The Poodle to Pitbull Pet Business Podcast

Hosted by Dom Hodgson

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455

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Join the UK's leading and most controversial pet business coach Dom Hodgson, as he goes off the leash and shares the business building secrets that will fix your pet business. If you are a dog trainer, dog walker or a dog groomer then this show will provide the marketing education you need to put your business growth on steroids.

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September 11, 2026Episode 46918 min

Episode 469: How Enrichment Can Elevate Your Pet Business - A Chat with Dean of Enrich U Tim Jackson...

Is your dog daycare still relying on all-day group play as the main reason clients bring their dogs to you? Are you giving enrichment away for free because you don't know how to package, position or sell it? And as costs continue to rise, could enrichment be one of the keys to building a better experience for the dogs AND a more profitable business? In this episode, I'm joined by Enrich U Dean Tim Jackson for a special preview of the 2026 Pet Care Enrichment Summit, which takes place from October 12th–16th. This is the third year we've run the summit, and we've assembled our biggest line-up yet, bringing together dog daycare owners, trainers, enrichment specialists, scent work experts, zookeepers and animal welfare professionals for an entire week dedicated to doing pet care differently. Because here's the big thing… Enrichment isn't the future anymore. It's the present. The old pile-'em-high, cram-in-more-dogs, low-priced, all-day-play daycare model is becoming increasingly difficult to operate profitably. Costs are rising . Payroll is getting BIGGER . Clients expect more, but simply squeezing another ten dogs into the building ISN'T a sustainable growth strategy. Modern pet care businesses need to create better, more personalised experiences for the animals in their care — AND learn how to communicate, package and sell those experiences to pet parents. In this episode, you'll discover: Why Enrichment Is No Longer Optional – Why the changing economics of dog daycare mean facilities need to rethink the traditional all-day-play model. What Pet Businesses Can Learn From Zoos – How zookeepers approach enrichment, welfare and animal environments — and the lessons you can bring back into your own facility. Why Your Team Needs to Understand the "Why" – How deeper enrichment knowledge helps your staff confidently educate clients and sell your services. How to Turn Enrichment Into Revenue – Why giving enrichment away for free makes the transition harder, and how to start creating experiences clients actually want to buy. Why One Activity Doesn't Fit Every Dog – How breed, age, personality and individual needs should influence the enrichment experiences you provide. We also reveal some of what's coming at this year's Pet Care Enrichment Summit, including dog daycare and trainer round tables, breed-specific enrichment, zoo enrichment, behavioural workflows, scent work and much more. If you want to immerse yourself in modern enrichment, steal ideas from some incredibly smart people and - importantly - learn how to actually make money from implementing them, grab your early bird MEGA discounted ticket now at: enrichmentsummit.com The 2026 Pet Care Enrichment Summit runs October 12th–16th, and I highly recommend grabbing the VIP ticket so you get lifetime access to all the recordings. A huge thank you to this week's podcast sponsor, TailPro, the all-in-one management platform helping pet businesses save time, streamline operations and deliver an exceptional customer experience. Find out more at tailpro.uk.

September 4, 2026Episode 46822 min

Episode 468: The Great Dog Daycare Divide Has Started: Why IMPACT 2027 is the Golden Ticket to A Better Business.

Is your dog daycare still running on a business model that worked five or ten years ago? Are you cramming in more dogs, adding more staff, and working harder… only to watch your margins get tighter? And what happens if the pet industry changes faster than your business does? In this episode, I'm officially announcing IMPACT 2027 and laying out the big idea behind this year's event: The Great Dog Daycare Divide – How to Avoid the 2030 Pet Care Extinction Event. For the last 20 years, the pet care industry has been riding a huge wave of growth. If you loved dogs, worked hard, charged a fair price, and looked after your customers, you could usually build a successful business. But the market has changed. Competition is more sophisticated. Corporate operators and franchises are expanding. Costs are rising. Staffing is harder. Margins are shrinking. And dog owners are becoming more selective about where they spend their money. As a result, I believe the industry is splitting into two very different camps: pet care "muggles" still playing by yesterday's rules, and pet business "wizards" building more premium, experience-led, affluent-attractive businesses designed for the future. In this episode, you'll discover: The Great Dog Daycare Divide – Why the next few years will separate businesses that adapt from those that get left behind. Why the Warehouse Model Is Breaking – How more dogs, more staff, more hours, and more hustle eventually lead to thinner margins and burnout. What the New Model Looks Like – Why personalised care, premium pricing, automation, authority, and better leadership are becoming essential. The Signs You're Stuck in a Muggle Mindset – The phrases, assumptions, and habits that reveal your business needs an upgrade. Why IMPACT 2027 Is Different – How two days in Florida can help you rethink pricing, marketing, systems, customer experience, and the future of your facility. You'll also hear from Paul Paradis and Eve Molzhon, who share why deeper, more specific business education, better customer experience, and being surrounded by ambitious people can completely change the trajectory of your business. If you want to join me at IMPACT 2027 in Florida, head to: petbusinessmarketing.com/impact27 The early bird offer is live now! Thanks to our amazing show sponsor Tailpro, click here to find out more about their amazing booking app.

August 28, 2026Episode 46714 min

Episode 467: Next Level Dog Daycare: The Secret to Making Big Leaps Forward in Your Pet Business

Do you know your pet business could be better… but you keep putting off the uncomfortable decisions? What happens when you stop trying to figure everything out alone and start acting on the things you already know need fixing? And how much could change in just 90 days if somebody actually held you accountable? In this episode, I'm sharing some powerful real-world examples of what happens when dog daycare and pet resort owners stop sitting on ideas and start taking proper action. You'll hear from Alex Varney, one of the newest Dog Daycare Success Academy members, who attended her first immersion event and then went home and immediately got to work. Within a week she had increased prices, improved staff wages, introduced new benefits, made team changes, created new customer service systems, and started planning the next phase of expansion. I also share a conversation with Allison Jacobs and Kristen Perrus from Scouts Honour, who explain how their business has changed since working with me — including a 40% price increase in one year with almost no pushback, rapid growth across training and grooming, and a complete shift in how they think about pricing, positioning, and what's possible. This episode is really about one thing: there is always another level to unlock, but getting there requires action, uncomfortable decisions, accountability, and the willingness to keep asking, "What's next?" In this episode, you'll discover: What Happens When You Act Fast – How one immersion event led to immediate pricing, staffing, leadership, and expansion decisions Why Accountability Changes Everything – How deadlines, coaching, and 90-day goals turn good intentions into actual progress. The Pricing Confidence Shift – How business owners go from being terrified of increases to confidently charging 40% more. Why Your Biggest Roadblock Might Be You – How hesitation and second-guessing quietly slow growth more than almost anything else. The "What's Next?" Mentality – Why successful owners never stop improving, even when things are already going well. The Dog Daycare Success Academy is open now, but the doors close on September 30th, and this is the final enrollment window of the year. If you want to find out more and join, head to: petbusinessmarketing.com/successacademy A huge thank you to this week's podcast sponsor, TailPro, the all-in-one management platform helping pet businesses save time, streamline operations, and deliver a better customer experience. Find out more at tailpro.uk.

August 21, 2026Episode 46624 min

Episode 466: Inside the Dog Daycare Success Academy Immersion Event in Annapolis - What Happens When Good Businesses Decide to Get Better

Running a pet business is one of the most rewarding jobs in the world, but it can also be one of the lonliest... Who can you talk to who understands the business critical challenges you face each week... And how much faster can you move when you're surrounded by people who are willing to share what's working? And....what could your business look like 90 days from now if you actually committed to making the changes you already know you need to make? Well, in this episode, I'm taking you behind the scenes of the latest Dog Daycare Success Academy immersion event in Annapolis. The theme was world-class customer service, and we had two brilliant special guests join us. Vance Morris shared lessons from his Disney background on creating better customer experiences and memorable magic moments, while Leonard Raskin from Raskin Global helped the room think more seriously about building and protecting both business and personal wealth. But the real power of these immersion events comes from the people in the room. You'll hear directly from DDSA members about the changes they've made over the last 90 days, the ideas they picked up from their peers, and the breakthroughs they're taking back into their businesses. In this episode, you'll discover: Why Peer Learning Is So Powerful – How sharing ideas with other ambitious owners can shortcut years of trial and error. The Customer Experience Gap – Why thinking you provide great service and actually delivering it are two very different things. What 90 Days of Focus Can Achieve – From record revenue months to writing a book and making major operational changes. The Value of Getting Outside Your Bubble – How other owners can challenge assumptions, expose blind spots, and help you make better decisions. Why DDSA Feels Different – How coaching, accountability, community, and collaboration combine to help good businesses become exceptional. If you need helping taking your business to the next level then you'll be pleased to know the Dog Daycare Success Academy is now OPEN, and this is be the final opportunity to join this year... Don't watse any more time. Our next Immersion event is happening in San Francisco in October, then we'll be in Edinburgh in December. If you want to find out more, head to: petbusinessmarketing.com/successacademy A huge thank you to this week's podcast sponsor, TailPro, the all-in-one management platform helping pet businesses save time, streamline operations, and deliver a better customer experience. Find out more at tailpro.uk.

August 14, 2026Episode 46316 min

Episode 465: The Real Cost of Staying Cheap (And Why Raising Prices is the Fast-Track Ticket to a Better Pet Business)

Are you busy, fully booked… and still wondering where all the money goes? Do you know your staff deserve better wages, your facility needs investment, and you should be taking more out of the business yourself? And what if the biggest thing holding all of that back is simply that your prices are too low? In this episode, I'm talking about the real cost of staying cheap and why fixing your pricing is about far more than adding a few dollars or pounds onto your daily rate. After delivering a live training on how to build a highly profitable dog daycare that attracts affluent clients and commands premium prices, I decided to create something I've never done before: Top Dollar Dog Daycare – The Pet Resort Profit Boosting Bootcamp. I explain why the old high-volume, warehouse-style model is becoming harder to sustain, how underpricing eventually impacts everything from staff wages and facility improvements to your own stress levels, and why burnout can ultimately turn into something even worse — resentment towards the business you once dreamed of owning. I also walk you through the six areas we'll be tackling inside the bootcamp, from Pricing Power and hidden revenue to premium experiences, authority, automation, and building long-term business assets. In this episode, you'll discover: The Real Cost of Staying Cheap – Why low prices affect your staff, your facility, your freedom, and eventually how you feel about the business itself. How to Activate Your Pricing Power – The five levels of Pricing Power and how to start moving your business towards thriving and dominating. Where the Hidden Money Is – How to uncover overlooked revenue opportunities inside the clients and services you already have. How to Become Worth More – Why premium experiences, better onboarding, and expert positioning make higher prices easier to command. The Bigger Pricing Picture – How authority assets, automation, memberships, and signature systems create a business that gets more profitable and valuable over time. If you want to join Top Dollar Dog Daycare – The Pet Resort Profit Boosting Bootcamp, head to: petbusinessmarketing.com/profitbootcamp The bootcamp starts Tuesday and runs across six live sessions over two weeks. A huge thank you to this week's podcast sponsor, TailPro, the all-in-one management platform helping pet business owners save time, streamline operations, and deliver a better customer experience. Find out more at tailpro.uk

August 7, 2026Episode 46214 min

Episode 462 - How to Tell If You Undercharging In Your Pet Business? Why Low Prices Create Expensive Problems...

Are your prices attracting the wrong kind of clients? Could charging more actually make your pet business more desirable? And how much is fear costing you every month you remain underpriced? In this episode, I'm tackling one of the biggest and most expensive problems in the pet industry: undercharging. After coaching more than 3,000 pet business owners over the last decade, I've seen the same pattern repeatedly. Owners start too cheap, stay too cheap, and allow the complaints of one or two vocal penny-pinchers to dictate their entire pricing strategy. I explain why low prices don't necessarily make your services more attractive, especially to affluent dog owners who want the absolute best care for their pets. In fact, being too cheap can create doubt, damage the perception of your service, and actively repel the premium clients you want to attract. You'll also discover the psychology behind the Chivas Regal effect, why doubling the price of a product can increase its perceived value, and what your business needs to build if you want to command premium prices year after year. In this episode, you'll discover: Why Fear Is Dictating Your Prices – How complaints, Facebook groups, and bad advice convince owners they've reached an imaginary pricing ceiling. The Hidden Cost of Being Cheap – Why low prices attract more difficult clients while pushing affluent prospects towards your competitors. The Canine Chivas Regal Effect – How increasing a price can improve perceived quality, desirability, and status without changing the product itself. What Makes a Business Premium – The authority assets, signature systems, client experiences, and social proof that make higher prices believable. Why One Price Increase Is NEVER Enough – How to become the kind of pet business that can confidently increase prices year after year. Remember, every day you remain underpriced, you aren't only losing money. You're attracting more of the clients you don't want and building a business that becomes increasingly difficult to escape. A huge thank you to the podcast sponsor, TailPro, the all-in-one management platform helping pet business owners save time, reduce admin and deliver a better customer experience. To find out more and book a free discovery call, visit tailpro.uk. To join my free live webinar, How to Build a Highly Profitable Dog Daycare That Attracts Affluent Clients and Commands Premium Prices, head to: petbusinessmarketing.com/webinar

July 31, 202618 min

Episode 461 - The Most Valuable Investment a Pet Business Owner Will EVER Make

Are you drowning in ideas but struggling to decide what deserves your attention? Do you keep consuming more information without actually making meaningful progress? And what are the three things your business genuinely needs from you over the next 90 days? In this episode, I'm sharing the highest-return investment I've ever made in my business: hiring a coach. After spending two painful years trying to build an online store without a clear strategy, vision, or plan, I eventually realised I didn't need more information. I needed someone who could help me ignore the noise, identify the right opportunities, and hold my feet to the fire until I took action. I explain why good coaching is about far more than sharing ideas, and introduce the first of five hidden benefits of working with a coach: clarity. Because when you know exactly what you want, what is standing in your way, and which three projects matter most, progress can happen frighteningly fast. You'll also hear how one mastermind hot seat helped me systemise my dog adventure business, launch my coaching company, write my first pet business book, and achieve more in one year than I had in the previous several. In this episode, you'll discover: Why More Information Isn't the Answer – How endless books, podcasts, programmes, and Facebook advice can leave you even more stuck. The Real Value of a Good Coach – Why clarity, challenge, accountability, and objective feedback create such a powerful return How to Escape the Idea Phase – What happens when you stop analysing every opportunity and finally commit to the right priorities. The Power of a 90-Day P.O.A (Plan Of ACTION!) – How identifying three high-leverage projects creates focus, momentum, and measurable progress. What Clarity Feels Like – Why the right plan lifts the fog, removes second-guessing, and makes the next step obvious. Thanks to out amazing show sponser Tailpro, check out Tailpro Booking app by going to tailpro.uk If you have a successful pet care business but lack clarity about how to take it to the next level, add your name to the Dog Daycare Success Academy wait list at: petbusinessmarketing.com/successacademy

July 24, 2026Episode 46015 min

Episode 460 – The 1,000-Year Asset: Why Your Pet Biz Origin Story Is Your Most Powerful Marketing Advantage

Is your marketing full of facts, features, and offers… but completely lacking in personality? Are you letting AI-generated beige gruel make your pet business sound like everyone else? And could the stories already sitting inside your business become your most valuable marketing assets? In this episode, I'm sharing a powerful lesson inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry, a 1,000-year-old piece of visual storytelling that recently travelled from France to the British Museum under extraordinary levels of protection and security. The tapestry survived revolutions, wars, occupation, and almost a millennium of change because somebody understood a fundamental truth about human nature: the best way to preserve an idea is to wrap it inside a story. I explain why this matters more than ever during the current AI slopocalypse, when millions of businesses are using the same tools to produce the same polished but soulless content. Your competitors can copy your services, prices, offers, and website structure. What they cannot copy is your journey, your experiences, your failures, your victories, and the moments that shaped how you run your business. In this episode, you'll discover: Why Stories Outlast Advertising – How storytelling helps ideas, businesses, and brands remain memorable for generations. The Problem With Feature-Led Marketing – Why clients care less about your facilities and qualifications than the meaning behind them. How to Escape the AI Slopocalypse – Why your real experiences and emotions are impossible for competitors or technology to commoditise. The Stories Already Inside Your Business – How origin stories, client transformations, mistakes, and victories become powerful marketing assets. From Content Creation to Story Selling – How to repurpose your core stories across email, podcasts, videos, articles, and social media. Another huge thank you to our fantastic sponsors Tailpro, whose amazing services you can find out more about by going to tailpro.uk If you want to join my free Premium Pricing Pet Care Blueprint masterclass, head to: petbusinessmarketing.com/webinar

July 17, 2026Episode 45915 min

Episode 459 – Content Lessons From Lumley Castle: How to Build a Fortress of Trust That Compells Clients to Buy More Pet Services

Are you creating content that actually builds trust… or just chasing likes, views, and followers? Why do some businesses last for centuries while others disappear almost overnight? And what if the real purpose of your marketing isn't visibility, but risk reduction? In this episode, I'm sharing the biggest lessons from our recent Dog Daycare Success Academy immersion event at Lumley Castle, where the theme was Content in the Castle. You'll hear how DDSA members used the event to create stronger content plans, build deeper trust with future clients, and connect with other ambitious pet business owners from both sides of the Atlantic. I also unpack the bigger lesson I took from spending two days inside a 600-year-old castle: longevity doesn't come from staying the same. It comes from evolving, adapting, restoring, and strengthening what matters most. Using lessons from Steven Inalareedi's content training, the history of Lumley Castle, and long-lasting businesses like Kongō Gumi, Lloyd's of London, and The Royal Mint, I explain why every email, review, video, client story, article, and testimonial should become another stone in your fortress of trust. In this episode, you'll discover: Why Visibility Isn't Enough – How familiarity creates confidence, but trust is what creates sales. Content as Risk Reduction – Why your marketing should make prospects feel safer choosing you. The Fortress of Trust – How reviews, stories, testimonials, and useful content build long-term authority. Why Long-Lasting Businesses Evolve – What centuries-old organisations teach us about adapting without losing identity. The Real Goal of Content – Why every post, email, podcast, and video should make someone trust you more. If you want to join the Dog Daycare Success Academy wait list, head to: petbusinessmarketing.com/successacademy Another huge thank you to our fantastic sponsors PawPal, whose amazing services you can find out more about here .

July 10, 2026Episode 45818 min

Episode 458 – The Science of Stopping: Do You Need a Pet Business Mid-Year Reset?

Are you trying to push through the second half of the year on fumes? When was the last time you properly stepped away from the noise of your business? And could pressing pause actually be the thing that helps you move faster when you return? In this episode, I'm sharing a lesson from a recent week away in Menorca with Beth, where we did very little on purpose. No laptop, no emails, no social media, and no heroic "just checking in" nonsense. Just rest, reading, swimming, talking, and a proper reset after a very busy first half of the year. I explain why downtime is not a luxury, but essential business maintenance, and how the best coaches, athletes, and business owners understand the power of planned recovery. From Phil Jackson and the Chicago Bulls to Andy Reid, Steve Kerr, and Carlo Ancelotti, there's a reason elite performers build pauses, resets, and review points into their working rhythm. I also share why we meet every 90 days inside the Dog Daycare Success Academy, and how quarterly immersion events help owners step out of the chaos, clear the noise, and build a sharper plan for the next phase of growth. In this episode, you'll discover: Why Rest Is Strategy – How planned downtime gives you the energy and clarity to make better decisions. The Power of the Halftime Reset – What elite sports teams can teach business owners about stopping, reviewing, and adjusting. Why 90 Day Sprints Work – How quarterly planning creates urgency, focus, and momentum without burning you out How to Protect Your Reset Tim e – Why stepping away from your business should be treated like an essential appointment The DDSA Rhythm – How weekly execution and quarterly immersion events keep owners focused, supported, and moving forward. Another huge thank you to our sponsors PawPal, who's amazing services you can find out more about here . If you want to join the Dog Daycare Success Academy wait list, head to: petbusinessmarketing.com/successacademy