K9000 Dog Wash: From Australia to PdC
Birdie the black lab enjoyed a warm bath in the convenient new, self-serve K9000 Dog Wash, as a demonstration for those attending the chamber ribbon cutting there Nov. 15. Birdie has been to the wash before and was loving the additional pampering. (Photo by Correne Martin)
Pictured at the K9000 Dog Wash during the Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors’ ribbon cutting Nov. 15 were (from left) Bob Moses, Tricia Landt, Bob Sutton, Kathy Pettit with Birdie the labrador, Shannon Landt, Sandy and Shane Landt, Jamie Stram, Bob Standorf, Char Bender and Paul Ginkel. (Photo by Correne Martin)
By Correne Martin
The K9000 Dog Wash is the first of its kind in the area, installed along Highway 18 in Prairie du Chien and opened in September.
Shane and Sandy Landt, of Monona, Iowa, made a deal with Gary Welter, of Quality Beverage, to establish the new small business on the south end of the liquor store’s parking lot—between there and Computer Support Plus.
There are two self-serve, user-friendly dog wash bays that make up the interior of the trailer.
Walk inside the 24/7 trailer and find a bowl of treats to coax your canine if he’s a newbie. Stand beside a machine, just open the front door of the fiberglass stall and let your dog jump in. Shut the door, swipe a card or pay cash for 10 minutes, and then select from the dial options for your pooch’s custom wash. Feel free to pause in between cycles, as your dog gets situated.
The shampoo and conditioner, as well as the flea and tick spray, are all biodegradable products. There are multiple water heaters to ensure everyone’s comfort, and three individual screens throughout the unit that help keep the dog hair out of the sewer.
Rinse your hound, and then select one of two different blow-drying options—low or high. Once your pup jumps out of the bay, press the complimentary 20-second disinfectant button and spray to freshen the stall up for the next user.
The inside of the trailer is heated in the winter and air conditioned in the summer. The lights are on at all times. Cameras are on site and the facility is cleaned daily.
Shane explained at a Prairie du Chien chamber ribbon cutting Nov. 15, that he and his wife, farmers who also own Paradise Valley Campground, near Garnavillo, were at a swine show last year when they were first introduced to the K9000 Dog Wash concept. They saw one near a hotel where they were staying and decided to go check it out. They were further impressed after watching a video of the dog wash process and researching the company, Tru Blu, based in Australia.
“Our first machine came from Australia,” Shane said, noting that the industrial bays and washing apparatuses were first manufactured down under. Now, the company has production operations in both Australia and North Carolina, where the Landts’ second machine was built.
“We were so impressed with this. It’s growing fast in America,” Shane said. “It’s convenient, you don’t have the mess at home and dogs like it. If you use it every 30 days or so, your dog won’t need other flea and tick treatment.”
He continued, “Our customers are saying their dogs’ fur is so soft.”
Since opening in early September, over 400 dog washes have been done. He said his machines’ interior technology reports to him the usage, electronically. Presently, he said the Prairie du Chien K9000 Dog Wash business averages 6.5 animal washes per day.
The Landts said, as long as it’s being used consistently through the winter, they plan to keep it open for all seasons.
Shane said he and Sandy are also looking into collaborating with Tru Blu to eventually manufacture and distribute fully-equipped K9000 trailers right in Monona.
There are currently 1,600 of these dog wash machines in use, and Prairie du Chien is part of the growing industry.
For more information about the technology and company, visit k9000dogwash.com.
