A young entrepreneur from Neath is set to bring high-energy canine sports to Wales after receiving Welsh Government backing.
Rachel Thomas, 23, has launched a business that will provide dogs and their owners with an alternative fitness regime to the traditional ‘walk in the park’.
Alpha Romeo K9 offers dry-land dog sledding using a bike or scooter, cross-country running and other sporting activity that ensures that dogs get the exercise they need to reduce energy levels, but increase their health and wellbeing.
Ms Thomas always had a passion for animals, especially dogs. While working in a bar, she rescued a young puppy, Romeo, who suffered with health issues. While many had written off Romeo as having little chance of survival, Rachel decided to look at alternative remedies and exercise that would improve his quality of life through fitness. This is when she came across urban mushing.
Urban mushing is dry-land dog sledding and Romeo took to it naturally, pulling Rachel along on her scooter. He is now the lead dog of her urban mushing team.
This prompted Rachel looked further into the sport and what it entails, which includes regional and national competitions. It worked well with her animal management qualifications, as well as her fitness motivation for Romeo, and so she decided to turn it into a business proposition.
Rachel received business support and training from the Welsh Government’s business start-up service contractor, Centre for Business, where she successfully applied for the Young Person Bursary, totalling £6,000.
Ms Thomas explained: “When Romeo came to me in 2008, he had serious physical issues with his hind legs especially. Not wanting to give up on him, I came upon urban mushing and bikejoring – where you swap the scooter for a bike – both of which work to build fitness and stamina in the dogs involved.
“It has worked wonders for Romeo over the last few years and he, along with my Jack Russell, Gia, who also does it, were my inspiration for starting Alpha Romeo K9.
“I’m so excited to have come up with a business idea that combines my love for dogs and their wellbeing with an exhilarating and growing sport.”
As part of her business support from Centre for Business, Rachel undertook a number of training courses to provide her with the necessary skills to operate her business and promote it to potential clients. Rachel also completed a qualification in Canine Behaviour from the British College of Canine Studies, which allowed her to add an additional service to her business.
Ms Thomas continued: “A friend recommended that I get in touch with the Centre for Business as they thought it would be a great starting point for me to discuss my idea for Alpha Romeo. The Centre for Business team, and in particular my business advisor, were really helpful and were able to give me the advice I needed to cement my business idea into a robust business plan. All of this support gave me the direction I needed to get out there and do it.”
Alpha Romeo K9 was established in November 2013 and Rachel already has a number of clients signed up to take part in urban mushing and bikejoring. Rachel is even competing with a client’s dog at a canicross event in April. The funding Rachel received will pay towards her salary for the next four months, meaning that she will be able to inject all the profit into the business to enable it to grow.
Ms Thomas summed up: “Alpha Romeo is already bringing an exhilarating and high-energy exercise to dogs living across the Neath Port Talbot, Swansea and Carmarthenshire areas. For me, this year is all about making more people aware of the sports, the benefits they bring not only to their dogs’ fitness, but also to their fitness as well.
“It’s my ambition to get an urban mushing team up and running ready for next season which starts in September.
“We will also be supporting more dog owners, who have pets with behavioural issues, encouraging them to use the different sports or doggy days out to channel energies elsewhere and hopefully improve behaviour.”
Over the next 12 months, Rachel is hoping to start fostering high-energy dogs from rehoming centres, rehabilitating them and finding them new and active homes. She also hopes towards the end of the year to launch an online shop selling some tried and tested products.