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“Dog training consists of a lot of
self-education,” says Corr. “Since
then, I’ve done a lot of seminars and
lots of online learning.”
While contemplating her next move
for the business, Corr came across a
Cleveland.com article about a business
pitch competition sponsored by the Shaker
Heights Development Corporation (SHDC)
and Huntington Bank, through which the
winner would receive a $20,000 grant to
open a business in the Chagrin-Lee corridor.
“On a whim, I signed up and ended up
winning the grant, and it snowballed into
getting the location that we have today,
with the help of SHDC,” says Corr. “That
allowed me to keep all three aspects of the
business: daycare, boarding, and training.
We opened in 2017 with a staff of two, and
things really took off.”
Moving from a home business to
a larger space offered its own set of
challenges.
“As confident as I was, it was a leap of
faith,” says Corr. “The biggest challenge
was that this type of business could pose a
nuisance to the neighborhood. In addition
to zoning variances, there were lots of
discussions with people in the Moreland
neighborhood to make sure they were
comfortable with it. I’m glad I was able to
make those relationships with my neighbors.”
Less than two years later the need for
more space was imminent. “We grew out
of the first space. I attempted to continue
training in the initial space, but daycare and
boarding grew so fast, we needed the entire
space for those services.”
In 2019, Corr was able to obtain
an additional space, a corner unit located
several doors down, which is a 16,000
square-foot space used exclusively
for training.
Process Canine’s Amanda Corr
“It’s the largest dog day care yard in Northeast Ohio. It’s broken up
into four indoor playrooms. There’s enough space to make a fifth room,
if necessary.”
Corr attributes the success of her business to an “incredible staff”
of 12. “Our team is highly dog-savvy and committed to providing a
safe and healthy atmosphere,” says Corr.
“And I am forever grateful to the SHDC/Huntington Bank grant
competition. I spent a number of years trying to get funding, but it’s
difficult approaching banks saying, ‘I watch dogs out of my house, but I
think I can grow a business out of it.’ The grant and connections made
during the competition process were the key pieces to our start.” SL
For more information on Process Canine’s services,
visit processcanine.com or call 216-505-5954.
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