Published: 19/01/2011 08:00

Dogs live in lap of luxury in Julian's grand kennels

by CHRISTINA MASSEY

 

A DOG lover put his grand designs into action after being made redundant from his job.

 

 

 

Julian Kite, of Woodville, started up his own business making premiere kennels for dogs after losing his job as a site manager.  Mr Kite set up justkennels after treating his own three pooches, bulldogs Benjamin and Harvey, and Staffordshire bull terrier Henry, to a brick built miniature house of their own.

 

He said: “I’ve always had bull dogs and Staffordshire bull terriers and they can destroy wooden dog kennels — but the brick ones are practically indestructible.

 

“I think people thought I was a bit barking at first, but then people kept coming around to look at it and started asking me to build them for their dogs.

 

“Friends and neighbours were so impressed with the end result that they suggested I should set up my own business.”

 

A friend helped Mr Kite to design a website for his new enterprise and he was able to gain some valuable advice from Business Link, part of the East Midlands Development Agency.

 

Mr Hughes said: “Forty three thousand people have been on the website and it’s growing and growing.”

 

The kennels can fetch up to £1,200 and come with luxuries such as glazing, guttering, skirting boards, floor coverings and outdoor lighting — Mr Kite can even make miniature versions of customer’s own homes for their dogs.

 

He is currently in talks with Lichfield based manufacturer Masonry Solutions about manufacturing the dog kennels on a broader scale and selling them all around the world to a variety of budgets.

They are looking at making a brick-slip dog kennel, which can be assembled, and a GRP material kennel, which could be picked up off a shop shelf.

 

He said: “We’re trying to cover all bases — the brick built ones are the ultimate dog kennels.”

For further information on justkennels, visit the website www.justkennels.co.uk.