Building Two Dog Fields on One Site is a Mistake

Building Two Dog Fields on One Site is a Mistake

Or is it?

We’re getting more and more emails from dog fields owners who aren’t quite sure why they aren’t as busy as other dog fields.

The first thing we do is check to see if they are operating more than one field on the site. If they are, then that’s usually the answer.

Here we’ll cover the main issues associated with multi-field sites so you can draw your own conclusions as to what is right for you.

What is a Multi-Field Site?

A multi-field site is where two or more dog fields operate from the same location.

It is important to note at this point that not all multi-field sites have these challenges – some have sufficiently different locations separated by enough space to the point where they may as well be on separate plots and these are not the kind of places we’re talking about here.

Most multi-field dog parks fall into one of these two categories:

  1. One field split in two, divided by a single fence
  2. One field (or adjacent fields) split in two with a small space between them i.e. they can be easily seen from one another

Neither of these set ups work for optimal return on investment in a dog field business.

Why Multi-Field Sites Don’t Work (in general)

This is a huge topic but it can be broken down to these main factors:

  • Dogs bother one another. Especially ones that regularly use dog fields
  • Dog Field users choose single field over multi-field sites where all other things are equal (ish)
  • People like peace and quiet – they can go to the park for rowdy dogs and people

Squeezing the Asset – Surely two fields makes more cash than one?

If you think having two fields will make you more cash, even if they aren’t as busy as one might be, you might be mistaken. It’s a maths thing.

Multi-field sites are also more difficult to get planning permission for, and more expensive to set up.

There are exceptions to this which are those fields with unique selling points. These include:

  • Woodland
  • Extra Large fields (over 10 acres)
  • Places where there are very few dog fields (yet) – you benefit from lack of competition/ alternative
  • As mentioned above – fields that cannot be seen from one another but are on the same property

Making life harder

For a multitude of reasons, you make life infinitely harder if you choose to have two or more fields on one site and if a reasonably hands free set up is what you are looking for, the best way to mess that up is to put more fields on your site.

Remedies That Don’t Work

It’s completely reasonable to think that putting up a visual barrier might solve the issues created by having two fields next to one another. However, this overlooks the fact that the two of the most striking characteristics of dogs is their acute sense of smell and their more sensitive hearing. None of the following dull either of these superpowers:

  • Grass buffer (distance between them)
  • Green ‘privacy’ netting (although this can be used for other purposes very effectively)
  • Panelled fencing
  • Immature hedging
  • …. any other artificial barrier
Privacy screening not only doesn’t work, it looks tatty almost as soon as you put it up and it can lead to serious fence damage if not supported properly.

You Are Putting Off Customers

The minute a better single-site facility opens within your catchment, you will be impacted. I’ve seen it too many times.

I Hear You Hannah but I’m Doing it Anyway – How It Can Be Done?

If you are set on having multi-fields sites there are strategies that you can adopt to make the impact of one on the other less damaging – a few are:

  • Well considered positioning of features including tracks, gates, shelters and even bins
  • Properly designed and implemented shelter belts – with instant impact and succession planting
  • Strategic session timings – this can be tricky to work out and depends a huge amount on access -it’s not just a case of staggering session times but done well, it can reduce the impact
  • Have special sessions where only one field is open

There are many more things that you can do dependent on your market, site and location.

We have a wealth of information relating to multi-field sites – how to set the up and run them and how to expand your business without scuppering your existing one in the membership area. If you log in and visit the ‘Multi-Field Sites’ Guide you can access all the latest ideas, suggestions and recommendations.

Take Aways:

  • Do the maths based on actual real-life data and not on the maximum number of sessions you think you can squeeze into a day – these numbers are different
  • Just because a field is busy, doesn’t mean it’s good. It can also mean it’s very cheap or it’s the most convenient (at the moment)
  • Your most valuable customers are those with reactive dogs, if you are happy to forego them, multi-field sites are workable so you need to fully understand your market
  • Users have lots of choice – long-term success is about getting the set-up and structure right – things that are difficult to fix down the line.

If you want to avoid this mistake (and a whole host of others you might not have thought about), please feel free to explore our consultation services.

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