Vincent Machuka: City dweller minting profits from dog business

He rose from earning Sh20 for the labour his dog did in the village to not less than Sh10,000 per hour each time his dog delivered the intended services. Moreover, he makes up to Sh150,000 for each dog he sells.

From living under one roof with his 10 dogs to owning a kennel which now has more than 40 dogs of different breeds, each with its specific role, he has made a big mark in the industry. 

From a squirrel hunter to a professional dog trainer, breeder and seller, his dreams remain big.

This is the story of 35-year-old Vincent Machuka, a dog breeder, trainer and also the owner of K9 Machuka Fly Dog security agency.

His passion for pets started way back when he was in class four. He loved and cared so much about any dog that came his way. “When in class four, I stole a dog from my neighbour and took care of it to a point that I would save money from my lunch to buy it a snack on my way back home,” he said.

 “I would use the dog in hunting down squirrels that were destroying crops in our farms. I would guard people`s farms where I would be paid Sh20 for the services.”

He noted that it was a good business and the money he made was channelled towards buying food for the dog.

It was not until 2004 that Machuka ventured into the dog business, but this time, not the one he bred back in the village, but different breeds that were marketable and earned him thousands of shillings.

The dogs he keeps at his “dog farm” are mostly for security and protection, investigation purposes and others for company, because it is believed that a dog is a man’s best friend.

“When I came to Nairobi, I started working as a security guard at a company owned by an Indian at Peponi Road, where a certain dog would come at the gate and due to my love for dogs, I wouldn’t allow it to get in. Many times, I would bring the dog some food from my house. One day, my boss told me to take the dog in and take care of it on his premises,” he recalls.

He later lost the job. The dog, which he had accommodated, took over his role of guarding the company at the gate during the night.

He then went back to school, where he undertook a one-year course in training dogs. Machuka later got a job as a kennel master in a certain farm where he trained dogs and also people on how to handle dogs. He said he kept moving from one farm to another to get money to accomplish his dream of owning his own dog farm.

 “Now I have my own kennel. I deal with my own dogs. It’s through this dog breeding that I take care of my family and provide all basic necessities. I don’t have any other job and I wouldn’t want to have one because this is enough for me,” he noted.

Initially, his biggest challenge was where to keep his dogs. He used to hire places for but later managed to get space, where he now does his business without hitches. He has built his brand around dog keeping and made more friends through the dog business.

He says, just like how the employed people are committed to their work because it’s their source of income, he is also committed to his dogs, as they are his daily business.

He has more than six breeds of dogs, German shepherds, rottweiler, dobermann, Boerboels, spitz, terrier, great dane, caucasian shepherd, malinois and sniffer dog breed.

“I have seven sniffer dogs that can sniff narcotics and explosives. Training a dog is not easy. First, you have to understand a dog before subjecting it to the role that you want it to perform. For instance, a Malinois dog is a hyped dog with high intelligence, so its designated roles should revolve around active activities,” said the dog trainer.

To care for the dogs, he washes them twice a week and deworms them every two months. He treats them whenever unwell and feeds them the right foods.

Making huge profits

Depending on the breed, the prices of the dogs range between Sh60,000 and Sh150,000, with the Malinois breed being the most expensive, mainly because of its high intelligence.

“For sniffer dogs, the business is always at its peak when schools are opening because I’m invited to search for schools in Nairobi, Machakos and Kisii. Also, when something happens, I’m always called in to the scene with my dog, where I charge Sh10,000 per hour,” he noted. 

His thirst for dogs is not yet over; despite owning various breeds, he wishes to own the Dutch Shepherd breed. Though it’s expensive, he says he will not relent until he owns it for its money value. He advised those who would love to buy dogs to buy them from breeders because it’s only they who have the full history of their breeds, and this will reduce cases of interbreeding.

He said he only breeds his dogs when need be, when he has a client who wants to buy one, or he wants to use it for a certain purpose. “I cannot hesitate to say dog business is good, though there are some hurdles, but it’s up to you to love them. The business has money as long as you follow the legal procedures,” he quipped.

Just like Machuka, Karori Mogoi, the head trainer and director of Shaka Kennels, also had his passion for dogs for 15 years. He advised those who wish to venture into the dog business to do it out of passion first, before considering it as a money-generating venture, arguing that the business is lucrative but has its own challenges.

“This business has money, but you have to be patient and consistent because, before you start earning from it, there is a time you will do breeding where the puppies may die frequently due to diseases, negligence or lack of knowledge. You might also have the puppies and lack a market to sell them. Sometimes, you can breed a dog and not get puppies or get puppies that are not of good quality. This means you need to be very patient,” Mogoi advised.

He said the pet industry has grown and it has employed many people, starting from the veterinary sector, where dog clinics have increased, the training industry, where people have been employed as dog trainers, dog walking guides and groomers, hence making a living from the business.

Most security industries have embraced the use of dogs for security purposes because of their hearing capability, smell capability, endurance and speed.

He added that the price of the dog depends on breed, pedigree, and age, with young puppies being less expensive than mature dogs because of feeding expenses.

“A three-month-old puppy can go up to Sh100,000 simply because they have to be fed with good quality food, vaccinated, dewormed and given multivitamins to boost their growth. You also need to register the dogs with the East Africa Kennel Club.

They need extensive training when they’re still young,” said Mogoi.