A “ playground ” for dogs seemed to be the answer to help the dogs socialize properly and keep the business afloat . In 1994 , the concept of Puppy Playground was born as the Bessettes developed group play areas for dogs . Pet owners brought their dogs to the kennel for open group play in fenced-in areas that actively promoted physical exercise , social interaction and mental stimulation . Within two months , Puppy Playground ’ s business was up by 20 % despite the new pet store in town that also offered kennel services .
“ We built something that could stand the test of dog ,” Bessette jokes .
After discovering how well group play worked with makeshift playground equipment , the Bessettes discussed how they could go bigger with the playground products . They wanted to expand to manufacturing and delivering playground items to customers around the country , but the kennel business aspect brought in the most income . Once confident that they had enough of a following to take the leap into manufacturing specialized canine playground equipment , the Bessettes sold the kennel in 2005 . Since then , the Puppy Gary Bessette Playground company has had 20 to 25 % growth every year for over two decades .
Gary Bessette still marvels at the success of it : ” We ’ re still just selling plastic ,” he says .
The first renderings of the playground were admittedly trial and error . Bessette drove around and found various pieces of exercise equipment , wood and other materials to create a playground in the kennel ’ s yard space . Every week he changed up the area to keep the dogs challenged and excited .
“ I could see early on they needed something to play on and under ,” he says , noting that shy dogs often would run under their owner ’ s chair in the early days . That ’ s where the idea for Puppy Playground ’ s bridge came from .
Nowadays , products are American-made with colorful polyethylene plastic in colors like blue , red , yellow and green .
Dogs of all breeds spend time together at Kountry Pet Resort in Illinois on Puppy Playground equipment . Dogs enjoying group play safely together is what the Bessettes envisioned when they first set out in creating the Puppy Playground system .
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