When Classic Kennels Ltd first opened its doors in St. Peter, Jersey, in 2012, manager Nicky Davis was there from the very beginning.
“I have been with Classic Kennels since it opened back,” she said.
For Nicky, working with animals had always been a dream. She completed her Trident work placement as a teenager at Pont Rose Kennels, another dog boarding facility, back in 1987 and loved the experience.
The Trident Work Experience is a government program in Jersey giving students two to three weeks of hands-on work experience to explore careers and build skills.
After many years working in the hospitality field, she found her way back to the career she had always wanted.
“I started volunteering on my days off from my full-time job, then took my holidays during the busy half-term times to help out," she said.
The combination of hospitality skills and a lifelong love of animals was the perfect fit for Classic Kennels.
“I always wanted to work with animals, especially dogs," she said. "So when an opportunity came to help run a brand-new indoor kennel, I jumped at the chance."
Nicky completed a BTEC Level 2 course in animal management with two Distinction certificates, including First Aid. She then felt prepared to jump in to working with dogs as her new career path.
"Although it is a very physical job... it is thoroughly rewarding," Nicky said. "I thank every single customer and guest since 2012 for making it the best job in the world."
A Personal Approach to Pet Care
Nicky and her partner have always had Briard dogs, so the love of pets extends from her home life to her workdays.
Classic Kennels is designed with dogs’ comfort and happiness in mind, and all boarding kennels are purpose-built with hygienic, insulated sleeping areas, and each run is attached individually.
For big dogs or multiple dogs from the same family, larger kennels are available. Dogs get exercise twice daily: one lead walk through surrounding fields and green lanes, and one games/play session.
There’s also an enclosed exercise space for interactive play or extra leg stretching, especially when the weather is bad.
“It's just so hands-on with the dogs and all of their different characters," she said. "Also, we look after the owners too in some aspects — you actually gain a good bond with the regular clients.”
Why Revelation Pets Makes a Difference
As Classic Kennels grew, Nicky needed tools to help with bookings, record keeping, client communication, and reporting.
She wanted to find a system that would make her life easier so she could focus more on pet care than paperwork. Revelation Pets offered just that.
“It is user-friendly and easy to find the correct reports for certain jobs," Nicky said. “Generally, each month when I am looking at outstanding accounts, it allows me to message [pet parents] directly.”
Here are several features from Revelation Pets that align tightly with Classic Kennels’ needs:
| Feature | How it Helps Classic Kennels / Facilities Like It |
|---|---|
| Cloud-Based Access | Revelation Pets is accessible from any device (tablet, laptop, smartphone) with an internet connection. That means Nicky can check bookings, reports, or client info wherever she is — on site, off site, or even when walking the dogs. |
| Dashboard | A snapshot view of daily arrivals, departures, appointments, and occupancy helps Nicky plan the day. It's much easier than chasing paper spreadsheets or multiple systems. |
| Boarding Calendar / Run Management | Viewing and drag-and-drop bookings, managing runs (the individual kennels or exercise spaces), and seeing client notes and pet records help avoid overlaps, keep the dogs’ care consistent, and simplify the booking-in process. r |
| Reports | Specific reports give Nicky clear, accurate data at the end of each financial year, or when working through outstanding accounts. Less manual work, fewer errors, and better visibility. s |
| Customer Portal & Online Booking | This lets pet parents self‐register, upload vaccine records, book 24/7, and pay invoices or purchase credits when applicable. That reduces phone calls and email back-and-forths. |
| Appointment / Service Modules | Having those built-in modules helps Classic Kennels plan staff availability, avoid double bookings, and manage any services beyond overnight boarding cleanly. |
| Digital Agreements & Vaccination Reminders | Ensuring clients sign agreements digitally makes intake smoother. Having vaccine records stored and automatic reminders when vaccines are about to expire helps ensure pets are healthy and compliant. |
| Customizable Rates, Upsells, Discounts, and Waitlists | For example, charging different rates for shared kennel space, offering family-dog rates, or upselling extra services or products can add revenue. Waitlist functionality helps when capacity is full. |
Keeping Tails Wagging
Classic Kennels isn’t just a place where dogs are boarded; it’s a place where each dog is treated with care, pet parents feel assured, and operations run smoothly behind the scenes.
The combination of purpose-built facilities, dedicated staff, and software like Revelation Pets means that Classic Kennels can spend more time on what matters most—loving and caring for dogs.
When it comes to features that help Nicky manage the business, she calls out the self-reservation model.
“Obviously, the booking in of guests and the everyday ‘dashboard,'" she said.
The ability to look up past clients and report on reservations and other pertinent details have been useful as well.
"Especially at the end of the financial year,” Nicky said. “It has just made it much easier to run a Kennel with that software.”
If you’re looking for a kennel or daycare with those values, Classic Kennels in Jersey is ready to welcome you and your furry friend into a clean, safe, fun home-away-from-home. Running a dog boarding facility? Give Revelation Pets a try for free!
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