OverDog: Dog Daycare & Boarding Business Tips

Discover how to organize your pet care facility for maximum effectiveness. Alex Varney, VP of Operations at Pinnacle Pets walks you through how to identify and resolve the inefficiencies in your daily operations that hinder your team's performance and those that lead to chaos and customer dissatisfaction. In addition, you’ll gain insights into creative problem-solving techniques to streamline processes, enhance efficiency, and improve clarity for your team.

In this episode, we dive into the ins and outs of adding a transportation service to your pet resort or daycare. Joined by Katrin “Kay” Green from The Dog Patch, we explore how a simple idea—using a minivan to shuttle dogs during COVID—grew into a full-scale operation with multiple buses. Kay shares her journey from that initial minivan setup to running three shuttles daily, discussing the costs, logistics, and unexpected perks of providing transportation for clients. She also offers practical tips on safety, organization, and handling challenges like finding qualified drivers and dealing with inevitable messes on the road.

From building relationships with clients to creating a community icon, Kay’s story illustrates how adding transportation can be a game-changer for pet care businesses. Whether you’re considering a single van or a fleet of buses, this episode provides valuable insights for anyone looking to expand their services and deliver extra convenience for their customers.

In this episode we dive into the world of luxury branding and explore how positioning your pet care business as a premium service can set you apart in a competitive market. From fostering unmatched customer loyalty to enabling higher profit margins, creating a high-end brand experience offers significant benefits for businesses willing to go the extra mile.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to elevate your existing services, this episode offers actionable insights for creating a premium client experience that resonates with pet owners who prioritize quality. You’ll gain tips for enhancing service standards, overcoming challenges, and refining your brand message to attract a selective, loyal clientele.

In this episode, we’ll explore the potential pitfalls that pet business owners face after reaching success. Achieving your business goals is an incredible milestone, but what happens next? We’ll dive into the dangers that can arise from complacency, missed opportunities, or simply not knowing how to leverage success to reach even greater heights. Plus, we’ll offer actionable strategies for staying on top and continuously growing your pet business.

The big buzz in the dog daycare industry is enrichment. Everyone seems to be talking about it, and many businesses have been rolling out different enrichment programs with great success. It’s exciting but also a bit overwhelming.

Today, I’ve brought Dominic Hodgson back on the show to tell us all about his recent Enrichment Summit, share some of the key takeaways from the event, and help us understand how we can make enrichment work.

You and your business will always be limited by the knowledge you don’t have. The good news is that there’s no shortage of places to learn and expand your skills. To truly reach your full potential, you need a lifelong commitment to continued learning and education. The more information you have, the better equipped you’ll be, and the fewer mistakes you’ll make.

In this episode, Fern shares his five favorite books that will not only help you take your business to exciting new heights, but also enable you to grow and improve as a person.

In this episode, we’re diving into why employee wellness is not just a corporate buzzword but something that can make a huge difference in your dog daycare or boarding facility. We’ll talk about simple, practical ways to keep your team happy, healthy, and energized (because let’s face it, taking care of dogs can get hectic!).

Imagine fewer sick days, more productive shifts, and a team that actually looks forward to coming to work. Wellness isn’t just a perk, it’s a game changer for both your staff and your business!

Dog parks are great in theory but often flawed in reality. Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could start your own private indoor dog park, creating a safe, fun environment for dogs while adding a new revenue stream to your business?

If you’re thinking “yes,” but feeling overwhelmed by everything that needs to be considered and set up, this episode is for you. We’ve invited Raechel MacQueen from The Pack Dog Park to share how she’s built a thriving business around her private dog park.

It may seem that offering services to cater to every dog and person is the best way to grow your business and maximize revenue. However, this approach can sometimes dilute the value you provide and create a business that doesn’t truly resonate with anyone. By choosing to specialize in one particular area, you can flip that around and take care of your customers in a way that other businesses can’t.

In today’s show, we’ll dive into the idea of creating a specialist business that makes your brand truly unique, allowing you to serve both people and dogs in a deep and meaningful way, ultimately leading to greater business success and growth.

Building and running a pet business involves managing many different aspects to ensure success. One area that I often see neglected is the legal considerations that need attention to set up your business for smooth operation and to avoid future issues.

Today, I’m joined by Peter Tanella, an attorney specializing in the pet care industry, who will shed light on key legal matters and offer guidance on handling common situations to prevent problems and unnecessary stress.