The start-up success helping dogs walk again

Starting a business is always challenging, particularly when the service you offer isn’t widely understood. For Tazza’s Canine Hydrotherapy, educating vets and dog owners about the life‑changing benefits of hydrotherapy has been key to success. Based at St George’s Business Park in Sittingbourne, founder Jodie Reeder has combined specialist training, persistence and a genuine love of dogs to build a thriving referral‑led business that is quite literally helping dogs walk again — all from her customised, flexible workspace.

A passion for helping dogs

Jodie has worked with dogs since she was 16, following in the footsteps of her mother, a dog groomer. After years working in kennels and doggy day care, a television programme sparked the idea that would change her career: “I was watching some kind of vet rehab programme and they popped some dogs in a swimming pool that were struggling to walk. You watched these dogs get better and I thought, yeah, that’s what I want to do.”

She went on to complete intensive training in canine hydrotherapy, including advanced Level 4 qualifications, before launching Tazza’s Canine Hydrotherapy. Today, she specialises in supporting dogs recovering from surgery or dealing with age-related conditions such as arthritis and muscle wastage: “Hydrotherapy is about bringing back strength — rebuilding muscle mass, range of motion and getting dogs walking again. I use an aquatic treadmill, which is a treadmill belt at the bottom of a tank of water.”

Based in Sittingbourne, the clinic serves clients across Sheerness, Faversham and the wider Medway area, working closely with local vets to support recovery and long-term mobility.

Becoming her own boss

After years of working for other businesses, Jodie decided to take the leap into self-employment last year, opening the doors to Tazza’s Canine Hydrotherapy last July. The decision wasn’t taken lightly, particularly given the investment required: “Working with animals isn’t the best in terms of pay and hours. I wanted to do a job I love but also earn a wage at the same time – that’s hard when you’re working for other people, so I knew the way forward was to become my own boss.”

Setting up required months of preparation, paperwork and securing a loan to invest in specialist equipment. But the motivation was clear: “It took four or five months to get everything sorted, but really it was years of experience that gave me the confidence to do it on my own.”

The business name itself reflects how personal the journey has been: “It’s named after my dog, Taz. I lost him not long before I set up and I thought there’s no better reason — he’s why I do what I do.”

Finding a dog-friendly workspace

Before Jodie could realise her dream of being her own boss, she had to find a workspace that would be suitable for her clients – both canine and human. She found it at St George’s Business Park in Sittingbourne: “One of the big things for me was having a space I could make my own. I needed to change the flooring and make it suitable for dogs and install my specialist equipment, and I was able to do all of that here.”

Accessibility was just as important: “Parking was a massive thing. These dogs aren’t very mobile, so being able to park right outside makes such a difference – for them and their owners.”

The flexible nature of the workspace also allowed Jodie to create a calm, welcoming environment for nervous dogs and their owners. Of her experience with Capital Space, she says: “Any query I’ve had has been answered really quickly. Everything’s been handled perfectly.”

This flexibility reflects Capital Space’s easy‑in, easy‑out licences, which are designed to support growing SMEs in locations like Sittingbourne.

Building a client base from scratch

One of the biggest challenges Jodie faced when she started her business was awareness. Canine hydrotherapy is still a niche service, even among professionals: “A lot of people, vets included, didn’t realise how much of a benefit it was to dogs.”

Jodie tackled this head‑on by building strong B2B relationships: “I spent a lot of time going around to vets, getting my face out there and making myself known.”

Social media and word of mouth quickly followed, helped by powerful success stories: “I’ve had dogs go from being completely lame after surgery to building five or six centimetres of muscle and going back to normal life.”

What really sets the business apart, though, is Jodie’s approach: “Every dog that comes through my doors, I genuinely really love. I think people can see that, and owners are drawn to it because they know their dogs are being looked after.”

That genuine care has turned first‑time clients into long‑term advocates.

The rewards of business success

Earning a sustainable income was a key goal, and Jodie has managed to achieve this by taking the plunge of setting up her own business: “My books are nearly full now, so I’m doing what I wanted to do.”

But the emotional rewards matter just as much, with the moments of progress being what make it worthwhile: “I had a dog who couldn’t walk at all. One day she flicked her leg on her own and I said to her mum, ‘She’s just done that herself.’ She’s still got a long way to go, but moments like that are why I do it.”

Helping dogs regain movement — even in small steps — is what keeps Jodie motivated every day.

Future plans

Rather than rushing expansion, Jodie is taking a measured approach. Her next step is to bring in a second therapist to extend opening hours: “The treadmill can be used for more hours without me working 15‑hour days. I currently work Tues to Saturday, with later days on Tuesday and Wednesday for owners who need to bring their pets after work, then ‘normal’ hours Thursday to Saturday, as I need to have some evenings to myself!

“If I brought in a second therapist, there would be no additional investment required, but we could extend our hours to be able to help more pets and their owners, offering more out-of-hours appointments while still maintaining the quality of care. So it makes sense to me for that to be the logical next stage in growing the business.”

Business tips for would-be entrepreneurs

For anyone thinking about starting their own business, Jodie’s advice is refreshingly honest: “Patience is key. Things don’t skyrocket immediately, and it’s easy to feel disheartened.”

She also stresses resilience: “You’re going to have long days and you won’t always switch off — but it’s worth it.”

And would she go back to being employed? “No. I love working for myself. It’s hard work, but it’s worth it.”

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