TyBrown
1/1/2012 16:03 EST
Hello all,
We are a young family and have dreamed for some years of moving overseas for a time. In preparation we've made some trips in the last two years to Panama and Costa Rica.
We've never been to Nicaragua but feel like it might be the right place for us based on safety, price, and a few other factors.
I'm wondering if I could get some advice for where to focus our research and next visit. What we are looking for is:
- A fairly developed place. I am a dog trainer and operate a dog training website with videos I've created. My plan is to do all of my products in Spanish as well (I speak Spanish). I would need to find a community where there are enough people who view dogs as family members and would be willing to train their dogs. What I've seen in Central America, so far, is that there are plenty of dogs. The dog culture is different, though, in that they wander freely and not much attention is paid to training.
- We want something very affordable yet an enjoyable and culturally rich place for us and our three young kids. We'll be keeping our home and other things in the US while we are gone (probably 6 months to a year) so we can't be in too pricey a spot.
- Ideally there is a nice beach nearby or some sort of water to play in.
Based on these parameters, do you have any suggestions? Thanks.
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calsrf
1/1/2012 22:25 EST
San Juan Del Sir will be your best developed, gringo friendly, beach area. Ranchers are big into cattle and horses...did not notice any pedigree dogs...mostly local varity...medium to smaller body...long snout...but I was only there two months. Prices are right, get them up front...Spanish is a huge plus..Have contacts in Managua and SJDS if you want...Calsrf.
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bushamy13
1/2/2012 07:31 EST
If you want to be near expats, your choices with dog training will be Granada, Managua or San Juan del Sur and I don't think SJDS will be big enough with enough people interested in your product. The most expats are in Granada and even then, not sure the population can support your service. Nicaragua is small so you are near the beaches regardless where you live. For example, here in Granada we are 1 hour 15 miutes from the Pacific and we are on Lake Nicaragua.
There are clinics here which you may couple your service. Perhaps much of your service can be Internet-based which opens the field.
As always, come here and try out some locations starting with Granada. SJDS will not be as kid friendly. Only my opinion.
More info at www.nicaragua-guide.com.
While biased towards Nicaragua, there is more of an expat population to support your service idea in Costa Rica and Panama.
Darrell
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TyBrown
1/2/2012 10:19 EST
I don't need to be near expats per se. I need to be near a native population that has dogs that has a culture for wanting to care and train dogs.
I'd be offering the training for free in exchange for being in the video series so ability to pay isn't key, but ability to follow up on instruction, work ethic, etc. is important.
My research has led me to think about Leon. It's near the beach which is a plus for the family. It's a college town so I'm thinking there are going to be a different class of people when it comes to professors and other professionals who inhabit college towns. That type of person may be more likely to train a dog I'm thinking? It also seems to be a large town, just under 200,000 which leads me to believe there would be enough dog owners to where I could put together a nice video series.
What do you think? Pros and cons of Leon?
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bushamy13
1/2/2012 20:02 EST
Interesting and your questions are difficult to answer so realize these are only my thoughts and opinions. For most expats it is important to have some people around of like culture and language. Also remember that the people of Nicaragua was a major reason for us choosing to live here.
The vast majority of people of Nicaragua are very poor which means food and care for the pets is on a much lower priority than for richer countries. That is why there are so many street dogs, when times get tougher they simply release the dog to the street. We discuss the topic in Granada in whether it is better to try to take care for all of these street dogs and find people willing to take them or what?
Your logic may be sound in choosing Leon but even with it being a college town I'm not sure the level of education is higher there or that they have a different attitude towards dogs.
Personally I think you customers will be mostly from the 5% that has some money and then can care for their pets. Outside of Managua or people with the large farms, there are not many wealthy people.
Hope this does not sound too negative but there are reasons this is the 2nd poorest country in the Americas and it is not the lack of resources. I have Nica friends with a college education and their chance of finding a job is not much better than someone with a grade school education.
Having said all that, I think there is a need for your services and that you will find the means to produce the video series. You might want to check with local animal clinics or vets to start a base.
It is much warmer in Leon than Granada or San Juan del Sur. We have noted that medium and larger dogs do have a shorter life span here due to the heat which is unfortunate.
Perhaps with your experience you can provide guidance to the rest of us on improve the dogls lot in life here.
Good Luck
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vnazaire1
1/3/2012 14:26 EST
A Canadian, I lived in Leon, the major college town, and as was told to you by others Nicaragua is a very poor country with children begging for money in the streets and parks.
Leon has more young people concentrated in a city due to universities but they are still poor and you won`t see a real difference (only one small bookstore) as students have no money to buy textbooks and rely on cheap photocopies of professors photocopies.
Your market will be the really rich landowners and large stores and hotel owners.
Hey, this is the third world my friend.
The dog culture is a European and North American value. Dogs roam the streets and they are lucky they are not eaten as in China.
Your best market is the Police force in these countries who need dogs trained to sniff drugs.
Home guard dogs can be another outlet.
I love Nicaragua but the reality is it is a very poor country. Even, young graduate dentists find it difficult to earn a living.
Good luck !
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