OverDog: Dog Daycare & Boarding Business Tips

Your pet resort might be overlooking its most powerful marketing asset, and it’s already on your payroll. Pet parents want to know who they’re trusting with their dogs, but is your marketing giving them that connection? In this episode, Fern explores why the people behind your business can make a bigger impression than your facility’s features and help turn first-time customers into loyal regulars.

You’ll hear how bringing your team into the spotlight can strengthen your marketing, give employees a greater sense of ownership, and catch the attention of the people you’d love to hi...

Your team spends all day giving dogs a great experience, but do their owners leave knowing what they actually paid for? A rushed goodbye and a quick “he did great” could be leaving your customers questioning the value of your services, even when their dog had an amazing day. In this episode, Fern breaks down why the brief pickup interaction could be one of the most overlooked marketing opportunities in your pet resort.

Learn how a more intentional approach to those final 90 seconds can strengthen customer relationships and open the door to more reviews, referrals, and repeat book...

If you decided to sell your pet resort tomorrow, would your business be ready? And would a buyer see the same value in it that you do? In this episode, Fern sits down with Craig Pollack of Cantara Pet Business Advisors to talk about what buyers actually look for and why preparing for a sale starts long before you’re ready to hand over the keys.

Having been on both sides of the table, Craig shares a behind-the-scenes look at what makes a pet resort attractive to buyers, the overlooked details that can derail a deal, and wh...

A full building and a packed schedule can make your pet resort look successful. But is your business actually healthy, or just really busy? In this episode, Fern looks beyond bookings and revenue to explore what makes a daycare and boarding business strong enough to handle challenges, keep customers coming back, and succeed for years to come.

From your team and daily operations to your own ability to step away, the signs of a healthy business aren't always where you'd expect. You'll learn how to spot weaknesses that are easy to overlook when you're caught up in...

Staffing is one of the biggest challenges in the pet resort industry, but how often do we look at the experience we’re creating for the people on our teams? Fern sits down with pet resort operator and consultant Alex Varney to talk about what it takes to genuinely connect with staff and why that connection matters to the business.

They get into the small moments that build trust, the way leaders communicate when things get difficult, and what it means to support employees whose goals may take them beyond your resort. If you’ve ever wondered why...

Running a pet resort means you’re leading a lot more than your employees. You’re also responsible for leading the business itself—and making sure you don’t lose yourself in the process. In this episode, Fern breaks down the three sides of leadership every daycare and boarding owner needs to pay attention to as their business grows. Because the leadership style that worked when you had five employees probably isn’t what your business needs when you have 15, 30, or 50.

We get into the difference between being busy and actually leading, why constantly solving your team’s problems c...

Are your marketing efforts actually driving your pet resort forward—or are you just posting, emailing, advertising, and hoping something sticks? In this episode we dig into why marketing activity and marketing strategy are two very different things, and how being more intentional can turn scattered promotions into a system designed around what your business actually needs.

We’ll look at why daycare, boarding, training, and grooming shouldn’t all be marketed the same way, how digital and traditional marketing can work together, and why the right campaign starts with a business goal—not a marketing channel. You’ll a...

In a crowded pet care market, blending in is one of the fastest ways to turn your business into a commodity. In this episode of the Overdog Podcast, Fern breaks down why so many daycare and boarding businesses end up looking, sounding, and operating the same—and why meaningful differentiation can make customers see your business as the obvious choice instead of simply comparing price, location, and convenience.

You’ll hear how specialization, customer experience, company beliefs, staff expertise, and even the things you intentionally don’t do can help create a business competitors can’t easily copy. Fe...

What if the best way to increase your average ticket is to stop asking your team to upsell? For most dog daycare and boarding employees, selling feels awkward, pushy, and completely outside the job they signed up for. And when staff members feel uncomfortable making the offer, they usually don’t make it at all. In this episode of the Overdog Podcast, we look at a different approach that can make the whole process feel more natural for your team—and more valuable to your customers.

You’ll learn how to shift the conversation from selling more stuff...

Ever feel like you’re working nonstop in your dog daycare or boarding business, but somehow the needle just isn’t moving? The problem might not be how much you’re doing—it might be what you’re spending your time on. In this episode, Fern breaks down the 80/20 principle and shows how looking at your business through this simple lens can uncover where your biggest opportunities (and biggest headaches) are hiding.

From your customers and services to your marketing, employees, recurring problems, and even your own calendar, there’s a good chance a relatively small percentage is creating...

What if the thing holding your dog daycare or boarding business back isn’t something you still need to learn—but something you need to unlearn? As your business grows, the habits, assumptions, and beliefs that helped you get started can quietly become the same things keeping you stuck. In this episode of the Overdog Podcast, we dig into why growth sometimes requires letting go of what used to work instead of piling on another strategy, system, course, or marketing tactic.

We’ll look at some of the most common beliefs pet resort owners carry with them as the...

Patience can feel like the last thing you need when you’re trying to grow a dog daycare or boarding business. You want more clients, a stronger team, better marketing, and bigger results—and you want to know that all the work you’re putting in is actually paying off. But constantly chasing faster results might be the very thing holding your business back.

In this episode of the Overdog Podcast, we’re talking about patience as a business strategy—and why it’s very different from simply sitting around and waiting. We dig into where pet resort owner...

What would happen to your business if you suddenly couldn’t work for 30 days? For a lot of dog daycare and boarding owners, that’s an uncomfortable question. We get so used to being the person who solves the problems, makes the decisions, and keeps everything moving that it’s easy to build a business that depends way too much on us. But sometimes life doesn’t give you a choice about stepping away.

In this episode, Fern shares three big lessons that came into focus after being forced to stop working—and why taking care of yourself...

AI is quickly becoming part of every business, but just because everyone has access to the same tools doesn't mean everyone is getting the same results. In this episode, we dig into the biggest mistake dog daycare and boarding businesses are making with AI—and why blindly relying on it could actually make your brand less memorable. You'll hear how to use AI as a competitive advantage without losing the personality, trust, and authenticity that pet parents are looking for.

We also cover practical ways to make AI work for your business instead of against it, from cr...

This episode is a wake-up call for pet resort owners who feel like they're constantly putting out fires. If you're still spending your days solving every problem, answering every question, and keeping the business running through sheer hustle, you're probably wearing the operator hat instead of the owner one. In this episode, we dig into why that shift matters, what it's really costing your business (and your life), and how staying stuck in the day-to-day can quietly limit your growth.

You'll learn the mindset shifts that help business owners step out of the weeds and into true...

Some pet resorts seem to attract loyal customers, stay booked, and keep growing year after year. It isn't luck—and it isn't just about offering great care. In this episode, we're talking about the marketing habits and business decisions that quietly separate the top-performing facilities from everyone else. From creating a brand people remember to building trust before a customer ever walks through your doors, these are the strategies that have the biggest long-term impact.

If you've been wondering where to focus your marketing efforts or what might be holding your business back, this conversation will give yo...

Your business is finally making money… now what? When revenue starts growing and there’s actually cash in the bank, it can be tempting to celebrate, take a bigger paycheck, or just let it sit there. But the decisions you make during this stage can have a huge impact on where your business goes next. In this episode, Fern breaks down how smart owners think about profits and why reinvesting in the right areas can create long-term growth instead of short-term wins.

From marketing and team development to systems, customer experience, and personal growth, this conversation explores wher...

What makes one pet resort unforgettable while another becomes just another option? In this episode, Fern digs into why the businesses that truly stand out aren’t necessarily doing more—they’re creating experiences customers can’t stop talking about. From building emotional connections to making your services impossible to compare on price alone, this conversation explores how small shifts in packaging, positioning, and presentation can completely change how customers see your business.

Fern shares practical ideas for turning everyday services into signature experiences that strengthen loyalty, boost referrals, and justify premium pricing. You'll walk away thinking differen...

In this episode, we tackle a question that might make some pet resort owners uncomfortable: what if your toughest customer challenges are actually being created by your marketing? Most operators focus on getting more leads, more tours, and more bookings—but very few stop to consider whether they're attracting the right people in the first place. We explore how the messages you put into the world shape the expectations, behaviors, and attitudes of the clients who walk through your doors, and why some businesses seem to attract loyal advocates while others constantly deal with complaints, exceptions, and frustration.

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Thinking about moving beyond daycare packages but not sure where to start? In this episode, we dig into why membership models are showing up everywhere in the pet resort industry and what’s driving more owners to make the switch. From creating more predictable revenue to building stronger customer relationships, we explore the mindset shift that can completely change how you think about pricing, retention, and long-term growth.

You’ll hear how to evaluate whether memberships make sense for your business, the common fears that hold owners back, and the key factors that separate successful membership programs from...

This episode of the Overdog Podcast digs into a trap that a lot of pet resort owners fall into: being slammed busy but still not making the kind of profit they should be. Fern breaks down why packed daycare rooms, nonstop chaos, and exhausted teams don’t automatically mean you’re running a healthy business—and how some facilities with fewer dogs are actually creating calmer operations, better customer experiences, and significantly stronger margins. From pricing mistakes and discount addiction to staffing inefficiencies and missed revenue opportunities, this conversation is all about uncovering the hidden leaks that quietly drain profit...

AI is changing the way pet resorts handle customer communication, but where’s the line between helpful automation and losing the personal touch that makes your business special? In this episode, Fern breaks down the real-world pros and cons of AI receptionists for dog daycare and boarding businesses. From missed calls and after-hours lead capture to customer trust and staff burnout, you’ll hear what’s actually working inside pet resorts right now — and where owners are getting it completely wrong.

This isn’t a “replace your staff with robots” conversation. It’s a practical look at how smart operat...

In this episode of the Overdog Podcast, we’re digging into the small habits that quietly separate thriving pet resorts from the ones constantly stuck in chaos. It’s not about massive overhauls, expensive software, or flashy marketing campaigns — it’s about the little things your team does every single day that shape customer loyalty, staff culture, and long-term growth. From creating stronger emotional connections with pet parents to building a more aligned and motivated team, this conversation breaks down how consistency beats intensity when it comes to running a successful business.

We also get into the habits o...

Not every day in pet care is easy—and this episode goes straight into the situations most owners hope never happen. Joined by industry veteran Rich Schlatter, we dig into the uncomfortable but necessary side of running a dog daycare or boarding business: the moments when things go wrong and the pressure is on. It’s not about avoiding every problem (because you can’t), it’s about whether you’re actually ready when something serious hits.

Rich brings over two decades of real-world experience to break down how strong operators think, prepare, and lead in high-stakes situations...

Inspiration without execution is just a really good feeling that fades. In this episode, Fern breaks down why so many pet resort owners leave conferences and coaching calls fired up — only to find themselves back in the same patterns two weeks later. It's not about effort. It's about focus.

This episode covers the Focus Shift Exercise (5 questions that create more clarity than a 3-hour planning session), the 6 most common execution killers in pet resort businesses, and a simple framework for building a 90-day momentum plan that actually sticks.

What you'll learn:

If you’ve been feeling the pressure to “modernize” your pet resort but secretly worry about losing what made your business special in the first place, this episode is going to hit home. We’re diving into that tension between keeping up with changing client expectations—faster communication, better systems, more polished experiences—and holding onto the relationships, personality, and trust you’ve worked so hard to build. The truth is, growth doesn’t have to mean becoming cold, corporate, or generic . . . but there is a right and wrong way to evolve.

In this episode, we break down how to actu...

This episode digs into a deceptively simple idea that most pet resort owners overlook: real momentum doesn’t come from doing more—it comes from aligning how you think about your past, present, and future. The conversation unpacks why so many operators feel stuck or overwhelmed, even when they’re busy all day, and challenges some of the usual ways people approach growth. There’s a strong push to rethink what’s actually holding your business back—and it might not be what you think.

You’ll hear a fresh perspective on how to stop carrying old baggage into y...

What if the biggest drain on your profits isn’t your pricing, your marketing, or even your staffing… but the way you schedule your team? In this episode, we dive into one of the most overlooked (and frustrating) parts of running a pet resort—and why most owners are unknowingly leaving serious money on the table. Fern brings in Sean Felty, an expert who’s helped scale multiple locations and uncover hidden inefficiencies, and together they unpack why “winging it” with your schedule is quietly wrecking your margins.

You’ll hear a totally different way to think about labor, s...

If you’re still charging the same price every day of the year, this episode might make you a little uncomfortable—in a good way. Joined by Chris Tilson from Goose, we dig into the idea of dynamic pricing and why sticking to flat rates could be quietly capping your revenue. There’s a smarter, more flexible way to price your services that aligns with demand, and once you see it, you can’t unsee it. This conversation pulls back the curtain on how other industries have been doing this for years—and why pet care is finally catching up.

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When growth opportunities show up in the pet care industry, they rarely wait around. In this episode, Fern sits down with financing experts Claire Cronin and Jacqueline Pait of Live Oak Bank to unpack a topic that every daycare or boarding owner eventually faces: how to fund your next move without putting your business under unnecessary pressure. From expansions and acquisitions to hiring ahead of demand, they dig into why the type of money you choose can shape the future of your facility more than you might think.

The conversation breaks down the difference between “fast money” and...

Most business owners think if their website looks great, it must be working. But what if that beautiful site is quietly leaking customers? In this episode, we dig into a common mistake pet care businesses make with their websites—and why design alone isn’t enough to turn visitors into bookings. If your site is acting more like a brochure than a sales system, you could be losing clients without even realizing it.

We break down the subtle elements that separate a website that simply exists from one that consistently generates customers. From the psychology of trust to t...

If payroll is eating your lunch every month and you’re not totally sure why, this episode is going to hit home. In this special replay, we’re sharing a powerhouse training from the late Philip Parris, who joined our Pet Resort Rocket Ship members to break down the real story behind payroll margins. Not the Facebook-group version. Not the “someone said it should be 30%” version. The real, boots-on-the-ground numbers and the operational decisions that quietly make or break your bottom line.

Philip dives into what actually drives payroll up (hint: it’s not just hourly rates), how your d...

Running a dog daycare or boarding facility means working with a lot of people, a lot of personalities… and inevitably, a little (or a lot) of workplace drama. In this episode, we bring back leadership consultant Patrick Lyons to unpack why staff conflict shows up so often in pet care businesses—and why it’s rarely just about “difficult employees.” From clashing belief systems to unclear expectations, we dig into the hidden forces that turn small frustrations into full-blown team drama. If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly putting out people problems instead of running your business, this conversat...

If you’ve been thinking about renovating your facility, this episode is your wake-up call. We’re joined by the team at TWC who live and breathe pet resort builds and renovations—and they’re breaking down what really goes into doing it right. From flooring failures and drainage disasters to kennel upgrades that actually improve efficiency, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the stuff most owners don’t think about… until it’s too late. If you’re considering upgrades, expansions, or even just replacing old equipment, you’ll want to hear what they wish every owner knew before swingi...

Running a pet care business can feel like you’re constantly juggling moving parts — revenue swings, staffing strain, marketing pushes, and a workload that never seems to shrink. In this episode of the Overdog Podcast, Fern dives into why many dog daycare and boarding businesses struggle not because they’re doing the wrong things, but because the right things are out of balance. When one area gets too much attention and another gets ignored, stress and instability aren’t far behind.

From your service mix to your leadership structure to your own role as the owner, this episode...

Most pet resorts are still marketing boarding, daycare, and grooming like they’re basic services—and that’s exactly why they’re blending in. In this episode, we break down what it really means to stop selling what you do and start selling the experience you create. Because in today’s crowded market, if you sound like everyone else, you become a commodity—and that’s a race you don’t want to win.

We dive into how to design, package, and market an experience that clients actually feel connected to—one that drives retention, referrals, higher spend per visit, a...

If you’re feeling stuck doing the same old marketing and wondering how everyone else keeps coming up with fresh ideas, this episode is going to light a fire under you. Fern sits down with Garla Piatt of Paw-A-Day Inn K9 Suites who’s built a thriving business by thinking way outside the box—and not just once, but over and over again. From creative partnerships to unexpected ways of getting local buzz, this conversation is packed with ideas that prove you don’t need a massive ad budget to get noticed.

What makes this episode especially good is...

In this episode of the Overdog Podcast, we're digging into the staffing challenges that dog daycare and boarding businesses face—and more importantly, how to actually fix them. Fern brings on Ellen Ness of Rogue Mission, who’s been in the trenches of the pet care industry, from animal rescue to corporate operations. Together, they explore what it really takes to build a team that sticks around, performs better, and contributes to a calmer, more efficient facility. If you’ve ever felt like hiring and retaining staff is your biggest pain point, this conversation is for you.

But th...

Feeling stuck in your business but can’t quite put your finger on why? In this episode, we’re diving deep into the subtle warning signs that it might be time for a change—and how to spot them before they become full-blown problems. Whether it’s behind-the-scenes friction, customer experience red flags, or even your own creeping burnout, this conversation is all about tuning into those signals and responding with intention rather than panic.

We’re breaking things down across operations, marketing, staffing, and more to help you figure out what’s working, what’s wearing thin, and what...

Ever feel like your pet resort is a ticking time bomb for airborne illnesses? In this episode, we dive deep into the invisible threats swirling through your facility—and what you can actually do to stop them before they spread. Fern chats with Annette Uda from Aerapy, who breaks down the science behind air disinfection and why your ventilation system alone isn't cutting it. If you’ve ever dealt with kennel cough outbreaks or mysterious allergy flare-ups, this is a must-listen.

Annette shares how a personal mission to help her own dog turned into a full-blown crusade to k...