Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Bass.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
After leaving a job doing corporate sales in DC, I moved with my wife in 2014 to Orange County. We were both job searching after our relocation, and I picked up walking dogs to fill the time in between. What I thought would be a temporary gig slowly evolved into something I really loved, so I decided to ditch the corporate world for good.
The first official OC Pup Scouts pack started out in Newport Beach in 2015, with just our boxer Camden and the dogs of a few friends. We began getting noticed at dog parks, beaches, and out on the trails, and our pack began to grow! Now in 2021, our team has grown to include 10 pack leaders and a private obedience trainer who work with more than 200 dogs each month all over Orange County.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like many small businesses, OC Pup Scouts shut down completely for 6 weeks in early 2020. Our team was heartbroken to be separated from the pups who have truly become family. Thanks to our incredibly supportive client community, we were able to bounce back and resume service in full force after the shutdown.
We love that so many dogs across Orange County have joined our pack since 2015, and it is so important to us to keep the personal and dependable touch that our first few clients came to love. We are lucky to have amazing Pack Leaders join our team as we’ve grown, offering the same care, attention, and love for pups that I offered to my first few clients 6 years ago.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about OC Pup Scouts?
OC Pup Scouts was founded in 2015 with the idea that structured pack walks can provide something that a daycare facility or your average dog walker cannot. Our walks provide structure and positive reinforcement in a pack environment, allowing dogs to learn from their Pack Leader and form positive relationships with our staff and other pups.
OC Pup Scouts’ selective hiring process and intensive staff training program ensure that dogs are given the best possible care and attention, and will feel comfortable and excited to see the same face picking them up each day. Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of the dogs we care for. Before joining OC Pup Scouts, each new dog meets with our team to make sure that they will be a good fit for the pack and that all of their health records are up to date. We love that our Pack Leaders are just as excited to go to work each day as our clients’ pups are to spend the day out with their friends!
It makes us so proud to see the dogs we work with blossom. Many of our clients doubt that their dogs would ever be able to pick up the manners and good social behavior that is expected in our packs. It is so fun to see these dogs come out of their shell and develop great social skills and to see their owners be proud of their great behavior. Our clients receive photo updates through our online portal and social media throughout the day, and we love receiving feedback that we’ve put a smile on their face seeing their pup having a great day!
To have an impact on even more pups, OC Pup Scouts has partnered with some amazing charity organizations. From fostering pups ourselves and helping them find forever homes, to throwing events like “Pups and Puppucinnos” and “Paddle for Pups” to benefit Doggie Bonez Rescue, we love dedicating our time to a meaningful cause.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Our Pack Leaders play such a vital role in delivering top notch care for our clients each day. Our growth wouldn’t be possible without our Territory Managers Hope and Logan, or our Trainer Hayley.
Our client community really is like a family. They’ve been with us through all the ups and downs, offering support and feedback over the years that has allowed OC Pup Scouts to truly become ingrained in Orange County. With 120+ 5-star reviews on Google and Yelp, we know we’re offering a service to be proud of!
Pricing:
- 1 Hour Pack Walk: $30-35, based on frequency
- Half Day Pack Walks: $42-48, based on frequency
- Full Day Pack Walks: $52-60, based on frequency
- Obedience Training: $450/$750/$1000 for 3/6/9 private sessions
Contact Info:
- Email: info@ocpupscouts.com
- Website: ocpupscouts.com
- Instagram: @ocpupscouts
- Facebook: facebook.com/ocpupscouts/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/oc-pup-scouts-dana-point-2
