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 emotional world matters so much. Tanikka opens up about suicidal ideation, the fear that finally pu...
Mar 11, 2026•48 min•Ep. 681
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 discuss why feature lists like insurance, certifications, and software can unintentionally push you in...
Mar 09, 2026•42 min•Ep. 680
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 the healthy ways to honor those feelings. They also discuss community engagement, team well-being, and...
Mar 04, 2026•52 min•Ep. 679
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 also walk through practical ways to leverage this week to educate clients, elevate expectations, and s...
Mar 03, 2026•23 min•Ep. 678
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 support, and faith at the center. Malaysia discusses hiring early, trusting her team, maintaining client ...
Feb 25, 2026•46 min•Ep. 677
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. It's critical to understand why competing across tiers leads to pricing conflicts, operational strai...
Feb 23, 2026•33 min•Ep. 676
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 her operations. Jessica also opens up about the emotional side of pet care and the deep bonds she for...
Feb 18, 2026•49 min•Ep. 675
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 quietly erode your capacity. Most importantly, we share practical steps to intentionally rebuild marg...
Feb 16, 2026•41 min•Ep. 674
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 walker, how to support clients while protecting your own mental health, and what healthy grieving ca...
Feb 11, 2026•56 min•Ep. 673
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 burnout triggers in pet sitting—unsafe pets, last-minute requests, unwanted services, always-on exp...
Feb 09, 2026•51 min•Ep. 672
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, and growth. Collin and Jenn discuss the importance of networking, setting intentional goals, and kn...
Feb 04, 2026•49 min•Ep. 671
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 deliberately, hold standards even when it costs short-term comfort, and protect time with real boundarie...
Feb 02, 2026•37 min•Ep. 670
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 that prepare staff for real emergencies. They explain how boundaries, policies, and case-by-case fl...
Jan 28, 2026•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 669
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 how to know when it's time to hand things off using practical financial and bandwidth-based trigger...
Jan 26, 2026•44 min•Ep. 668
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 slide—and how that leads to "oh no" moments. We dig into why consistency isn't boring, it's protective:...
Jan 21, 2026•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 667
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 retention to utilization, unit economics, and cash flow, we explain what to measure and why it matte...
Jan 19, 2026•56 min•Ep. 666
Get 1 CEU for PSI and/or NAPPS: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdw4WzNXJnrBs3sAscn5onF-lU_Lw6-5ZwAsz6H9yGjUDkkUA/viewform?usp=header What makes cats do what they do—and how can pet sitters respond? In this episode, Collin talks with certified cat behavior consultant Laura Cassiday of Positive Vibes Cat Behavior and Training about decoding feline body language, aggression, and litter box issues. Laura shares her process for understanding the "why" behind cat behavior and offers practica...
Jan 14, 2026•57 min•Ep. 665
Are you building a business—or just staying busy? In this episode, we explore what it means to shift from being the technician to becoming the CEO of your pet care company. We break down the mental and operational changes needed to move from chaos to structure, burnout to sustainability, and survival to growth. We share practical steps, real-life examples, and honest truths about what it takes to lead well. If you're ready to design a business that runs without breaking you, this is for you. Mai...
Jan 12, 2026•46 min•Ep. 664
What happens when your business grows faster than your systems—and regulations force you to rebuild everything? In this conversation, Marie and Justin Plummer of Winston-Salem Dogcare share how North Carolina's Animal Welfare rules pushed them from "in-home" into a fully regulated, facility-based setup and what that required financially and operationally. We talk about the mindset shift from feeling like problems are "happening to you" to showing up as a prepared problem solver. They unpack how ...
Jan 07, 2026•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 663
What happens when the skills that built your pet care business are no longer the ones it needs to grow? In this episode, we respond to a thoughtful listener question about the uncomfortable transition from doing the work to running a company. We unpack why growth often feels harder instead of easier, even when things are "going well." We walk through three major mindset resets that every owner eventually faces as responsibilities shift. This conversation is about sustainability, leadership, and ...
Jan 05, 2026•34 min•Ep. 662
What does "professional" pet care actually mean—and why does it matter so much right now? Collin sits down with Niki Tudge, founder of the Pet Professional Guild, to talk about the gap between what pet owners assume they're buying and what many providers actually deliver. Niki shares the eye-opening real-life process she used to hire a pet sitter for her own dogs—and why it convinced her the industry needs higher minimum standards. Together, they discuss practical ways to educate clients, set no...
Dec 31, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 661
What if 2026 isn't about doing more—but about doing what actually lasts? In this episode, we talk about why the end-of-year holiday rush can push pet sitters and dog walkers straight into toxic productivity. We walk through how to name what didn't work in 2025 (without shame), especially where policies, boundaries, and overcommitment quietly drifted. Then we shift to what did work—life-giving habits, decisions that reduced stress, and systems that keep you steady even when you're tired. Our goal...
Dec 29, 2025•39 min•Ep. 660
How can you use your pet care business to make a bigger impact? Cheyenne Williams returns to share how community involvement has transformed her life and her business. From leading suicide prevention walks to supporting foster care initiatives, Cheyenne explains how giving back is not just about writing checks—it's about connection, purpose, and passion. She shares the challenges of balancing business demands with emotional nonprofit work, and how boundaries and clarity of purpose keep her groun...
Dec 24, 2025•48 min•Ep. 659
What do we do when a service isn't working anymore—but we don't want to lose the revenue or the client? In this episode, we walk through how converting clients is leadership, not upselling, and why adding or changing a service isn't a failure. We break down two conversion scenarios: when the service is a poor fit for the pet/client, and when it's a poor fit for the business. We share practical strategies for leading with friction points, using observational authority, and making the transition f...
Dec 22, 2025•41 min•Ep. 658
What does the future of the pet service industry look like as technology and client expectations evolve? Matthew Kutas, founder and CEO of Republic of Dog, talks about the challenges and opportunities facing pet care businesses today. He discusses how technology can streamline operations without losing the emotional connection at the heart of the work, and why onboarding is a make-or-break process for client trust. Matthew shares insights on staffing, scaling, and the professionalization of the ...
Dec 17, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 657
What happens when clients see your pet care business as interchangeable with everyone else? In this episode, we break down the commodity trap and why it's not a pricing problem—it's a positioning problem. We walk through the client, financial, and operational red flags that quietly signal your business is stuck competing on price. We explain why being more trained, more insured, and more professional often hurts more when the market doesn't reward it. Finally, we share a practical framework for ...
Dec 15, 2025•20 min•Ep. 656
Have you ever thought about what happens to your business when you're ready to step away? In this episode, Erin Fenstermaker, certified exit planner and pet industry veteran, breaks down the key elements that make a pet business valuable and sellable. She discusses the importance of recurring revenue, documented systems, and building a team of employees over independent contractors. Erin also explains what EBITDA is, what influences it, and how emotional readiness impacts a successful exit. Whet...
Dec 10, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 655
What if the key to protecting your business and sanity is actually learning to care less? In this episode, we share how our unorthodox Word of the Year—"care less"—helped us step back from constant urgency, emotional overload, and decision fatigue. We talk about naming our non-negotiables, especially around safety and standards, while letting go of guilt and overinvestment in pricing pushback, employee drama, and social media opinions. We walk through the practical tools we used, like decision d...
Dec 08, 2025•36 min•Ep. 654
Fear Free Certification for taking the 'pet' out of 'petrified'. Get 10% off the with promo code PSC10. What does it really mean to be Fear Free certified as a pet sitter or dog walker? In this episode, Collin talks with Melissa Spooner-Raymond, a licensed veterinary technician and veterinary behavior specialist with Fear Free, about practical ways to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress for pets in our care. They explore reading body language, setting realistic goals for each visit, and using "the ...
Dec 03, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 653
What do you do when your pet care business feels stuck in the same old patterns? In this episode, we talk about how "ruts" form in our businesses the same way they do on a muddy trail—through repeated, unexamined habits over time. We explain the brain science behind habitual neural pathways, how stress and burnout make ruts deeper, and why comfort and fear of change keep us on the same path. We then walk through the three biggest rut zones for pet sitters and dog walkers: marketing, services, an...
Dec 01, 2025•23 min•Ep. 652
