justkennels in the Derby Evening Telegraph

6th November 2008 - written by Robin Johnson

"Welcome to Barkingham Palace"

WHEN Julian Kite was made redundant from his job in the construction industry, he felt as sick as a dog.

But when it came to finding a new job, man's best friend had the answer – and it lay at the bottom of the garden at his home in Woodville, near Swadlincote.

Before he had been put out of work, dog lover Julian had built a brick kennel for his three dogs – English bulldogs Benjamin and Harvey and Staffordshire bull terrier Henry – which resembled a miniature house.

Friends and neighbours were so impressed that he started to receive requests for similar kennels.

Now, with the help of his redundancy money, 34-year-old Julian has set up his own business called Just Kennels, which he runs from home through his website www.justkennels.co. uk.

The business makes bespoke brick-built kennels, complete with glazed windows, guttering and skirting boards.  Pampered pooches have a choice of curling up on ceramic, laminate or carpet flooring.

Internal and external lighting are optional extras.  The kennels can even be finished off with their own house name or number.

Julian said: "I first decided to build a brick kennel for my dogs because they kept chewing up the wooden ones.  I don't think there is any other company out there that builds kennels to such high specifications. Some people may think it is a little over the top but the fact is there are people out there who love their dogs as much as I love mine.  They want the best for their pets and with one of these kennels, that is what they get."

Julian has come up with seven standard designs to cater for dogs of all shapes and sizes. The average price of a kennel is about £750.

He said: "The designs can be adapted in a number of ways.

"In fact, if people wanted it, I could build a miniature version of their house.

"So if you do fall out with your other half, then being in the dog house would no longer be such a bad thing!"

One satisfied customer is neighbour Jamie Harrison, who has had a kennel built for his bulldog, Sebastian.

He said: "Sebastian loves his new home.  Julian did a fabulous job in creating such an individual design that perfectly suits the garden, us and the dog. Everyone comments on it."

Before starting his business, Julian worked as a site manager on the Strata Homes development on land that was formerly occupied by Derby County's old stadium, the Baseball Ground.

But due to the downturn in the housing market, he was made redundant.

He said: "I'd always thought that I could make a business out of the kennels and being made redundant was probably the push I needed to actually go for it. I'm a builder by trade, so instead of sitting around and moaning that I lost my job, I decided to use my skills."