We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Estella Martinez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Estella, thanks for joining us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

When I took the leap of faith in starting my dog care business I started with three letters DFL. DFL stands for Darby, Freddie, and Leia-my own dogs and my grand dog. In the early stages of finding a name, it wasn’t necessarily in the order DFL; it could have been FDL, LDF, and so on. Then I looked for words starting with those letters that resonated in my love for dogs, DOGS FUR LIFE, LLC was the winner and a close second was Dogs Fun Life. Most of my clients simply call my business “DFL!”

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

After working in the hotel industry for over 17 years,  I lost my job a couple of months into the pandemic. During this time,  I became my father’s main caregiver prior to his passing; it was an honor. Some time later, when it was time to hit the pavement,  I had this thought that would sneak into my mind; start your own dog care business. I had my doubts;  I am in my 50s-is it too late? I am here to say it is not too late; I am living my best Act II.

As a dog lover my entire life,  I knew going in that there is so much more involved than just loving dogs. I began my research and have learned so much these past 2 years since DFL opened in July 2021. What sets me apart is my deep love of dogs and my commitment to continue to learn about them; we can never know it all. I have so much fun caring for dogs;  however it is a serious responsibility.

My wedding dog attendant service is growing in popularity quickly. Couples are realizing their fur babies can be part of the wedding day without the stress. I handle all the dog’s care at the wedding which includes transportation, leash exercise, potty duty, hydrating, aisle escort, photo assistance, and cocktail mingling.

In addition to my wedding dog attendant service, I care for dogs in my home by providing a different boarding experience than a typical dog care facility. A small ratio ensures a comfy and happy experience for my fur clients. The dogs enjoy playtime, a nap on my couch or cot, mental exercise activities, watching Dog TV and most importantly, lots of love and attention.

I offer the following in addition to simply loving dogs:
*Certified pet sitter with the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters
*Pet cpr/first aid certified
*Member of the Texas Pet Sitters Association
*Studying to be certified in Canine Language
*Registered LLC with the State of Texas
*Pet Care Insurance

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Transparency has helped me build my reputation within the dog care industry. My entire life all my friends and family knew how deep my love for dogs is. How was I going to show potential clients this? The way I did this is by being me-the same Estella that for over 50 years has loved dogs, I read and learn as much as I can. I sit patiently with dogs, I speak with dogs and they speak to me (in their own canine language).

Then I created a social media profile to show our adventures, it shows dogs happily playing, or walking with their pack, or walking down the aisle at their pawrents wedding. But I also share and discuss the challenges dogs and their owners can face. I share important dog safety tips or recommendations on products, such as my favorite dog seat belts or dog brush etc.

Referrals from my happy clients are the best compliment I could ever receive. I also have met many wedding planners, venue owners and other vendors who refer me to their clients and vice versa, as I have worked with some amazing, hard working, detailed vendors at weddings.

Referrals on my dog boarding side of the business are very active as well. So much so that many times, I have several dogs here at the same time who know each other outside of DFL.

Networking with other reputable dog sitters has also been instrumental in building my reputation. Even though DFL is only two years old, I am older and have lots to share with the younger small business owners, and vice versa. I have learned so much from them.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Referrals and Instagram have been my best sources for bringing in new clients. Each is so important to me. A referral, as I mentioned before, is the best compliment I can receive. Instagram is where I tell our story. I am reaching people who resonate with DFL—people who love dogs and smile or laugh at my content, or learn something new about dogs. We all need that positive place more than ever. Dog pawrents (I am one too, I can totally relate) want exceptional dog care for their fur babies, and Dogs Fur Life, LLC provides that and more.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.dogsfurlifellc.com
• Instagram: @weddingsbydfl @dogsfurlifellc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weddingsbydfl https://www.facebook.com/dogsfurlifellc

Image Credits
Shannon Skloss