DogCo Secrets

What if the biggest thing standing between you and your next level isn’t strategy, but self-belief? In this episode, I dive into how mindset shapes growth. Not only in business, but in how you define what’s possible for your company. I think its critical to reframe self-talk like “Can I do this?” into “What would it take to do this?” I share how this subtle shift can change everything about the wa...

If you’ve ever struggled to figure out how much time off to allow your team, this episode is for you. In today’s Hot Take Friday, I’m unpacking one of the most common challenges in the pet care industry: balancing flexibility for your team with the operational consistency your business needs. I’ll share how I structured time-off requests in my own pet care company, what systems made it easier, and...

The DogCo Business Summit 2025 was one of the most impactful experiences of my career, and today I’m taking you behind the scenes. From the original seed of the idea at a pet industry conference in LA, to seeing over 150 pet care business owners come together in one space, I’m unpacking how this event came to life, what I learned, and where DogCo is heading next. If you’ve ever dreamed about creat...

In this week’s Hot Take Friday episode, I’m sharing the single most powerful marketing strategy I’d focus on if I were growing my pet care business again. Spoiler alert: it’s not another social media trend. It’s about going deep, not wide, building real relationships in your community that create lasting brand trust. I walk through how to make your brand known in your area, how to connect your per...

Feeling stuck in your business? In this episode, I’m breaking down the exact framework I use when growth stalls,  and how to identify what’s really holding your business back. Whether it’s staffing, marketing, or mindset, these strategies will help you pinpoint the problem, focus your energy, and accelerate forward with clarity and confidence. ⏰ Timestamps 0:00 – What causes bottlenecks in busine...

In today’s Hot Take episode, I’m talking about one of the most important and misunderstood parts of running a profitable pet care business: pricing strategy. So many business owners shy away from offering discounts or deals because they’re afraid it will hurt their margins. But what if you could build flexibility into your pricing from the start? In this episode, I break down exactly how to price...

As 2025 starts winding down, I’m sharing my personal 60-day plan for closing out the year strong. After an incredible DogCo Summit, I’ve been reflecting on what it means to finish well, to be intentional, to re-center, and to set a solid foundation for the new year. In this episode, I walk through the exact three areas I’m focused on to wrap up the year with clarity and momentum, and the three thi...

In this Hot Tip Friday episode, I tackle one of the most common and most misunderstood questions I get from growing pet care business owners: “Should I expand my service area?” If you have been feeling the pull to grow into a new market or add another location, this episode is for you. I share my own experience of opening and later closing a second territory, and the lessons I learned about the re...

In this powerful conversation, I sit down with my client and friend Abby Strong, the owner of Auntie Abby’s Professional Pet Sitting Service in Des Moines, Iowa. Over the past six years, Abby has transformed her business from a solo operation into a thriving, multi-employee pet care company serving hundreds of clients, and she’s done it with incredible intentionality, heart, and leadership, and is...

This episode is a repost from May 9, 2025 - new content will resume again October 13, 2025! This week’s hot take? Data. Why it matters, how to use it, and the seven essential metrics you should know to make faster, smarter decisions in your business—without drowning in spreadsheets or chasing perfection. 📈 If the phrase “track your KPIs” makes your eyes glaze over, I gets it. But in this bite-siz...

This episode was originally posted on June 9, 2025. We felt that it was appropriate to resurface after Joey's amazing contribution to the DogCo Business Summit! Hi everyone! Michelle here. Today’s episode is a big one. I had the absolute honor of sitting down with Joey Coleman, renowned speaker and bestselling author of Never Lose a Customer Again and Never Lose an Employee Again. Joey is not only...

If you’ve ever wondered how much you should invest in your own growth, this one’s for you. In today’s short, impactful episode, I'll make a case for putting your money where your mindset is by setting aside a clear percentage of revenue to level up your personal and professional skills. I'll break down what “investing in yourself” really means, why it matters so much for your business’s success, a...

Today is the day! The DogCo Business Summit officially kicks off today, and I am beyond excited. Whether you are already in Winston-Salem or following along from home, I want to help you squeeze every ounce of value out of this event. In this Hot Take episode, I share exactly how to make the most of your investment. From building meaningful connections to taking advantage of the event social pages...

Scaling from $750,000 to 1 million in annual revenue is one of the most exciting and challenging stages of building a pet care business. At this level, small cracks in your systems, finances, and brand become massive risks, and the wrong move can cost you hard-earned growth. In this episode, I break down what it really takes to cross the seven-figure line without losing profit, clarity, or sanity....

In this Hot Tip Friday episode of the DogCo Secrets Podcast, I am breaking down the two most important metrics for your business: client retention and employee retention . These numbers matter more than any other because they shape the long-term health, profitability, and stability of your company. I’ll share why focusing on retention is the fastest way to build sustainable revenue, how to calcula...

In this episode of Scaling Series, we are tackling one of the most pivotal phases in pet care business growth, the $500k to $750k window. This is where owners face critical inflection points around management teams, systems, retention, and data tracking. I will walk you through the biggest risks that can keep you stuck and the solutions that can unlock long-term growth. If you are ready to push pa...

In this episode, I’m digging into one of the most common priorities I hear from pet care business owners: attracting more dog walking clients. But here’s the kicker, you might be accidentally turning them away with the way your brand is positioned. I share insights from scaling my own dog walking company to 25 staff and 600 clients before selling it in 2023, plus what I see inside businesses I coa...

In today’s episode of the DogCo Secrets Podcast, I am diving into what I call the $300K to $500K window of growth for your pet care business, which I call "The Scaling Runway". This is one of the most critical and often chaotic seasons for pet care companies. If you are in this phase, you’re likely facing bottlenecks with admin support, burnout, client retention challenges, and the delicate balanc...

📚 In this Hot Tip Friday episode, I am sharing three books that completely reshaped how I think about business, leadership, and growth. These books created turning points for me, helping me redefine my role as a business owner, figure out how to allocate my resources more effectively, and craft offers that truly resonate with clients.  If you are looking for inspiration and practical takeaways fr...

Hey there! I'm Michelle Kline, host of the DogCo Secrets Podcast and founder of DogCo Launch. This episode is part of our Scaling Series, where I break down the phases of growth for pet care companies. Today we’re diving into the $200K–$300K revenue stage. This is such an exciting time in your business, but it comes with new challenges around structure, team management, admin systems, and focus. I...

Hi friends, Michelle Kline here, host of the DogCo Secrets Podcast and founder of DogCo Launch. In this week’s Hot Tip Friday episode, I am pulling back the curtain on a powerful moment from this summer when I had the opportunity to workshop my own business directly with Alex Hormozi at his Acquisition Workshop. I share three big insights that left a lasting impact on me and that I believe will he...

In this episode of the DogCo Secrets Podcast, I break down one of the toughest and most defining phases for pet care business owners: the $100,000 to $200,000 revenue stage. This is the season where owners are often stuck with one foot in the field and one foot in administration, trying to juggle everything while building a team of three to seven people. I share the risks, bottlenecks, and strateg...

🔥 Your ego can be your biggest battle or your biggest breakthrough. In this week’s Hot Tip Friday, I'll share one of the hardest lessons I've had to learn as a business owner: how to battle ego and embrace true open-mindedness. From realizing I wasn’t as openminded as I thought, to working through defensiveness, emotional decision-making, and my fear of data, I'll get personal about what it takes...

Are you running your pet care business solo and wondering how to scale without burning out? 🐾 In this episode, I'm kicking off the Scaling Series by breaking down the path from solopreneur to team growth. Whether you love working solo or are ready to build your dream team, this episode is packed with practical steps, key risks, and real-world strategies to help you thrive. And don’t forget, the D...

In this Hot Tip Friday episode of the DogCo Secrets Podcast, I am breaking down the top three things I consistently see in seven-figure pet care companies that set them apart. These are not abstract ideas. They are actionable strategies that can help you scale faster, avoid costly mistakes, and run a business you truly love. From building rock-solid systems to staying ahead of problems before they...