OverDog: Dog Daycare & Boarding Business Tips

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 packa...

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 wo...

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, r...

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 cust...

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 wh...

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 emot...

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 act...

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 p...

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...

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 re...

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...

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....

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...

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 eve...

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-...

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 expectatio...

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...

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...

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...

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 bu...

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 aroun...

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...

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 dea...

What if one out of every five dogs walking through your doors had a hidden health threat—and you had no idea? In this episode, Fern kicks off a powerful two-part series on improving the health and safety of the dogs in your care. He’s joined by John Beres and Greg Price from Canine Lab Testing, who reveal some eye-opening facts about parasites in pet care facilities and why so many of them are fly...

What if the best strategies to grow your dog daycare or boarding business weren’t even in the pet industry? In this episode, Fern opens the door to a whole new way of thinking by pulling proven ideas from unexpected places—like hospitality, fitness, restaurants, software, and retail. He shares how these industries handle things like onboarding, consistency, automation, and customer loyalty—and how...