Essonne: this dog boarding house has been delighting owners for years

David Houdouin is a true animal lover! Son of a farmer, the Essonnian went up with his father a dog boarding house on the family farm located in Bréau-Saint-Lubin, in Richarville.

“The boxes are equipped with automatic drinkers”

“It was in 1997. At the beginning, I worked with my father on the farm and the various crises meant thatit was necessary to find additional income. At the start, we only had a few clients, the time to make ourselves known, then after a few years, I made the choice to continue in the dog boarding business on my own and not to take over the farm, because too much standards and constraints,” explains David Houdouin while detailing the adjustments that have been made over time.

” So we have converted complete buildings into kennels, with boxes measuring between 9 and 12 m² to accommodate dogs all year round. Sheltered from bad weather, heated in winter and cooled in summer, the boxes are equipped with automatic waterers and lined with shavings on the ground to accommodate dogs in optimum comfort,” comments the man who also practices cycling competitively. within VC Arpajon for many years.

The 50-year-old from Richarville also takes care of taking the animals out twice a day into the farmyard so that they can exercise and play in a larger space. “I wanted to continue in the dog boarding business, because since I was little, I have always loved animals of all kinds and especially dogs. The space at home means that I have always owned a lot of them,” confides David Houdouin, aware that the separation between the master and his dog can sometimes be complicated.

More than thirty dogs welcomed during school holidays

“My goal is to make the period of separation between the owner and his dog as easy as possible, whether for a weekend or for several weeks, which is not an easy thing, because every dog ​​reacts differently and it also depends on his character, his age and his experience,” concedes the Essonnian who can manage up to thirty dogs during school vacation periods.

“A typical day starts with taking the dogs out in the morning and evening, as well as cleaning the buildings. I also receive customers during the day and manage reservations by telephone and email. Part of my job is to reassure and answer questions owners who are often worried about leaving their dog in boarding, it is necessary to establish a relationship of trust between the master and me as much as between the dog and me.

Fully blossomed in what he does, David Houdouin hopes to continue his activity as long as possible with always the same passion and the same enthusiasm in his activity.

Follow all the news from your favorite cities and media by subscribing to Mon -.