We had the good fortune of connecting with Alyssa Rycroft and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alyssa, what do you think makes you most happy? Why?
I have had many meanings of what my “happiness” has looked like over the years. I hope that it doesn’t stop changing because I want to keep growing. When I worked in education, my “happy” was when my students/clients prospered, when they mastered a goal, when they had a fantastic day or when I felt like I made a difference in their lives. When I was in my 20’s (that feels weird to say), my “happy” was being constantly busy and being around as many people as possible including my family. Now that I am happily married and in my 30’s (that also feels weird to say), my “happy” seems to be on a much smaller scale. My “happy” now is being with my husband, our five dogs, spending time with my family, enjoying quiet time and truly slowing down. When I say that my five dogs are my happy, that is a major understatement. They are our kids and I started my small dog boarding business because of them! I want to show other pet parents just how much love I have to give to their pups while also making an impact on another life; even though these lives walk on all four legs.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

Rycroft’s Ruff House has not always been my dream! I had always wanted to be a teacher and when that wasn’t fulfilling anymore, I left. I had started dog walking during the pandemic (because I HAD to get out of the house) and I again wasn’t filling up my bucket of happiness. Before completely giving up on the dog venture, I saw the button for availability for dog boarding and decided to give it a try. I tried doing drop-ins, dog sitting (at someone’s house) and then finally had my first in-home dog boarding named Capri. I was able to show Capri the life that I have for my dogs and it felt incredible. I was able to give someone the peace of mind that while they were away they didn’t have to worry about the care of their dog. It was eye opening!
I think what really sets me apart from everyone is that I treat every dog, no matter the manners, like my own. I have that ability because we are in my home. They can lay on our couch for snuggles, I can take them for hikes, I can keep a close eye on them and each pup gets to socialize in their own way. I have five different dogs of my own that are all sizes and each one has their own personality. Each pup that walks in our door can either pair up with one of ours to play the day away or sleep in their bed the entire stay. Our house can be personalized in many ways!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Arizona has a lot to offer in terms of sight seeing and activities! My favorite hobbies are hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding and pretty much anything that gets you moving forward. I love to take people up to our lakes for a boat ride or to see the phenomenal views; Canyon Lake in particular. I haven’t found that “one” hiking trail just yet, but I do have a soft spot for the hiking up north towards Payson! I love to show people from out of town the one hour drive it takes to go from rocky desert to the tall pines!

My husband, Don, is a foodie and we love pretty much all food types! I would say any place in town that has a good beer on tap, table games and a good atmosphere would be our ideal! We loved the experience we had at a place called, “The Flying Basset” as well as “Hair of the Dog.”

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The person in my life that deserves the most recognition would be my husband, Don. From the first date to now, he has been the one person who I know I can count on for advice, knowledge, a good discussion, love, understanding and most of all support. When we met, I was still working in ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) as a registered behavior technician working with kids on the spectrum. I moved on and became a special education teacher working with kids with behavioral issues. Both of these jobs were not easy to say the least and yet Don still wanted to marry me during that time! He has supported me in each move I made. He has listened to my concerns and hopes while also giving me advice. He has been there through it all and has now encouraged me to start my small business as he is also an entrepreneur who left a corporate job to pursue his own dreams. He is my inspiration!

Website: https://linktr.ee/RycroftsRuffHouse

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rycroftsruffhouse/

Image Credits
Ashley Stone Photography

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