KingKoin's dog Wash

[pitzerwm]

I have added a video to the link to watch a youtube of Kingkoin's wash set up. Nice set up.

Click on the youtube link of this category.

BTW, Mike is not ready to supply plans or info on his set up yet. He is still working out the details.

 

[Randy]

WOW! Mike, You did a raly nice job putting it all together. Looks like it's a first class operation. My wife likes the Doggie Elevator. I like the control panel, first class. Are they For Sale yet?

 

[mjwalsh]

Time will tell!

Bill & others,

Yoooze da man! I don't know if the rest of you realize after Bill somehow got lost on I-94 when he had planned on going the more direct route with I-90 from the east coast to his west coast, he included John (Whale a Wash) & me on his route. It was a joy to to have had supper with him & to have had the chance to show him around our facility. It was almost like having JJJ there! What is amazing is the quickness that Bill got this video post out considering the driving alone challenging weather that he had to work with! There were 50-60 mile sustained winds here Wednesday (yesterday) morning when he left Bismarck with near blizzard conditions (3.2 inches of snow) --- & that with a higher profile vehicle. It must have been those fruits & veggies that I gave him to help fuel his chivering also temporarily under the weather physique.

There is a problem with the video --- I had previously visualized myself like Charlie Atlas or Jack Lalayne in their prime & the camera makes me look much heavier than I really am --- especially if you go full screen. What about that collar that needed straightening out? Yes --- it is true that I copied some of Bill's technique's from his 19,000 page website on my www.kingkoin.com website. Very few people have been on my website so if any of you want to critique it or have suggestions I do appreciate input.

We were really cautious about trying to draw too many customers in too early before we got more familiar & ready with our initially unproven setup. Now we are earnestly trying to get more than just the smaller circle of the friends & relatives of the regulars (mostly house dogs) that we have established. We are somewhat striking out with hunting dogs but from what I have gathered they tend to be outdoor dogs that rarely get washed. Without any disrespect for them, I am wondering if we only see them when their pickups create extra mud for us & when their dog needs an emergency de skunking & they come in 2 minutes before closing time. I had a few motorcyclists tell me that they would have preferred an elevated motorcycle wash in the same space that was available. Who am I kidding --- of course I respect them at least a little bit --- they are the guys who own the majority of the guns! I hope they appreciate my 65 radio ads that I am currently running promoting gun safety etc that in reality is as much a public service as advertising.

Now to find enough hours in the day to get as built documents with the variety of projects that we been taking on in house. Oops ---- time is running out with the state boiler inspector breathing down our neck to see our improvised heat exchanged water stainless steel tanks & repaired boiler pressure vessel that we got installed just hours before Bill set his landing gear down on our lot. Mountainviewcarwash(?) poster on this forum posted the key post (a few years back) for understanding how to make those tanks in the best possible way --- he definitely deserves some credit for sharing his expertise.

Mike Walsh King Koin of Bismarck

 

[bigleo48]

Mike, Bill and Others,

I watched the video from another posting. I too was impressed with the setup and the thought put into the whole thing That was a lot of work!

However, I can't say that I like it. Having owned a petwash for 5 years and having worked in high tech for almost 30, I believe there is something to be said for simplicity. I believe that the setup tries to solve issues in expensive ways that have been shown to be small issues. Like the adjustable tub hight. Not an issue with us and I worry that small hands and feet can get pinched.

The screen control IMHO is not nessasary. There are other that I'm not big on either, but can discuss another time. Also, I did not see cc acceptors?!

My understanding is that this is mike's 1st petwash. I think if he had a more typical one he would have came to a similar conclusion as I have.

So in the end, I prefer my simple injection fed, static tub and drop vendor. Easy to use, reliable and simple to maintain. I also don't believe revenues would be any different.

Big

 

[MEP001]

The touch-screen may not be necessary, but it sure is cool. I've wanted something like that for the self-serve bays for a long time, but I'm too worried about having to replace them all the time.

I've watched a lot of videos of pet washes, and I can easily see the need for an adjustable tub. If you're washing a big dog, you wouldn't want to have to reach up the whole time. Same issue if you're tall and washing a small dog. Think about it this way: if your back is all cramped up when you're done, will you remember it as a pleasant experience? I've used a car wash that had all the bay wands bent down about 15° to make it feel like there's more pressure. After about five minutes my hand starts to cramp up. That's the one thing I remember from the experience.

I've washed a dog in the tub at home - it's hell on my back, but it's cheap, convenient and I don't get wet. If using a pet wash didn't solve the back pain issue for lack of an adjustable tub, I certainly wouldn't use it again.

 

[bigleo48]

Mep,

After 5 years, the tub height and ramp have not been an issue and we was the largest to smallest dogs (even the odd cat).

Let me give you am example of why I wouldn't have that setup. A mother with two kids show up. She starts washing and doesn't mind the kids ( sound familiar so far). The kids get bored and go to the other petwash and start messing with the equipment. Before you know it, one kid gets caught in the mechanism and gets hurt. What happens after depends on if the parent feels it was your fault or not.

I had a lady want to take me to court after she was wrestling with he dog on the floor and knocked down the fire extinguisher on it's paw!

Like I said, it looks good, but once you've had a chance to run one of these, you might have a different perspective.

What do other pet wash owners think?

Big

 

[pitzerwm]

I think that in Mike's operation until you put money in nothing works, so kids playing with it wouldn't create that particular problem.

 

[MEP001]

All I'm saying is it looks like a good idea to have a height-adjustable tub. My girlfriend is 5'2" and has minor difficulties using a normal kitchen sink.

 

[mjwalsh]

Time will tell!

Mep,

Before you know it, one kid gets caught in the mechanism and gets hurt. What happens after depends on if the parent feels it was your fault or not.

I had a lady want to take me to court after she was wrestling with he dog on the floor and knocked down the fire extinguisher on it's paw!

Big

Big Leo & others,

We have the proper warnings & we have signs stating "Adult Supervision Only". A well respected Attorney high up in our state bar association did look at our setup & actually has used the setup many times. I mentioned to him the break away force safety factor & we were very careful about any potential pinch points. He specifically agreed that the risks on my particular set up are very low. I have an automatic door on the laundry facility that has similar safety considerations. A local veterinarian referred to our place here in town in our local Chamber of Commerce Publication as "the" local dog wash based on a list of safer attributes including the proper positioning capability.

From a leadership standpoint we as an industry should be united in not creating unnecessary speculation about areas within our facilities that are as fail safe as humanly possible. I am much more concerned about our car wash overhead doors which in my case as Bill hopefully noticed that the customer has complete control over because they have to manually pull the balanced rope etc. That hopefully ---- definitely does not mean that I would ever even unintentionly imply that a conscientious fellow car wash operator with reasonable safeguards on his automatic opener has a hazard. Hopefully, there will be enough good people left in this world who will properly respond to that kind of potentially harmful speculation.

My due diligence calculations show that there has been & will be a net positive gain in fewer injuries (especially back injuries) considering the lively split second dog potential antics that the dogs are capable of if not controlled properly.

Mike Walsh King Koin of Bismarck

 

[pitzerwm]

IMO, observations and ideas are fine, it gives the next person more things to think about. I think that you should always look for obvious ways that a stupid customer could hurt themselves or others, but you can't stew about them, because nothing is totally perfect. On top of that, even if it were, 12 morons on a jury could still rule against you.

I think that Mike went a long ways farther with this than I would but I've never been a real detail kind of guy. And I'm sure Mike has fun making things this intricate, and there is no way I would disagree with the different things that he is doing at his place. He isn't worried about resale.

 

[bigleo48]

Mine is totally different, my thought is "Keep it simple"

-Lighting... on 24/7, but could control via a timer.
-Emergency stop a little lower
-I like the two straps to hook up a dog at both ends (head & tail) much like a groomer.
-My fans are on 24/7 and if you disinfect the room daily, no smell.
-I have my attendants clean up. Disinfectent not needed for customer. Do it manually as needed and daily.
-CC acceptance That one is a must for me. Customer swipes, washes till done & spend more!
-IMO Screen too complicated.
-Vac & Blower hoses on opposite side of tub. Hooks too, nothing on the floor.
-One speed blower.
-IMO Fea & Tick shampoo is not profitable and has dubious benefit.
-The floor needs to be squeeged and excess water and hair sucked up with the pet vac.
-Sell clean up bags. People will take these for their dog walks. Poop very very rarely an issue.
-IMO 'how busy is it' camera. I don't want to prevent customers from coming. Waiting customers wash their cars, buy vending, etc. On busy days here, people wait.

After 27 years in the technology sector, simple is king!

Bigleo
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