List of Small Business Ideas for Pet Lovers

Americans love pets, and there are more than 150 million owned dogs and cats alone in this country. In 2009, Americans spent about $45.5 billion dollars on pets, food, supplies, boarding, training, grooming, veterinary care, and other products and services for their pets.

Many people dream of turning their love of animals into a career. There are many great pet-related business ideas to choose from, and many can be started from home!

The following is a list of small and home-based business ideas for pet lovers, including both traditional suggestions such as pet sitting or dog walking, and more unusual ones, such as pet locators and doggie fashion designers.

• amphibian breeding
  
• "Bed n' Bone" luxury pet boarding
• bird breeder
  
• bird toy maker
  
• boarding kennel
• cat toy maker
• catnip farming
• custom bird cages
  
• cricket farming
  
• decorated food bowls
• designer dog houses
  
• doggie day care
• doggie gym or exercise yard
  
• dog fashion designer
  
• dog groomer
• dog show handler
  
• dog trainer
  
• dog walker
• fish breeding
• internet dating service for pet lovers
  
• organic dog biscuits
• pet artist
• pet blogger
  
• pet boutique
  
• pet cemetery & cremation
• pet clean-up service
  
• pet door installer
  
• pet-friendly bed & breakfast
• pet furniture maker
• pet hair sweaters
  
• pet locating/relocating service
  
• pet massage therapist
• pet memorials
• pet photographer
• pet-proofing houses
• pet restaurant
  
• pet sitter
• pooper scooper service
  
• raw dog food
• reptile breeder
• rodent breeder
  
• saltwater aquarium installation
• terrarium design
• therapy animals
  
• training assistance dogs
  

Although it is generally preferable to breed certain types of exotic pets, such as snakes, fish, lizards, and turtles, rather than capture them in the wild, most domesticated animals are already overpopulated. In the US alone, almost 10 million cats and dogs are euthanized annually in shelters. Nationwide, 56% of dogs and 71% of cats that enter animal shelters will never leave alive. Millions more are homeless, putting local wildlife such as birds at risk and spreading disease among wildlife, owned animals, and even humans.

For this reason, I strongly discourage starting a dog or cat breeding business. Most pet lovers would be better served helping the millions of animals already without homes than breeding more to add to the problem. The sole exception would be those with the money and expertise to breed and train purebred animals for certain specialty purposes, such as show animals, working sheep dogs, livestock guardian dogs, and similar.

For more cool business ideas for animal lovers, check out my list of small business ideas for farmers and gardeners. Interested in guinea fowl? Edible snails? Draft horses? They're all there and more!