes we have like 15 dogs in the in the pool swimming together or having a blast.

Laura Wombwell
Oh that sounds incredible.

Al Wright
Like we will have you even have like a 10 by 12 ball pit for the dog to play on. So the doggy daycares get use of that. Now we can’t open it to the public or the COVID because how do we how do we sanitize 1000 balls? So once all the COVID part is over, you can reopen it again because everybody loves to and I suppose you’re taking pictures and videos with the dogs in the pulpit and all the colors a lot too. So.

Laura Wombwell
So if someone wanted to get started, whether it was booking swimming with their dog or learning about dock diving, where do they find you? How do they start that process?

Al Wright
While we’re on the web, you know, keen on funzone comm You can also find us on Instagram and on Facebook. You know if you follow us too, you can find out no see when the events are coming up that to this coming week we’re doing a fundraiser silvassa will donate to the whole pool. And in Nashville. Dogs service is coming in here and all the money all the proceeds go to them. So normally we try and raise about least $5,000 per year for different dog charities. Last year, we weren’t able to do as much because of COVID. So we’re trying to start with that started off again. Now this COVID start opening will open up a little bit more started to fundraise normally, once a month we donate the whole facility, you know to different charities and they come in and they run it and all the proceeds go to them and try to help the community back as much as we can. We also ask that the clients bring in for donations that we take money up to the food bank so once a week, hopefully every other week. We get too busy. And that too. So we’ve had like the last one it was like the whole grocery cart full of food that we took from Oracle So they were awesome. And that too, and we’re also starting to we’ve got some of the recording equipment. So next thing to get some lyric coughing or sprinter like 100 yard dash setup, that’s our next their next job that to work on. And that to that, sir, next next door so

Laura Wombwell
it sounds like your property is an absolute just utopia.

Al Wright
That’s incredible. All our friends, everybody comes here and they love it. You know, they have a great great times that and they say We’re coming back. No, that’s, that’s what we hear all the time we’re coming back, especially like for the first time that being here. And that was we’ve been there a few times and every time somebody shows up who’s been here for the first time we do a meet and greet we go up and you know show where everything is we show them where the water bowls are for the dogs were to change rooms are, you know, for porta potties are as well, in that to some of the, all the toys from the field field to the chuck is in tennis balls and went to and you know, so it’s because we have like one of the offleash shares is over an acre. So it can bring you die early in potty your dogs and then afterwards you can run them let them dry off. We have some picnic tables here so people bring a picnic lunch and have a picnic afterwards that too so and spend the whole day there sometimes

Laura Wombwell
That sounds like such a dream.

Al Wright
And also the facility can also rent it as you know, on an hourly basis we’ll have half a day or full day because sometimes we’ll have like puppies puppy pool parties. You know so it’s like last last month we had breeder brought in I think was like 20 Golden’s here there’s a one year one year old turn one year old so became other siblings naturally so they had a puppy pool party you know and somebody that’d be you have big groups get together like dramatic the Kansas coming again. They were the older trainers come and just have a fun day here. We got to go swimming and playing in the field with the dogs and have a barbecue barbecue set set up as well. And not too so

Laura Wombwell
nice. So we’ve talked a lot about how you help other people have fun. I would love to hear a little bit more about how you and your pets have fun. So if you can give me a rundown of who lives with you again.

Al Wright
For right now we have our oldest old girl is Gemma she’s our silver labs. She’s one of our therapy dogs so she areas different circuit works. Now she got into the libraries and kids would read to her and that to hear he had this is this is my son’s dog he just came to visit us coming up here. Give us give us they’ll be out now gonna have seven for overnight. grandkids you haven’t seen them in over a year. So they’re coming up. They’re just here now I’m going to visit with them a little bit, but can’t wait to see them so and that too. Yeah, like so Gemma’s old girl then Barbie. Then little Louie. He’s having some spinal issues we gotta lift a carry up to help him out. And Ash and Amber Ash and Amber did really well, we were on CGH news a couple of weeks ago and one of the announcer actually got the jump for amber and then he jumped into afterward for some fun. That was a blast doing that. And that tube did another document another document to for no TV show. We’ve done some training for different different companies, you know for different dog training. We ever heard of Hudson and Rick’s TV show. So we taught Max how to dock jump for one of one of his TV shoots and stuff like that. A couple of years ago, we had super dogs here today did a water show. So they all have training here that takes we do a lot of stuff like that.

Laura Wombwell
So outside of competition, what are some of your favorite things to do or places to go within the region?

Al Wright
Go for hikes you know just take them into the woods, letting them run around and just be just let the dogs you know, running around, you know, having a blast and all using their noses stepping around, coming back, exhausted, you know, just having a one on one time with you know, with us we take one or two at a time, you know, and then that way we get a little more one on one time with them as well rather than being all Always in a big group. That makes a little bit of difference. My favorite favorite part is as well on the field, I go, I go lie on the ground and the dogs just go nuts. No, that’s playtime. So they get rolling, they’ll roll, no belly rubs and bum rubs and stuff like that, too. So that’s the favorite part.

Laura Wombwell
Well, it sounds like you ended up in the absolute right business for yourself.

Al Wright
Well, my last name is Wright. So I have a great, great business.

Laura Wombwell
Well, it has been a pleasure chatting with you today. Before we end off, I have some quickfire questions for you. All right, so cat or dog.

Al Wright
Dog.

Laura Wombwell
Favorite breed? And I think I know the answer.

Al Wright
Labradors.

Laura Wombwell
What are your pets favorite treats?

Al Wright
Favorite treats, anything their labs, they eat everything. We have a big apple tree out back. They just basically help themselves to apples, but we’re going to try and keep away from the apple trees. Again, and you know, no matter what, they’re not picky? Yes, for sure.

Laura Wombwell
Are your pets full of beans full of dreams or full of something entirely different?

Al Wright
Full of love.

Laura Wombwell
Normally, I asked people what actor would play their pet but since you have a bunch of them, if your labs were a band, what kind of music would they play?

Al Wright
Hmm, that I don’t know. They got me on that one. Well, I had the seven. So we used to call them The Magnificent Seven. Like we said for movies. Like I can say that for the movie. Right? That didn’t make it to seven. And that too. So now we have five. So the Jackson Five I guess.

Laura Wombwell
Love it. Alright, so last one. If money and time were no object, what’s one incredible thing that you would do with your dogs?

Al Wright
Have a larger property, something that’s more forced. So I can run them as my in my own forest because we have a little over three acres. But we’re nice to have some forest areas. With some trails, I get one from trails, you know very often on property so that that would be nice to have. Leave it we have a river right on the edge of our property. They can go in and go fishing and swimming with the dogs as well, too.

Laura Wombwell
Oh, wow. It sounds like such a beautiful, beautiful place. And I hope that everyone listening goes and checks you out. It’s been such a pleasure chatting with you before we end off Is there anything else you’d like to say to the pet parents in southwestern Ontario?

Al Wright
Come to K9 Fun Zone. Where were the dogs bring their people to play!

Laura Wombwell
Awesome. Well, thank you so much Al. And thank you all for listening. This is Laura with Laura Wombwell Photography and joining me today was Al Wright of K9 Fun Zone. And we both hope that you and your pets have an awesome day. Bye.

Al Wright
Take care everyone and stay safe.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai

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