From Stray Dogs to Startup Success: 4,000 Pet Boardings and the Unexpected Lessons About Business and Life
- Himanshu
- 2d
- 23 min read
Updated: 7m
When a friend mentioned leaving his dog, Ellie, at a 'hostel,' I was surprised. Dogs in hostels? I needed to find out more. In Sonipat, a 'hostel' meant a retiree caring for a few dogs at home. The odd detail stuck with me.
I went home that night thinking I'd spend 15-20 minutes researching pet boarding on Google. What I thought would be a quick scroll turned into an all-night deep dive. By the time I realized, the sun had come up. I'd spent the entire night researching everything about pet boarding—how it worked globally, how it looked in India, market insights, specifics of the industry. Everything.
That single word, that casual conversation, that sleepless night of curiosity; it led to 4,000+ boardings, a thriving facility, a transformed community, and lessons that changed how I see business and life itself. This is that story.
The Origin Story: From Lockdown to Purpose
During lockdown, when the whole world seemed to pause, I built a small two-bedroom farmhouse with my family. We weren't thinking big at the time, it was just something to do, a way to pass those strange, confined months. But those months taught me something I never forgot: there's something deeply human about being on a farm, about open space, about community.
An idea started forming in the back of my mind during those lockdown days. What if we could create something here—something where the community could gather? A place that wasn't formal or pretentious. Where you didn't need to dress up. Where there was always something happening, 24 hours a day. Where people could experience farm life, breathe fresh air, feel grounded.
I always wanted whatever we built to be pet-friendly. But at that point, I wasn't thinking about boarding specifically. It was a broader vision—a community space, a gathering place, somewhere that felt like home.
My Unconventional Preparation
Here's the thing: I hadn't owned a pet in over 20 years. The last one I remember was when I was 5 or 6 years old. My family, all four of us working—couldn't commit to caring for a pet. We simply didn't have the time.
But that didn't mean I didn't know dogs.
From the time I was old enough to spend evenings outside school, I was with the street dogs in my neighborhood. As I got older, my involvement deepened. I started helping with vaccinations, tending to their injuries, setting up feeding stations. I spent years, literally years; interacting with stray dogs wherever I went. Whether I was in college, at home, or traveling, I'd find the strays and spend time with them.
Those dogs taught me everything I needed to know about canine behavior, even though no one was paying me for the education. Indies—Indian street dogs, are territorial and expressive. They'll tell you exactly what they're thinking. If you can handle them, if you understand their body language and their needs, you can handle any breed.
From those strays, I learned:
How to approach a dog safely
How to read what they're really saying
How to manage multiple dogs at feeding time without fights
How to give attention to several dogs simultaneously without triggering jealousy or conflict
How to recognize when a dog is sick or injured
All of this was subconscious learning. I wasn't studying. I was just living with dogs, day after day, season after season. By the time my friend mentioned that "hostel," I had two decades of hands-on dog experience; just not the conventional kind.
The Market Gap and the Decision
That night, something stood out: pet owners in Sonipat couldn’t easily find boarding spots that were trustworthy, affordable, or even close by. Most options were too crowded, pricey, or far away.
Talking to a few vets confirmed this. Pet parents felt stuck. They either left their dogs with questionable caretakers or made long journeys to expensive facilities in the city. The gap was real. And the solution wasn't complicated; it was just missing.
I saw something that appealed to me deeply: a genuine problem I could solve, combined with a real market opportunity. Not just a business idea, but a chance to help people who were actually struggling with this need.
So, I set out to start a dog boarding service built on a simple promise: safe, caring, and reliable attention, exactly what the community needed. My experience with dogs is the reason families can finally feel confident about leaving their pets in our care.
The Lean Launch: Testing Before Investing
My core principle was simple: Quality matters more than infrastructure. If you're providing something genuinely valuable, if people find real value in what you're doing, they'll come regardless of how your facility is.
So I didn't invest heavily upfront. I took those two rooms from the lockdown farmhouse and set up basic boarding. I had no staff. I wanted to be hands-on, to test the market myself, to see if this idea would actually work before committing serious resources.
I created a Google listing.
That was it. No marketing budget. No signboard. Just a Google listing that showed people we existed and what we offered.
I thought our first booking might take a couple of weeks, perhaps longer.
The listing went live, and within hours, we had our first booking. An outstation client from Delhi wanted to leave their dog in a farm setting. On day one, with only a Google listing and genuine intent, we secured a booking.
By the end of the first month, we were at full capacity.
After 4,000 boardings, it was clear we had met a real need. This demand brought steady income, trust, and growth, all because we listened to pet owners and supported them when it mattered.
The Hiring Philosophy: Looking Beyond the Industry
From the very beginning, I knew exactly how I wanted to build the team. I didn't intentionally hire people from other boarding facilities.
I recruited NGO workers experienced in handling 50+ dogs in challenging settings. They were familiar with all types of dogs and had firsthand experience handling sick animals.
I sought individuals who were resilient, adaptable, and genuinely understood dogs. Experience from NGOs brought practical wisdom, which was essential for real change.
There was more to it: these people deserved better. Moving from tough NGO work to a steady boarding job wasn’t a step down; it was a chance to grow in their careers. I gave them a place to use their skills in a calmer setting while doing meaningful work.
My first hire, Aditya, had this background: experienced and seeking steady work. His presence proved the value of hiring for practical dog skills and commitment, directly impacting service quality and setting a standard of care and reliability.
Maya: The 45-Day Masterclass
Although the initial weeks were characterized by manageable bookings and straightforward care, a pivotal moment occurred with the acceptance of a 45-day reservation for a dog named Maya. At that time, I was still in the process of training Aditya, and our operational protocols were not yet tailored for the extended care of a dog with significant behavioral and social needs. Nevertheless, recognizing the emerging demand for such specialized services, I decided to proceed with the booking, fully aware that Maya’s case would test and ultimately redefine our approach to both animal care and staff training.
Taking care of Maya showed me that growth comes from facing challenges. Each problem taught us more about adaptability, courage, and leadership —qualities that are all essential for genuine progress.
Looking back, I can say with absolute certainty: this was the single most important decision I made in the past two years. Everything I needed to know about running a dog boarding business, I learned in those 45 days with Maya.
The Impossible Profile
Maya was an indie dog with extreme social and separation anxiety. She wasn't friendly with other pets. She escaped easily and was a picky, stubborn eater.
If you'd seen Maya's profile, you might have questioned why I accepted her. Even when challenges appeared from day one, I never doubted the decision. Neither Aditya nor I felt overwhelmed. She pushed our limits and taught us valuable lessons.
Challenge One: Making Her Eat
The first problem was straightforward: getting Maya to eat. If a pet isn't eating, nothing else matters. Once a dog eats in a new place, they’re settling in. Appetite returns and other problems fade.
We spoke a lot with Maya's owners. What did she like? When did she eat? What were her usual meals? We tried everything they suggested. On day one, we spent hours experimenting with various foods at different times. Nothing worked.
That first night, Aditya and I both stayed at the farmhouse to discuss the problem. We agreed to try preparing her favorite meal, leaving it in front of her, and then leaving her to eat it alone. No one is watching. No pressure. Just food and silence.
The next morning, we went to check on her. The bowl was empty.
We learned that creative, empathetic problem-solving calms even the most difficult dogs and reassures owners, directly improving our reputation and client trust.
Challenge Two: The Escape Artist
Our main selling point was giving dogs open space. With Maya, this became a risk. She was clever and determined, and she found a gap in the fence, which allowed her to escape. We caught her right away and knew we had to fix the problem immediately.
I saw this as a two-edged sword. Maya was also a heavy leash puller. What if we tackled her leash-pulling and built trust at the same time? What if we turned her problem into a chance for connection?
We ordered a 100-foot leash. We tied one end to a bed inside the farmhouse and the other end to Maya. This gave her:
The freedom to roam the farm whenever she wanted
The security of knowing she couldn't escape
The space to play and explore
A clear boundary that kept her safe
Challenge Three: Leash Training and Building Trust
I spent two days leash training her. She responded well. Soon, we didn’t need the leash; she walked by my side, stopped when I stopped, and took cues from me.
But I wanted more. I wanted to push us both further.
Challenge Four: From Problem to Guardian
Maya had strong guard instincts. She listened to commands, understood body language, and showed her feelings clearly. This so-called "problem" dog actually had real strengths. The lesson was that some problems hide valuable qualities. By turning these challenges into strengths, we could offer more services, help more clients with complex pets, and grow our business.
What if, instead of just resolving her escape and trust issues, we harnessed those capabilities for something valuable? What if she became the facility's guardian while we focused on other dogs?
Starting around day 5, I began taking her outside at 5 AM when no one else was around. For 2-3 hours daily, we'd walk the roads, work on various exercises, and continuously experiment with building trust. By day 9, she was following me everywhere: in the farm, outside the farm, near other stray dogs, near other people. She responded to no stimulus except my voice.
We'd built something real. It wasn't just about handling a difficult dog; it was about building mutual trust and discovering what’s possible when you commit to learning from every challenge.
Challenge Five: The Call Sign Moment
By week three, Aditya had learned my process and understood what I expected. I started going home for extended periods during the day. This created a new problem: Maya had become so attached to me that she stopped listening to Aditya entirely.
Her pattern was: eat her meal, then vanish from the farm and play with our resident farm dogs (who we'd raised from puppies and who were very friendly). At night, when Aditya would call her to come inside, she wouldn't respond. She'd be out there in the dark with the farm dogs, ignoring him completely.
One night at 11 PM, Aditya called me and said, "I've tried everything. She's not coming inside."
I had a choice. I could go out there, put a leash on her, and forcibly bring her inside. That would solve the immediate problem. But I also knew it would break the three and a half weeks of trust we'd built. It would undo everything.
Instead, I decided to take a wild shot.
I have a very specific call sign that I use with our farm dogs; a unique yodel that carries across our vast space. When our farm dogs hear it, no matter where they are, they come running back to me within minutes. They associate that sound with me, with home.
Maya was with our farm dogs. She didn't know this call sign. But what if I tried it anyway? What if the farm dogs responded, came running, and Maya followed them? What if, over a few times, she started associating that call with being called to the farm?
I tried it.
She came running. She came running along with the farm dogs, straight back to the farmhouse.
I mention this moment because it highlights an important aspect: I chose trust over force. I took a risk based on the bond we had built, gave Maya the freedom to come back, and she did. That one choice; to trust instead of control- made our connection even stronger.
The Transformation by Day 45
By the time Maya's 45 days were complete, she was a different dog.
She'd started on 100% commercial dog food. We transitioned her to 100% home-cooked meals, including meat, eggs, and vegetables, providing all the micro- and macronutrients a dog needs. When her parents came to pick her up, she was on a completely different diet.
She no longer needed any leash, anywhere. She followed commands flawlessly. She was dramatically more confident. She accepted other people and other dogs. She'd overcome both her separation anxiety and social anxiety. She figured things out independently.
Most importantly, she trusted us. She saw our facility not as a place of abandonment, but as a second home, a place where she could be herself.
Her parents played a crucial role in this. They kept us informed constantly. They gave us the bandwidth to experiment, to try new approaches, to push boundaries. Their trust enabled Maya's transformation.
Even today, Maya visits us every couple of months. The bond is exactly the same. Nothing has changed. She still knows we're here for her.
Maya taught me everything: patience, empathy, adaptability, improvisation, trust. These aren't just lessons about dog boarding. They're lessons that continue to guide my life and business every single day.
Scaling: From 2 Rooms to 30 Dogs
After just one week, it became clear that this was no longer a trial. The market was validating the concept. We needed to plan a proper facility; something intentional, something that could scale while maintaining quality.
We had three months to build phase one. I wanted to incorporate everything we'd learned from those early bookings and from our time with Maya. I drew on my years of experience with street dogs and on watching our farm dogs grow up.
Design Philosophy
The main idea was simple: dogs need space. Cages don’t work. Many people think boarding means putting dogs in kennels, but I completely rejected that approach.
Every dog at Ilaya has a 20-foot private garden in front of their kennel. They can move around any time they want. They can always retreat to their indoor room, which features cooling in the summer and warm bedding in the winter. They’re never forced to be inside or outside. Freedom and comfort are always there.
The Continuous Expansion
Phase one opened three months after we made the Google listing. Since then, we’ve expanded every quarter. Each time, we think we have enough space, but the strong support and demand from the community always prove us wrong. We still haven’t reached the required capacity.
Maya's lessons informed every expansion. We made sure there are no gaps anywhere in the facility where a dog could escape. We built systems that work at scale, not just for individual attention. We maintained the same standards of openness and comfort in every room, every section.
Today, we can comfortably host 30 dogs at any given time across five different park and room sections. Every single space is thoughtfully designed. The leash-free environment is maintained throughout.
The Growth Philosophy
One of the most significant business lessons I've learned is that you don’t control how fast your business grows. You have to adjust to the speed the market sets.
Things move quickly when you're solving a real problem and delivering genuine value. You can't plan your growth perfectly. You just have to stay nimble and respond to what the market is showing you.
When you’re testing your idea, save your resources. But once the market shows there’s real demand, don’t hold back. Move quickly and use that momentum. The business will show you how fast to grow if you pay attention.
This applies to life, too: you don't set the terms of your life. You have to adapt to what life gives you.
The Real Business Philosophy
Zero Marketing: Your Customer Is Your Marketing
Let me be completely transparent: we have not spent a single rupee on marketing in two years. We don't have a signboard outside our facility. Our only presence is a Google listing from two years ago.
Yet we've grown exponentially. We've completed 4,000+ boardings. The reason is simple: our customers are our marketing. The service we provide, the satisfaction we deliver, and the personal touch we maintain - these are our marketing engine.
Here's the formula: Good product + genuine value + reflected passion + personal touch = customers become your loudest advocates.
Your product quality IS your marketing budget. When you stop trying to convince people and start genuinely serving them, word of mouth takes over.
Money ≠ Satisfaction: The Power of Listening
Here's a hard truth about pet boarding: pets can sometimes get sick. It's not a matter of if, but when. The probability increases dramatically when a dog is away from home, especially in an open environment with other dogs.
The question isn't whether problems will arise; it's whether they will be addressed. They will. The question is: how do you handle them?
Our approach:
We keep consistent contact with pet parents.
We communicate transparently about everything as it's happening.
We take immediate action (vet visits, first aid, whatever's needed)
We keep parents informed at every step.
We even monitor pets after they've been picked up; if something goes wrong later, we want to know.
But here's the key: when a pet gets sick, even after checkout, we don't lead with money. We don't immediately offer refunds. We do something different.
We apologize. We assure parents that we're here, no matter what. We communicate with them about solutions. We help get the pet the medical attention they need. We follow up until the pet is fully recovered.
90% of the time, this works. And the shocking part? A vast majority of these pet parents end up offering to pay us anyway. They don't want a refund. They wanted to be heard. They wanted support. They wanted to feel like we cared.
The lesson is clear: people don’t just need money. They need assurance, support, and to feel heard. Trust is more important than anything else, even money.
Radical Transparency: Building Trust Upfront
When we started, we were the first professional boarding facility in Sonipat. The early customers understood the concept. But as word spread and more people discovered us, a new wave arrived: first-time boarders who didn't understand what boarding even meant.
We solved this with radical transparency.
We created detailed boarding contracts that outline everything beforehand. We educate potential customers through social media about what to expect from us. For every new booking, the first messages we send include information about our location, our social media accounts, realistic expectations from boarding, and what they can expect when their pet comes home.
This transparency does several things:
It builds trust before customers ever meet us.
It sets realistic expectations.
It reduces uncertainty on both sides.
It pre-addresses common concerns.
It sends a clear message about our integrity.
This idea goes beyond business. In relationships, family, and life, being as open as possible helps. Being honest from the start prevents problems later. Clear communication builds trust.
The Philanthropy That Built Community
The Philosophy
People often say they'll give back once they've "made it." Once they have enough money. Once they have enough time. Once they reach the right stage.
Here's the truth: the people who need help don't have time to wait for you to be successful. Help is needed now. So, if you have the opportunity and the bandwidth to do something good right now, take it. You don't wait for the perfect moment.
Supporting Those Doing Good Work
We have regular customers who quietly do incredible work: fostering street dogs during the adoption process, tending to injured strays when NGOs are unavailable, and giving these dogs a chance at better lives.
When these people need to travel and can't bring their foster dogs, we make space for them. Here's how we handle it: we don't tell them upfront that there's no charge. When they come to pick up their dogs, we calculate the bill for their personal pet. When they ask about the foster dog, we tell them: "You're doing work that very few people are willing to do these days. We're not charging you for that foster dog."
This approach respects their dignity. It doesn't create false expectations. It recognizes them for the good they're doing.
Fluffy: When Help Goes Beyond the Facility
I remember Fluffy very clearly. He was everyone's favorite stray in his society. But he had a problem: he didn't get along with other strays. He was constantly being attacked, constantly getting injured.
Very early in our business, Fluffy got seriously wounded. He needed immediate care. I didn't stay in the facility that day. I went to the society. I personally cleaned his wounds and ensured he received the help he needed.
Our care doesn't end at the facility gates. It extends into the community because that's where the need is.
The Farm Stray Care System
Around our farm, we constantly look out for dogs in need. If someone is sick, we care for them. If vaccinations are pending, we arrange them. If someone needs to be neutered, we make it happen.
We collect leftover food from picky boarders and place it in a dedicated bowl outside our farm. Our strays eat a nutritious diet, not just scraps.
This is systematic charity. It's built into our operations. It's not performative; it's the way we work.
Social Media as a Community Tool
When pet parents want to rehome their dogs, they bring us a photo and the reason for rehoming. We leverage our social media following to find them appropriate homes. We've had dozens of successful adoptions this way.
When community members find abandoned dogs, they reach out to us immediately with updates on the dog's location and the care it's receiving. We mobilize our social media community to reconnect these dogs with their families as quickly as possible.
We don’t see this as just charity work. We see it as part of our service, something our community depends on. We’re not the only solution; we connect people who need help with those who can help.
Key Insights Derived from 4,000 Dog Boardings
Tip One: Indies Are Your Best Breed
After boarding thousands of dogs, I must say something controversial: Indian street dogs, also known as Indie dogs, are the best breed to have as a pet.
They have incredible genetic diversity. They come in every shape, size, and color. They're extremely adaptable to our climate. They're among the least prone to common ailments and genetic issues. They rarely develop the skin problems that plague many purebreds.
Many people think they’re territorial and aggressive. But if you handle them the right way and at the right time, they’re just as friendly as any other breed, like Labradors, Golden Retrievers, or Beagles.
How do I know? Over 50% of our boardings are indie dogs. We've watched countless Indies grow up healthy, social, and well-adjusted at our facility. The data is clear.
The key is early socialization. Adopt your indie at 3 months. From the very beginning, bring them for weekly boarding visits. Let them see other dogs as they normally would. Let them see other humans as normal. Encourage interaction with stray animals in your community. Two things happen: your dog has friends everywhere, not just at boarding, and you solve territorial and separation anxiety issues before they start.
Tip Two: Socialization + Exercise = Best Training
There is no better training than socialization and exercise. Let your dog have a full physical workout, let them run their heart out. Give them constant exposure to other dogs and people.
What does your dog actually care about? Two things: food (because they're hungry after all that activity) and sleep (after they eat). If you fulfill these two requirements — adequate social interaction and physical activity — you don't need expensive training programs.
Your dog will be well-behaved, good with others, eat anything you serve, sleep properly, and won't chew or bite things at home. Most importantly, they'll be independent and confident. You won't have a "pet" that's a burden; you'll have a friend. A real friend.
Tip Three: Change Is Possible at Any Age
There's a myth that older dogs can't change, that behavioral issues are permanent if not addressed early. This isn't true.
After 4,000+ boardings, I can tell you: a dog of any age, any temperament, any so-called bad behavior will see significant improvement with adequate outdoor activity and socialization with other dogs and people.
The honest reality? Older dogs require more patience. You'll see incredible transformations in younger dogs in short timeframes, but with older dogs, you need to accept a longer timeline and trust the process.
But transformation is always possible.
Tip Four: Create or Find Safe Off-Leash Spaces
We saw that our community needed a safe, leash-free space where dogs could run and play naturally. We built a dog park, a 10,000-square-foot, fully fenced area that’s open all day and night, allowing regular customers to use it independently.
We provide lighting, water dispensers, and seating for humans. Pet parents can come anytime, spend 30-50 minutes letting their dog tire themselves out, and relax while they watch. The simple experience of a dog having fun is reward enough.
Consistently using the dog park, without any other services, can lead to significant behavioral changes. Dogs become more active, more relaxed, less picky with food, better sleepers, and calmer overall. Their energy is channeled productively.
We have a dog named Sneakers who's been coming for two years. When his parents come to pick him up, he refuses to leave. They literally have to drag him to the car. Sometimes they call me for help getting him inside. It's both funny and heartwarming; we've created a place where a dog actually loves to be.
Tip Five: You Don't Know Your Dog's Potential
After 4,000+ boardings, I can tell you: most pet parents don't know the extent to which their dog can open up and grow.
You've only seen your dog in a particular safe space: your home. When you introduce them to different stimuli, different environments, and different social situations, they react differently. They reveal capabilities you didn't know existed.
Dogs are social animals. They need interaction, mental stimulation, and constant challenges. When they get to experience being around other dogs in varied situations, you see their full capability.
Tip Six: Dogs Are What You Make Them
Pet parents play a significant role in shaping their dogs' growth and development. It’s not just about nature or nurture; the environment significantly influences the outcome.
We have huskies that came to us at 2-3 months old and have been regular visitors ever since. In Sonipat's harsh climate (not their natural environment), these huskies have thrived. We see them sleeping peacefully in front of our cooling ducts during peak June heat. They've adapted beautifully.
Conversely, we have indie dogs, naturally suited to our climate, who struggle even in mild weather. Why? Because their owners keep them constrained according to the owners' ideas of their needs, rather than the dog's actual requirements.
The main idea is to treat your dog as a different species with its own needs. They aren’t wrong or lacking for having different needs; they’re just different.
When you provide the right environment for your dog's species and temperament, two things happen: your dog lives a better life, and you experience far less stress and strain in the relationship.
Tip Seven: Home-Cooked Meals Over Dog Food
Let me be direct: regardless of what your vet or pet food companies tell you, commercial dog food is a supplement, not a whole meal.
Prepare home-cooked meals for your dog as often as possible. You don't need complex recipes or special ingredients. Feed them what you eat, adapted to their nutritional needs.
We could make everything at Ilaya easier and cheaper by feeding only commercial dog food. However, we know from experience that it's not a healthy long-term solution. So we serve home-cooked meals, using dog food only as a supplement.
If you're a vegetarian, don't worry - you can still provide their body with complete nutrition. Use alternatives like paneer, tofu, lentils, and soya bean to meet their protein and carbohydrate requirements. The goal is whole food nutrition that supports their long-term well-being.
Tip Eight: Start Early, Stay Consistent
Start socialization at 3 months. Bring them weekly for boarding or dog park visits. Allow them to interact with strays and other pets in your society. The benefits compound: no behavioral issues later, confident and independent dogs, friendships everywhere they go, and owners who aren't burdened by pet care.
You’re not just avoiding problems; you’re helping your dog become mentally healthy, physically fit, and emotionally stable. And a happy dog means a happy owner.
Key Entrepreneurship Lessons
These lessons apply whether you're starting a pet business, a tech startup, or any venture:
1. Listen for Opportunities in Everyday Conversations
The best business ideas often arise from identifying problems that people casually complain about. Pay attention.
2. Your Unconventional Background Is Your Advantage
You don't need perfect credentials or traditional experience. Your unique path is what sets you apart.
3. Test Lean, Then Scale Fast When Validated
Start with what you have. Validate the concept. Once the market confirms demand, shift from conserving to capturing momentum.
4. Never Compromise on Quality; It Grows Over Time
Short-term expense becomes long-term competitive advantage. Choose quality even when it costs more upfront.
5. Your Service Quality IS Your Marketing
Word-of-mouth from satisfied customers beats any marketing budget. Make your customers so happy that they become your advocates.
6. Money Doesn’t Equal Satisfaction; Trust and Listening Matter More
In crises, people don't need refunds. They need assurance, support, and to feel heard. Prioritize these, and revenue takes care of itself.
7. Radical Transparency Builds Trust from the Start
Set realistic expectations clearly. The uncertainty you remove builds more trust than any promise ever could.
8. Not Every Customer Is Right for You; Be Honest
When you encounter someone you can't serve well, give them honest advice. This builds trust and creates referrals more effectively than desperation.
9. Give Back as You Build; Don’t Wait
Integrate social impact into your business model from the outset. Don't wait to "be successful" first. The helpless don't have time.
10. Build Community, Not Just Customer Base
Customers who feel part of something bigger become partners, not just buyers. Community creates a defensible competitive advantage.
Life Lessons for Everyone
These lessons go far beyond dog boarding or business; they’re really about being human:
1. Listen to Understand, Not to Respond
Most people listen, preparing their answer. The gift of genuine listening, without agenda, is rare and transformative.
2. Not Everything Needs Your Answer; Presence Is Enough
Sometimes, just being there for someone is more valuable than trying to fix their problems.
3. Don't Wait to Give Back; Act When You Have Bandwidth
Small acts matter: feeding a hungry stray, giving water to a thirsty laborer, giving clothes to the homeless in winter. Don't wait for "success" to help.
4. Being Open Builds Trust, Hiding Causes Worry
In relationships, families, and life, being honest up front prevents conflicts. Clarity builds connection.
5. Change Is Possible at Any Age; It’s Never Too Late
Just like older dogs transform with patience and the right approach, humans can change at any life stage. It's never too late.
6. You Don’t Know Your Full Potential Until You’re Tested
New environments and challenges reveal hidden strengths you didn't know you had.
7. Not Everyone Is Meant to Stay in Your Life, and That’s Okay
Honest boundaries create healthier relationships than pretending they exist where they don't.
8. Problems Will Happen; How You Respond Matters Most
Excellence in life comes not from avoiding problems but from how you handle them.
9. Simple, Consistent Actions Work Better Than Complicated Systems
Daily walks, home-cooked food, regular phone calls with loved ones, consistent sleep; the fundamentals matter more than sophisticated optimization.
10. Don’t Take Shortcuts; Quality Grows Over Time
In health, relationships, and character: invest in quality upfront. The compound returns are enormous.
11. Being Vulnerable Connects People More Than Being Perfect
People connect with humanity, not highlight reels. Share your struggles, not just your successes.
12. Add Meaning to Your Daily Life; Don’t Wait for Later
Fulfillment comes from the quality of the journey, not from waiting for a destination to arrive. Build purpose into today.
The Real Mission: What Comes Next
If you've read this far, you might think this is a success story about building a dog boarding business. And in many ways, it is. We've completed 4,000+ boardings. We've built a 30-dog facility. We've created a community-powered animal welfare ecosystem.
But here's what I haven't fully told you yet: this was never the end goal.
I'm writing this from the same farmhouse where the lockdown idea was conceived, where dog boarding began, and where the farming transformation will unfold. It's all connected. It's all been building to this.
Ilaya Farms Pvt Ltd was founded for one reason: to build a farming business that can be replicated and studied as a case study to help tens of crores of farmers across India. To multiply their income while being sustainable. To build communities of support. To create holistic life improvement, not just for farmers, but for entire communities around them.
We want to show that farming isn’t a dead end. It’s an opportunity for educated young people to return to agriculture with fresh ideas. It’s a way to live your dream farm life every day; doing work you enjoy, living in nature, making a difference, helping feed society, and earning a living at the same time.
The dog boarding business has been our training ground. It's taught us how to:
Start lean and test ideas quickly.
Build communities, not just customer bases.
Maintain quality while scaling.
Be transparent and trustworthy.
Integrate social impact into business operations.
Listen deeply and adapt continuously.
Every lesson from these 4,000 boardings, every challenge with Maya, every crisis managed with patience, every customer relationship built on trust, has prepared us for the much larger challenge ahead.
The Vision
Our goal is audacious yet achievable: to build a one-crore revenue farming business with as little land as possible —a model that can be replicated by anyone, anywhere. Not through shortcuts or exploitation, but sustainably. Transparently. Community-first.
We're building a place where:
Relationships, conversations, and festivals take center stage again.
Every age group has a safe space where they can belong.
People can get their hands dirty, feel happy, eat good food, and breathe clean air.
Young, well-educated individuals view farming as a purposeful profession, not a last resort.
You can live your weekend farm-stay dream every day, working with nature, making an impact, and making a living.
A place they can call home
We're expanding our social media presence extensively to document everything we do as transparently as possible. Everyone will be able to follow our journey, learn from our mistakes, and witness our growth. Because transforming Indian farming won't happen in isolation, it'll happen through community.
The Invitation
We're at the beginning of something much bigger than dog boarding. Will we succeed? Honestly, I don't know. But we're going to try, learn, adapt, and share every step.
If a casual conversation about a "hostel" can spark a boarding business, imagine what a commitment to rural transformation can create. Let's find out together.
Transforming Indian farming will require a community, and you're invited to join.
See you on the farm.
Follow Ilaya Farms' journey on our social media channels to watch this story unfold. From 4,000 dog boardings to one-crore farming transformation—the real adventure is just beginning.
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