NANCY GUINN

November 5, 2008 12:35 am

DESCRIBE YOUR BUSINESS: Dog Krazy is a specialty shop for dogs and their humans.

We carry everyday items and unique items including organic dog treats and gourmet bakery treats. We carry a large number of handmade items for dogs and dog lovers. We have rescue groups that come to the store to promote adoption of homeless animals. Dogs are welcome in the store and I pride myself on remembering every furry family member that steps paw into my shop!

EDUCATION: High school, cosmetology school and animal behavioral college. I tried a few things before deciding to open a business.

FAMILY: My husband, Chris, who is my support system and my accountant; Alivia, our beautiful daughter, who came up with our motto, "More the hairier, more the merrier;" and of course our 10 furry and feathered children.

CAREER HISTORY: I started off as a shampoo girl and pet sitter while in high school. I worked for a dental office while attending Graham Webb cosmetology school in Arlington. I worked in a few salons before my carpal tunnel syndrome got the best of me. I then decided I wanted to work with animals full time. It was during animal training classes that I found Dog Dayz in downtown Fredericksburg. The day the owner decided to close Dog Dayz in 2006 was the day I decided to open Dog Krazy.

FIRST JOB: A shampoo girl at The Ritz salon in Fairfax

WORST JOB: Working as an assistant to a dog groomer. Lifting 100-pound dogs and cleaning anal glands is no fun!

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? I was born in the Philippines and spent most of my childhood in San Antonio, Texas. Our family moved to the Washington, D.C., area after my dad retired from the Air Force.

HOW DID YOU END UP OWNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS? I have always loved dogs and wanted to do something that involved working with animals. There was already a dog boutique in downtown Fredericksburg so that was out of the question when I first moved to Spotsylvania County. I was working for a wonderful dentist in Orange and the hygienist there talked me into going to school for dog training. I came to Dog Dayz to pick up some items for Piglet, my bulldog, the very day Cathi Allison put up her closing sign. I told her I was interested in keeping a dog store in downtown Fredericksburg, and she said as long as I promised to promote animal rescue and not sell puppies she would help me start my own store. She is a wonderful person and has been so helpful, giving me tips on my business.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB NOW? Are you kidding me? I get to play with dogs all day! The dogs and their owners are wonderful. There is just something about dog people. They get it.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU? My family, especially my dad. I want him to be proud of me. My daily motivation is the doggy nose prints on my door every morning. I love that all the dogs that have been to my store know where to go for their cookies. I have also rescued 34 dogs since I opened. I love seeing those dogs come into the store with their new families. One of my rescues still lives with me!

WHAT IS THE KEY TO RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS? Love what you do and know what you sell. People come to businesses like mine for the one-on-one customer service. Customers love that I know their dogs by name and remember what they like and don't like.

WHAT'S THE BEST THING ABOUT THE BUSINESS CLIMATE HERE? The store owners in downtown Fredericksburg are wonderful. We all refer business to each other and know how important our businesses are to us. We recently had a trick-for-treats party for the dogs and a large number of the stores allowed dogs into their businesses for the event. People loved that and discovered stores they didn't know existed.

WHAT'S THE WORST? Having to say no. We get so many people coming to downtown businesses and asking for donations. As much as I would like to say yes to every cause that walks in my door, I can't. I donate to five animal rescues and would do more if I could.

WHO IS THE MOST INSPIRATIONAL BUSINESS LEADER YOU KNOW? WHY? Sarah Farrell, a local author and dog-obedience teacher. She is a gift to our community and she does so much for dogs and their owners. Everyone who meets her loves her.

ON THE NET: dogkrazyva.com

--As told to Pamela Gould

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