What does it take to confidently care for dogs that other pet professionals may be hesitant to handle? Collin talks with Maddie Krzonowski, owner of Maddie's Dog Walking, about building trust with reactive dogs, recognizing behavioral warning signs, and knowing when a case is beyond your skill set. Maddie shares how honest client communication and thorough meet-and-greets help her determine whether a dog is a safe and appropriate fit. They also discuss growing a pet care business while attending college, hiring help, and becoming known for solving difficult client problems. Finally, Maddie opens up about burnout, physical limitations, grief, and why sustainable self-care matters when you build close relationships with pets and their families.

Main topics:

• Evaluating Reactive Dog Clients
• Reading Canine Warning Signals
• Building Trust Through Boundaries
• Protecting Staff From Risk
• Preventing Pet Care Burnout

Main takeaway: "Come to me with how your dog is, not how you want them to be."

That may be one of the most important things a pet care professional can ask of a client. Honest information about reactivity, bite history, triggers, equipment, and behavior allows us to make better decisions for everyone involved. We cannot build an effective care plan around the dog someone hopes to have six months from now—we have to care for the dog standing in front of us today.

In this episode, Maddie Krzonowski shares how that honesty helps her work with reactive and behaviorally challenging dogs while maintaining clear safety boundaries. Sometimes great pet care means helping a dog make progress. Other times, it simply means respecting that dog's limits, creating predictability, and giving the client a trustworthy person who understands their situation.

About our guest: Maddie Krzonowski is the owner of Maddie's Dog Walking, a New Jersey pet care business she first began as an entrepreneurial 11-year-old walking neighborhood dogs. Over the past decade, she has grown the business into a multi-area operation with additional team members while simultaneously completing her undergraduate education. Maddie is also a dog trainer with a particular interest in reactive dogs and helping owners navigate challenging behaviors. Her background also includes several years working as a veterinary technician, giving her a broad perspective on animal care, client relationships, and the emotional demands of the pet care industry.

Links:

• Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/maddies.dog.walking/
• Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583299275196
• Her new book: https://amzn.to/4AEYR6x

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest.

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What if the next stage of growth in our business comes not from adding more, but from deliberately taking things away? In this episode, we examine the owner trap; how work stays on our plates because we are fast at it, familiar with it, and emotionally attached to being needed. We explore how complexity creeps into services, scheduling, pricing, communication, and client exceptions, and why every extra variation quietly raises the cost of running the business. We walk through a five-question subtraction audit: should this stop, can it be simpler, can we standardize it, can we automate it, and who should own it? By learning to remove what no longer deserves to exist, we can create more capacity for the work, people, and systems that actually move the business forward.

Main topics:

• Escaping the owner dependency trap
• Reducing operational complexity deliberately
• Standardizing policies and exceptions
• Stopping work before automating it
• Building capacity through subtraction

Main takeaway: "A better business isn't the one doing the most. It's the one that has figured out how to do fewer things exceptionally well."

Growth has a funny way of convincing us that the answer is always more. More services. More software. More meetings. More processes. More exceptions. But every new thing we add creates something that has to be priced, trained, scheduled, communicated, monitored, and eventually handed off.

Sometimes the best thing we can do as business owners is stop asking, "How can I get this off my plate?" and start asking, "Does this need to exist at all?" Before you automate it, delegate it, or write another SOP for it, give yourself permission to remove it.

Your next stage of growth might not come from adding another thing. It might come from finally deciding what your business can do without.

Links:

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Full show notes and transcript

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest.

Sponsored by:

❤️ Our AMAZING Patreon Supporters

Your peace of mind is part of great pet care. Pet Sitters Associates provides the insurance you need to get the work done. Visit: https://www.petsitllc.com and use the code 'confessional' for $10 off today!

Pet Perennials Visit: https://petperennials.com/pages/register-for-a-business-account Code: 'PSC' when registering for a $2 off coupon on any purchases in the 1st 90 days

What does Google actually need to see before it trusts and recommends your pet care business? Amy Toman of Pet Sitter SEO joins us to explore how AI is changing Google Business Profiles, local search, reviews, photos, verification, and even phone calls to businesses. We discuss why consistency across your website, social media, directories, and Google listing matters more than ever and how experience, expertise, authority, and trust help establish your business online. Amy also shares important cautions about changing your Google Business Profile, dealing with missing or fake reviews, claiming 24/7 availability, and relying on AI-generated advice. We close with practical ways pet sitters can build a stronger digital presence without chasing every new SEO trend.

Main topics:

• AI Changes Local Search
• Building Google Business Trust
• Managing Reviews and Verification
• Optimizing Google Business Profiles
• Strengthening Online Business Authority

Main takeaway:

"The more Google knows about you, the more likely they are to recommend you or your business." — Amy Toman

Being found online is becoming about much more than stuffing the right keywords into a website. Google is looking across your website, Google Business Profile, social media, reviews, photos, services, directories, and other sources to understand who you are, what you do, and where you do it.

For pet care businesses, that means consistency matters. If you want to be known for dog walking, cat sitting, or another specific service, make sure your online presence actually demonstrates that expertise instead of simply mentioning it once.

In this episode, Amy Toman joins us to unpack how AI is changing local search and what pet sitters should be doing now to build trust, authority, and visibility.

The goal isn't to trick Google. It's to give Google enough consistent evidence to confidently understand and recommend your business.

About our guest: Amy Toman is the founder of Pet Sitter SEO and a Google Business Profile Diamond Product Expert who specializes in local SEO, Google Business Profile troubleshooting, and reinstatements. She founded Pet Sitter SEO in 2017 after beginning website work in 2015 and has worked extensively with pet care professionals to improve their online visibility. Amy has contributed to industry organizations, spoken at pet care conferences, and audited hundreds of websites and Google Business Profiles. Today, she continues to help small businesses navigate the increasingly complex relationship between local search, Google Business Profiles, and AI.

Links:

Earn 1 CEU

https://petsitterseo.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-toman-🗺️-25945047

https://www.petsitterconfessional.com/episodes/575

https://www.petsitterconfessional.com/episodes/267

https://www.petsitterconfessional.com/episodes/120

https://whitespark.ca/blog/missing-google-reviews-checklists-for-troubleshooting-review-loss/

https://reputationarm.com/why-are-my-google-reviews-disappearing-the-silent-review-purge-what-google-isnt-telling-you/

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Full show notes and transcript

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest.

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Critter to turn insights into action. Use 'PSC20' for 20% off your first three months

Have you reached the point where your pet care business is too busy to run alone but not yet profitable enough to comfortably add support? In this episode, we unpack the "messy middle," where demand has outgrown our available hours even though the margin has not caught up. We talk through the two intentional paths forward: growing through the stage by pricing in help, delegating, and building systems, or scaling back by raising prices, tightening service areas, and simplifying services. We also explain why hiring admin should be based on hours, measurable triggers, and a defined trial period rather than fear or vague job titles. Most importantly, we challenge ourselves to build a business that fits our lives, protects our capacity, and operates better regardless of its size.

Main topics:

• Recognizing the messy middle
• Choosing growth or scaling back
• Pricing support into services
• Delegating through strategic admin hours
• Protecting capacity with boundaries

Main takeaway: "The messy middle is your business asking a simple question: Do you want to operate in a better way, regardless of size?"

The messy middle isn't just about revenue. It's what happens when your business has grown beyond what one person can comfortably carry, but the margin hasn't caught up enough to pay for the help you need. That tension can make you feel like the only answer is to keep pushing harder. It isn't.

You can intentionally grow through this stage, or you can intentionally simplify and scale back. Both can be smart business decisions. What matters is choosing a direction, building the systems to support it, and creating a business that works better for the life you actually want.

If you're in the messy middle right now, what needs to change first?

Links:

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Full show notes and transcript

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest.

Sponsored by:

❤️ Our AMAZING Patreon Supporters

Your peace of mind is part of great pet care. Pet Sitters Associates provides the insurance you need to get the work done. Visit: https://www.petsitllc.com and use the code 'confessional' for $10 off today!

Tiny Paws Bookkeeping - visit TinyPawsBookkeeping.com to start putting profit first!

What happens when your business is built around a mission instead of just making money? In this episode, Collin sits down with Jon Eckrich of Jon Loves Dogs to discuss how a clear mission influences every decision—from hiring and onboarding to client relationships and long-term growth. Jon shares how his corporate leadership experience shaped his approach to building a professional pet care team without losing sight of compassion. Together they explore company culture, Fear Free principles, training systems, and setting high standards for employees. The conversation is a reminder that a strong mission doesn't limit your business—it gives every decision a clear direction.

Main topics:

• Mission-driven business leadership

• Hiring with clear standards

• Fear Free training principles

• Building intentional company culture

• Balancing purpose and profit

Main takeaway: "If the business doesn't exist, then we can't achieve our mission."

Every business owner eventually faces the tension between purpose and profit. Jon reminds us that those two things aren't enemies—they depend on each other.

A healthy business isn't the destination; it's the vehicle that allows us to keep serving pets, clients, and our teams for years to come. When every decision is filtered through a clear mission, even difficult choices become easier to make.

About our guest: Jon Eckrich is the founder of Jon Loves Dogs, a New Jersey-based professional pet sitting and dog walking company built around a mission of enriching the lives of companion animals. After spending more than fifteen years in corporate healthcare recruiting and leadership, he transitioned into professional pet care, combining his leadership experience with Fear Free principles and animal welfare. In addition to running his growing business, Jon consults with pet care companies on hiring, onboarding, leadership, and building healthy workplace cultures.

Links:

Jon Loves Dogs — https://jonlovesdogs.com

Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/jonlovesdogsllc

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest.

Sponsored by:

❤️ Our AMAZING Patreon Supporters

Time to Pet Visit: https://timetopet.com/confessional Code: 50% off first 3 months

Pet Sitters International Visit: https://www.petsit.com/psc Code: PSC15

Get 1 CEU: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScEo5RsHFqlc5t5OXPZIf2CSWjuVQwS-abZVi_phWPC4CC9vg/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=107413215510797164078

What do we actually want our pet care businesses to make possible for us? In this episode, we build on our conversation about ownership stages by exploring how our goals shape the work we do and the responsibilities we share. We discuss the mindset shifts involved in trusting others with pet care, decisions, and leadership, including why being needed can become tied to our sense of value. We share how reviewing two weeks of our calendars can reveal where our time goes and which dependencies are keeping us from the roles we want. Whether we love doing visits, managing operations, or developing leaders, we can take intentional steps toward a business that supports that choice.

Main topics:

• Defining Your Own Business Success
• Changing Mindsets Across Ownership Stages
• Separating Personal Value From Dependency
• Auditing Your Actual Ownership Role
• Delegating Responsibility With Clear Authority

Main takeaway: What got you here may eventually become the thing keeping you here.

Being great at the work helped you build your pet care business. You know how to fix the schedule, answer the client, and make sure every detail is handled. But when your goals call for a different role, reaching for those familiar tasks can leave you without time for the work only you can do. It can also keep the people you hired from getting the chance to lead. Your experience still matters, even when you use it to coach someone through a decision instead of making that decision yourself. In episode 734, we talk about choosing the role you want and working through the discomfort of changing how you contribute. What is one responsibility you could help someone else take ownership of this week?

Links:

Get 1 CEU: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScEo5RsHFqlc5t5OXPZIf2CSWjuVQwS-abZVi_phWPC4CC9vg/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=107413215510797164078

Check out our Starter Packs

See all of our discounts!

📞 Call us: (636) 364-8260

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Full show notes and transcript

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest.

Sponsored by:

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C-Squared Accounting

Your peace of mind is part of great pet care. Pet Sitters Associates provides the insurance you need to get the work done. Visit: https://www.petsitllc.com and use the code 'confessional' for $10 off today!

What happens when the biggest obstacle to your business's growth is the owner? In this episode Maris Sonnabend is back on the show to discuss the difficult but necessary transition from doing everything yourself to becoming a true leader. They explore why systems, delegation, and trust are essential for sustainable growth, even when letting go feels uncomfortable. Maris shares practical insights on identifying the work only the owner can do while empowering others to take ownership. Whether you're hiring your first employee or leading a growing team, this conversation offers encouragement to build a business that can thrive beyond you.

Main topics:

• Transitioning into leadership
• Delegation versus control
• Building sustainable systems
• Creating team ownership
• Scaling beyond yourself

Main takeaway: "Your business can only grow to the level that you're willing to let other people succeed."

One of the hardest parts of growing a business isn't finding more clients—it's learning to let go.

As owners, it's easy to believe we're the only ones who can do things "the right way." But if every decision, every problem, and every client depends on us, our business eventually reaches a ceiling.

In this episode, Maris Sonnabend reminds us that leadership isn't about doing everything ourselves. It's about creating systems, building trust, and helping other people succeed.

Growth doesn't happen because we hold on tighter. It happens because we learn how to lead.

About our guest: Maris Sonnabend is the owner and founder of House of Paws Pet Care. She is also an operations strategist who helps service-based business owners build companies that are sustainable, scalable, and less dependent on the owner. Drawing from years of experience helping entrepreneurs improve leadership, delegation, and operational systems, Maris focuses on practical strategies that empower teams while reducing owner overwhelm. She is passionate about helping business owners reclaim both their time and their vision.

Links:

Previously on: Episode 455

https://www.houseofpawspetcare.com

https://www.facebook.com/houseofpawspetcare/

https://www.instagram.com/houseofpawspetcarellc/

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📞 Call us: (636) 364-8260

Follow us on: Instagram, Facebook

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Full show notes and transcript

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest.

Sponsored by:

❤️ Our AMAZING Patreon Supporters

Time to Pet Visit: https://timetopet.com/confessional Code: 50% off first 3 months

Using Meta ads is hard, www.petcaregrowth.com makes it easy. Use PSC15 for 15% off the course!

Are you actually functioning as the owner of your business, or have you simply created a job for yourself? In this episode, we break down five distinct roles we can occupy as pet care business owners, from owner technician to enterprise owner. We explore how our responsibilities, mindset, and definition of productive work must change as the business grows and other people begin taking responsibility. We also discuss why moving "up" these stages isn't inherently better and why a successful solo sitter may be exactly where you need to be. Ultimately, we need to identify the role we are actually playing, decide which role we want, and make sure our daily work aligns with the business we're trying to build.

Main topics:

• Identifying Your Actual Role
• Five Business Ownership Stages
• Delegating Work and Authority
• Shifting Your Leadership Mindset
• Aligning Work With Goals

Main takeaway: "The problem comes when your current role is in opposition to what your stated goal is."

There is nothing wrong with being the person doing the visits, making the schedule, managing the team, or setting the strategy. The question is whether the work you're doing today actually supports the business you say you want tomorrow.

If you want a small, profitable business where you personally care for pets, staying in the field can be perfect alignment. If you want to build a company that operates without your daily involvement, but you're still making next Tuesday's schedule, something has to change.

Growth isn't automatically the goal. Alignment is. What role are you actually playing in your business today—and is it taking you where you want to go?

Links:

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📞 Call us: (636) 364-8260

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Full show notes and transcript

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest.

Sponsored by:

❤️ Our AMAZING Patreon Supporters

Your peace of mind is part of great pet care. Pet Sitters Associates provides the insurance you need to get the work done. Visit: https://www.petsitllc.com and use the code 'confessional' for $10 off today!

Pet Perennials Visit: https://petperennials.com/pages/register-for-a-business-account Code: 'PSC' when registering for a $2 off coupon on any purchases in the 1st 90 days

What happens when you build a pet care business around the animals, clients, and work you genuinely love? Sarita Eckhoff shares how she transformed an idea into Exclusively Cats In-Home Cat Sitting while initially maintaining a full-time office job. She explains why professional presentation, continuing education, veterinary relationships, and a clear cats-only niche helped her earn the trust of her earliest clients. Sarita also discusses pricing confidently, communicating concerns promptly, and recognizing the true value pet sitters provide beyond basic feeding and litter box care. Her journey is an encouraging reminder that success does not have to mean building a large team—it can mean creating a focused, fulfilling business that fits the owner's strengths and desired lifestyle.

Main topics:

• Choosing a cats-only niche
• Launching with professional systems
• Building veterinary referral relationships
• Pricing services with confidence
• Designing a fulfilling business

Main takeaway: "I'm not curing cancer, I'm not changing the world, but I'm making a difference for somebody and helping somebody in their day-to-day life."

It can be easy to minimize the work we do as pet sitters. We may think we are "just" feeding a cat, cleaning a litter box, checking the home, or sending an update. But to the client who is traveling, recovering from surgery, or worrying about a beloved pet, those details can make an enormous difference. Professional pet care gives people the freedom to focus on what is happening in their lives without carrying constant worry or guilt. As Sarita reminds us, meaningful work does not always have to change the entire world—it can simply make one person's world safer, calmer, and a little easier today.

About our guest: Sarita Eckhoff is the owner of Exclusively Cats In-Home Cat Sitting, a professional cats-only pet care business serving her community near Seattle, Washington. After years of working in customer service and office-based positions, she launched her business in 2024 and later transitioned into cat sitting full time. Sarita combines her lifelong love of cats with professional systems, thoughtful communication, and a strong commitment to keeping clients' pets and homes safe. Her goal is to become the premier cat-sitting provider in her area while building a sustainable solo business that reflects her strengths and values.

Links:

Check out our Starter Packs

See all of our discounts!

📞 Call us: (636) 364-8260

Follow us on: Instagram, Facebook

Email us at: [email protected]

Full show notes and transcript

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest.

Sponsored by:

❤️ Our AMAZING Patreon Supporters

Time to Pet Visit: https://timetopet.com/confessional Code: 50% off first 3 months

Pet Sitters International- Visit https://www.petsit.com/psc

What does peace of mind actually look like when employees call out, clients cancel, cars break down, and plans change without warning? In this episode, we explore why peace of mind does not come from eliminating problems, but from building a business capable of absorbing them without every disruption becoming our personal emergency. We break that work into three major areas: hiring dependable people, creating systems designed for failure, and developing a healthier mindset toward the normal uncertainty of business ownership. We also discuss dependable capacity, single points of failure, team-based care, delegation, and why some unused capacity can actually make a business stronger. Ultimately, we argue that the goal is not to control everything, but to build something resilient enough that we no longer have to.

Main topics:

• Hiring For Dependable Capacity
• Systems Designed For Failure
• Building Operational Backup Capacity
• Separating Incidents From Patterns
• Letting Go Of Control

Main takeaway: "The goal isn't to control everything, the goal is to build something resilient enough that we don't have to."

Peace of mind as a business owner does not come from finally reaching a point where employees never call out, clients never cancel, and nothing unexpected happens. That business does not exist.

Instead, peace comes from knowing your hiring process brings dependable people onto the team, your systems can absorb disruptions, and your mindset does not interpret every problem as proof that the company is falling apart.

Sometimes you will still cover a visit. Sometimes a system will fail. Sometimes a great employee will leave. The difference is that those events no longer have to destabilize the entire business—or you along with it.

Build for resilience, not perfect control.

Links:

Check out our Starter Packs

See all of our discounts!

📞 Call us: (636) 364-8260

Follow us on: Instagram, Facebook

Email us at: [email protected]

Full show notes and transcript

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest.

Sponsored by:

❤️ Our AMAZING Patreon Supporters

Your peace of mind is part of great pet care. Pet Sitters Associates provides the insurance you need to get the work done. Visit: https://www.petsitllc.com and use the code 'confessional' for $10 off today!

Tiny Paws Bookkeeping - visit TinyPawsBookkeeping.com to start putting profit first!

Pet First Aid 4U: https://www.petfirstaid4u.com/. September Pet First Aid 4U discount code: PREPARE for 5% off eligible online Pet First Aid and CPR courses during September.