The Honest Dog Breeder Podcast

Breeders are some of the toughest people out there—but grit alone won't move you out of burnout. In this episode, I reveal the small hack that shifts you from survival mode into intentional growth mode. You'll learn how to feel real progress, how to stop moving the goalposts on yourself, and how to make better decisions with less emotional load. This one mindset shift has changed how I run my prog...

In this episode, I discuss my own personal year of dog breeding, what worked, what didn't go so well, and how I plan to change things going forward, plus how you can use my insights to start evaluating your own program.  I also cover new updates for the Honest Dog Breeder Society and give you a sneak peek at all the exciting things I'm working on for 2026.  

Feeling overwhelmed? Can't seem to catch a break? Your program feels more like herding cats rather than breeding dogs? It happens to us all! In this episode we'll go over the two kinds of breeders, which one you are, how to transition if you're not happy about which one you are, and how immersing yourself in a solid community of intentional breeders can give you the edge you've been looking for. L...

Ever sold a puppy to a buyer and regretted it? Many things can happen when working with the general public and dogs, sometimes we get it wrong. In this episode we'll discuss what can happen to make it go wrong and help you determine which of these situations makes you a bad breeder and what you can do about it.  Looking for a community of breeders who will support you through the good and the bad?...

Puppy buyers are changing, they're asking for more from us, and they have new boxes they want us to check before buying. There's also a dark side of this movement that has buyers publicly coming after breeders. Today I'll talk about what they're doing, what to do if you're a victim, and how you can adapt your program so you're serving this new evolution of puppy buyers. 

Discounting older puppies is tempting. Discounting is what stores do as the seasons change. They'll have sales for summer clothes as summer comes to an end. Yet, does it work for puppies? The answer? Well, sometimes, but not usually.  In this episode I'll discuss the problems with discounting your older puppies, when it makes sense, when it doesn't, and if you do decide to discount a puppy, how to...

Parvo was one of the most stressful challenges I faced as a breeder—until I found NeoPar. In this episode, I share my journey and how NeoPar has worked for me to protect puppies against parvo at a very young age, even before they leave for their new homes. Because it bypasses maternal immunity, it gives puppies protection right when they need it most, and it's one of the few things that lets me sl...

Ever wonder how to plan and budget for your facility upgrades? In this episode I'll share my best tips and tricks for facility upgrades, whether its the little stuff while you're just getting started, an intermediate DIY project or room remodel, or a large exterior facility. I'll also give you some guidelines for how to plan the budgeting for it and when to invest in a facility so that you aren't...

Over the last few episodes we've discussed ways to build a financial future, whether or not it includes dogs. In this episode we'll discuss whether your should invest in your facilities, so you can grow your breeding business, or whether you should invest in your future. I'll give you all the criteria you should review and answer to make the best decision for your business, your future, and your f...

She told me, "If I don't sell 20 puppies this month, I'll go under." It was a wake-up call—and not just for her. In this episode, I'm sharing real ways to turn your dog breeding profits into long-term financial stability, so you're never stuck breeding out of survival. Whether you stay in the game or eventually want to take a step back, this one's all about building options. Don't forget to grab t...

One of the biggest mistakes I see breeders make is that they finally get some momentum—puppies are selling, income is flowing—and instead of using that money to create peace or freedom down the line, they burn it.  You might be investing all of that money in your breeding program, but as important as it is to reinvest in your program, it's also incredibly important to invest in your future. In thi...

I asked myself this question recently when I realized I'd back-to-back (and overlapping) litters starting on January 31st of this year had been a little too much for my bandwidth.  While there are easy calcuations to determine how many puppies you need to sell, and litters you need to have, to reach a financial target, and I've got a formula to help you calculate that - you can get it at https://h...

In this Q&A we have 5 questions I've been asked recently on the website. I'll go into brief detail on what to consider with each question and what do to about it. If you want to submit your own questions for Q&A, send me a message at julie@honestdogbreeder.com .  Thank you!

Ever feel like you're pouring money into marketing but not getting results? In this episode, we dig into the top marketing money leaks breeders face—from the trap of paid advertising to websites that repel more than they attract. I'll walk you through common mistakes that quietly drain your budget and energy, plus how to take the heavy lifting off your plate so your efforts actually move the needl...

This is the second part of our three part series about common money leaks that breeders have. This episode covers hiring people. I'll share my own experiences hiring people, what some of the best methods are for being successful with employees, when a good time is, and common errors that end up capsizing profit and making things worse. I have a  cheatsheet for you to use that will help you dive in...

This episode is the first in a 3-part series where we discuss the ins and outs of where I see breeders losing money. This episode approaches the practical side of owning dogs and stud service and where the sweet spot is.  Stay tuned for the second part where we discuss the ins and outs of how to pay people in a way that helps you take better care of your dogs and makes you more money, without kill...

In this episode we are joined by Kerry Howell, a professional dog photographer. She shares some tips and tricks on better dog photography as well as when you should consider hiring a professional photographer for your breeding business. You'll love Kerry's simple and easy approach that makes this process a lot less painful and easier to accomplish.  This is the first lesson of a masterclass on bet...

Want to do more social media, but you're not sure where to start? We've got you covered. In today's episode, Julie & Kate discuss Breeder Copy Hub, what it is, how it works, and how you can use it to make a streamlined plan for your social media. Learn more about social media, tips and tricks, and how to incorporate Breeder Copy Hub into your plan. 

It seems logical: more puppies means more money, right? In working with many breeders, it's clear that there is much more to the story of increasing your profit in your breeding program. So the answer to the question of "will more puppies make more money?" is  it depends.  In this episode we discuss the compounding complexity of scale and the options for how to increase profit in your breeding bus...

NJ Shelsby is a business coach and she is a master of efficiency. She loves to strike the balance between enjoying life and having a successful business. As a business coach she helps people regain their time, while tackling what they need to do. NJ challenged me to think differently about my processes and her advice propelled me into a much more efficient end of 2024. You'll love her tips and tri...

Lara Marek is a coach for life and business, but she noticed something ... when people stopped working with her, they were unable to maintain their momentum. She found that there were underlying stories they held subconsciously that got in the way of success. She found she was able to give her clients long-term success through hypnosis, helping them to discard the underlying stories sabotagin thei...

Danielle McGeough is a wealth of knowledge! With her wide array of experience in various industries, she's been helping people get more done for years!  In this interview Danielle explains her RISE Ritual. Here's a quick snippet:  "One of my favorite ways to teach people to press pause is to create something called a RISE Ritual Method. And RISE stands for reflect, intentional planning, sensory ac...

The dog breeding industry did a lot of normalizing in 2023, things are getting back to normal, but there have been changes. In this episode I discuss plans for the new year, how the economy is influencing dog breeding, and where I think it's all going so you can be prepared.  Plus I've started a YouTube Channel where you can watch these episodes on recorded video check it out here: http://www.yout...

Today you get to meet my very own, my kids: Dakotah & Hunter, they're 12 and 10 and they've been a part of dog breeding pretty much their whole lives. Today they share life from their perspective in living with a dog breeding program and being a part of it. They share what they love, what they hate, and how they help.  I hope you enjoy breeding from a kids' perspective!

Meet a friend of mine, Courtney Guthrie! She's been a breeder for many years, breeding primarily German Shepherds as working dogs. In this episode Courtney and I discuss the cultural differences of different breeds. Courtney shares some wonderful training tips to help with older puppies and just training in general, things that are easy to do throughout the day, but that really turn great returns....