I am considering setting up a canine hydrotherapy unit and was wondering if anybody else has done a similar thing and could offer any advice with regard to planning permission and any other legal requirements with running a business from home (I am hoping I will be able to convert my garage or large outbuilding but am not yet sure if this is possible as I live in a conservation area - have just e-mailed local planning dept).  Any info or advice gratefully received.

go to westcoat they were one of the first to set up these pool in the uk.
plus they do course and train you how to lift,excerise.teach a dog to swim you need to have this been you like any business you got to be train to do the job,
and alot of the dog that will come to you will have injury or post op problems so you need to know how to care for the dog with a problem that going to be referred to you by a vet,

then you get the dogs that just want fun and excise

Snap as just in the process of doing this :D

Hope you don't live anywhere near me ;) :D

I am just in the process of talking with planning and from what I can gather off road parking is quite an important factor as well as time you will be opening which could affect traffic for your neighbours. We are lucky as somebody else in the village has just build one for personal use so they have sort of set a precident here. I am also basing it on that it will be for personal use for myself (acute back problem) and Duds my Lab with severe HD as well to strengthen my case :)

We will build either a brick or wooden structure, where we are placing it already has a two story wooden play house which has electric already sited.

good luck

Lucy
xx

Hi Lucy. Great minds and all that!!!  I'm in N. Herts. so hopefully not too close to you!

Have you got any details of manufacturers/installers etc? I have contacted Westcoast, hydrophysio and animal rehab so far.

I haven't got that far yet as the planning is the first stumbling block as want to make sure I am not barking up the wrong tree with this as know how fickle thay can be where we live (Cotswolds/West Oxon)). I have a friend who maintains pools so once I give him the nod he will do all the reserch for me as have said he can take charge of the install etc as we are not sure we will have the necesary time at the start.

Did you guys have any luck? I am considering doing this too in the Newport area. I realise you were considering it 10yrs ago...I hope you were both successful?