NAKURU: The sound of barking dogs welcomes you to Timothy Githogori’s dog-training school in Naivasha.
While it is an extremely irritating sound if you are not used to that level of noise, it sounds like heaven to Githogori who cryptically says “I eat dog, drink dog and even drive dogs”.
Asked to elaborate, the dog breeder says this trade is his only source of livelihood, adding that the returns have enabled him meet his family’s daily needs and make various investments.
Nicknamed wa Madogs (of dogs), Githogori’s success has surprised many including himself. The business he ventured into nineteen years ago came from a passion and has now turned into a gold mine.
“I had great love for dogs and kept them as pets. It was only after I realised the gold behind the canine that I ventured into this business,” says the dog breeder cum trainer.
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His induction to the trade happened while in Tanzania when he bought two puppies from an Asian who was also a dog trainer.
“I had a well-paying job in Tanzania but when I encountered Mr Shah and learned the ropes of breeding and selling dogs, I left my job, returned home and began this business,” he says.
That was back in 1996. Githogori came back with male and female German Shepherd puppies, which he bought for Sh30,000. He had a fire burning in his heart. Some of his friends thought he was crazy and even deserted him.
Githogori paid them no heed and proceeded to tend to his dogs at his Njoro home.
When it was time, the female gave birth to 11 puppies, which he sold at Sh20,000 each making Sh210,000. Six months later, the dog gave birth to 10 more puppies and he made Sh200,000 from their sale.
His once sceptical friends sat up and took notice.
“The ones who once shunned me were now flocking to my home to see for themselves whether what they were hearing is true,” he recalls with a smile.
The 41-year-old says he makes good money from the sale of dogs which, depending on the breed, can fetch between Sh150,000 and Sh400,000.
“I have also sold dogs at Sh700,000,” he says.
The father of three says he has sold dogs to senior officers in Government including President Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto and to some of the leading security firms in the country.
He has now opened a training school in Naivasha where he takes the dog buyers through training sessions before they take their canines’ home, saying the animals need special treatment.
His fame has also spread beyond the borders of this country and he has made sales in Uganda, Tanzania and South Sudan.
