Pet Sitter Confessional

Use Code PREPARE for 5% at petfirstaid4u.com to celebrate Pet First Aid Month! How do we help clients trust our employees when they have only ever trusted us? In this episode, we talk through the real challenges of moving from a solo business to a team-based model and why this transition can feel so personal for both pet sitters and clients. We break down several common employee structures, from f...

What if the biggest thing your numbers could give you isn't stress—it's options? In this episode, Collin sits down with CPA and financial literacy coach Jamie Trull to unpack why so many pet care business owners feel overwhelmed by money. Jamie explains the difference between "compliance" (taxes/bookkeeping) and using financial data to run a smarter, more resilient business. They dig into common b...

How do we keep one hard morning from ruining an entire workday? In this episode, we talk about what happens when the day starts with client messages, employee issues, schedule changes, and mental overload before we've even had a chance to catch our breath. We share five practical ways we reset our mindset, focus on the next task, notice small wins, trust our systems, and reconnect with why our wor...

What happens when the hardest part of running a pet care business isn't the pets—it's the scheduling, routing, and operational chaos behind the scenes? In this episode, Collin talks with the Pixelum team (Austin, Ian, and Joe) about why pet service businesses hit a "scaling wall," and how automated scheduling can remove mental fatigue and reduce missed opportunities. They unpack where AI helps (pa...

What can a burrito chain teach us about running a better pet care business? In this episode, we explore how Chipotle Mexican Grill discovered who their real customers were—and why that changed everything. We connect those lessons to pet care, showing how your systems, brand, and client data all work together. We also discuss why trying to serve everyone weakens your business and how clarity attrac...

What does it really take to protect your team, your clients, and your business as you grow? In this episode, Collin talks with Stacy Aguilar, owner of Abby's Animal Sitters and Dog Walkers, about how safety and accountability shape every decision she makes. Stacy shares how her background in marketing helped her scale quickly, why her entire team is Fear Free certified, and how body cameras became...

How should we think about AI in a business built on trust, presence, and hands-on care? In this episode, we unpack a market study on theoretical AI capability versus actual AI usage and explore what it means for pet care professionals. We talk about why pet care remains a deeply human service, even as AI becomes more useful for admin work, marketing, communication, and strategy. We also discuss wh...

What role should AI play in running our business? In this roundtable, Michelle Kline, Daniel Reitman, and Doug Keeling explore the growing role of artificial intelligence in the pet care industry. They discuss practical use cases like data analysis, client support, route optimization, SOP creation, and marketing, while also wrestling with real concerns around environmental impact, ethics, authenti...

What happens when Congress holds a hearing about the pet economy—but leaves out dog walkers and pet sitters? In this episode, we unpack the March 11, 2026 Senate Committee hearing on the growing small-business pet economy. While veterinarians, a pet product manufacturer, and a boarding franchise owner testified, the independent in-home pet care sector was notably absent. We explore what this omiss...

How do you keep showing up for pets and their people when your mental health is hanging by a thread? Tanikka Spear, owner of Urban Pets in southeast England, shares about living with chronic depression, anxiety, and PTSD while running a dog walking and pet sitting business. She shares how reactive dogs "fell into her lap," what it takes to safely walk a 50-kilo dog, and why understanding the dog's...

What kind of business are you actually running—premium or luxury? In this episode, we unpack the critical difference between commodity, premium, and luxury brands and why that distinction matters for pet sitters and dog walkers. We explore how most pet care businesses market themselves with premium messaging even though the service clients are buying is deeply emotional and closer to luxury. We di...

What does it mean to truly support clients—and your team—when a beloved pet passes away? Collin talks with Shannon Rigby, owner of Puppy Love Pet Sitting in Wimberley, Texas, about the emotional side of pet care and her work as a certified Pet Loss Grief Support Specialist. Shannon shares how her psychology background led her to this calling, how grief shows up for both clients and sitters, and th...

What does it actually mean to be a professional pet sitter in 2026? In this episode, we explore the history of Professional Pet Sitters Week, established by Pet Sitters International in 1995, and why its message is more relevant than ever. We unpack how the industry has matured from informal neighborly help into structured, insured, system-driven businesses built on trust and accountability. We al...

What does it take to grow a business while setting high standard and holding your values close? Malaysia Speaks, owner of Paw Time Favorite Pet Sitting in San Antonio, shares her journey from working in the veterinary field to building a family-run business rooted in professionalism and heart. She and her husband intentionally structured their business from day one with strong policies, team suppo...

Is the gig economy really destroying professional pet care businesses, or are we misunderstanding the market entirely? We share how the pet care industry hasn't collapsed into a single low-price marketplace, but instead has segmented into distinct tiers. We explore the four layers of pet care—from exchange-based arrangements to structured professional teams—and what motivates clients in each one....

How do you rebuild a pet care business from scratch and create something stronger than before? In this episode, Jessica Sarcia of Annie's Woof Pack shares how she went from navigating personal upheaval and COVID losses to building a thriving, community-based dog walking company. She talks about leaning into structure, clarity, and neighborhood relationships to grow her group walks and streamline h...

Are you building a successful pet care business — but feeling more stretched than ever? In this episode, we unpack what margin really means beyond profit and why losing it often happens after growth, not before. We explore financial, time, mental, operational, and strategic margin — and how each one impacts sustainability. We discuss how small exceptions, over-customization, and decision fatigue q...

Earn 1 CEU: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfaOdO8vwQU-xogogX8VcJesx_WqcWgBTh9ZvDO6xl5kxMS3A/viewform What do you do when the pets you care for pass away? In this deeply compassionate episode, Collin talks with Pet Loss Bereavement Specialist, Joni Sullivan, about the unique challenges pet professionals face when grieving. They discuss why it can be harder to process loss as a sitter or...

Get 1 CEU: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJXcPevN-LyUK18mOj6oVMCBOKMV-s9vjRAZk8gAz_Ozstmw/viewform Have you ever wondered why burnout often hits right after you've "made it" and proven you're reliable? In this episode, we unpack what burnout is (and isn't), and why it's less about long hours and more about chronic overload, emotional labor, and a lack of control. We talk through common...

What does it take to turn a part-time passion into a full-time pet-sitting business? In this episode, former veterinary technician and owner of Dreaming Tree Pet Services, Jenn Wegener, shares how her medical background gives her an edge in pet care and client trust. She opens up about the fear of leaving a steady job for the uncertainty of entrepreneurship, and how she balances structure, family,...

What would change if we stopped calling avoidance "kindness" and started treating boundaries as care? In this episode, we unpack what being relentless actually means in pet care—and why it's different from being reckless. We talk about how indecision creates inconsistency, and how inconsistency can put pets, clients, and our teams at risk. We walk through what relentless businesses do: decide deli...

What does it look like to grow a pet sitting business without losing safety, consistency, or your sanity? Mikayla and Aaron Anders share how Adventures in Pet Sitting evolved from offering "everything" into a focused set of services built around what they love and what their community truly needs. We talk about building a team with a rigorous hiring and onboarding process, including certifications...

What happens if our business keeps growing exactly the way it is right now—and that thought makes our stomach drop? In this episode, we unpack what "sustainable growth" actually means and why growth isn't neutral—it adds complexity, risk, and load. We talk about pacing hiring before we're in trouble, setting a target utilization (not 100%), and building real operational resiliency. We walk through...

Get 1 CEU for PSI and/or NAPPS: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe0MylzLjD5QBzVXXsDfUI2jiRzkTzMfWBZcmv99WLgs6FUag/viewform?usp=header What does it mean to truly care in your business when you're busy, scaling, and running on fumes? In this conversation, we talk with Scott Black about how complacency shows up quietly—skipping the notes, assuming nothing changed, letting small red flags sli...

Get 1 CEU for PSI and/or NAPPS: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdA5-1D1J5EnwnwwCfuiiw0QnwKAoxnbPdA2o2Xsy_CeYOpsQ/viewform?usp=header In this episode, we break down the difference between being busy and being stable, profitable, and resilient. We walk through five measurable health indicators that reveal whether your business can actually support you long-term. From market fit and client...