A REAL RUFF PLAYTIME
How One Family-Owned Business Created a Playground for Pups
by Seraine Page
At one point , Gary and Debbie Bessette had 17 dogs in their Ormond Beach home . The year was 1988 , and even as avid dog lovers , they knew they needed a bit more room for the humans . That ’ s what led them to purchase a run-down dog kennel property in the area . They figured a kennel would give their rottweilers — that they had trained for shows — plenty of space and would give the Bessettes their house back . That new space turned into a business . “ We knew dogs but didn ’ t know the boarding and grooming business ,” says Gary Bessette , an Ormond Beach resident and co-owner of Puppy Playground . Over time , they learned the business of kenneling .
Around 1994 , a big-box pet store moved into the area . The Bessettes watched numerous other local pet businesses close down as a result and didn ’ t want to be part of that trend . Their client base had grown and included a dog training program .
Through their kennel ’ s training program , they discovered the behavior problems encountered were directly related to two basic issues : too much energy , a lack of socialization , or both .
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