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 the cheat sheet at honestdogbreeder.com/115!
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 this episode, I’m so excited to share with you how to capitalize on your breeding program when it’s in i...
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://honestdogbreeder.com/litters . But money isn't the only factor you need to consider when determining 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 needle. Whether you’re just starting out or tightening things up, this episode will help you stop wasting...
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 into all the things you should think about prior to hiring someone....
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 killing your profit margins. And the third part, where we discuss marketing and how to have it make you m...
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 better photography that dives deeper into Kerry's professional photography tips! Get the whole mastercla...
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 business, the honest and smart way. This is part of a larger masterclass I've released with a Google Shee...
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 tricks and I bet you could implement a few today!
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 their success. Learn what these stories look like, how to spot them, and see if hypnosis might work for ...
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 activation, and embodying your new story. And this doesn't have to take incredibly long. "In fact, I thi...
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.youtube.com/@jswan (I'd love it if you subscribed!)...
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. She also discusses co-owns, the good and the bad and what she recommends.
Shannon comes to us from Perth, Australia! She shares her journey in breeding over the last few decades, how the passion was brewing, but sometimes had to wait. She shares how she imported dogs from all over the world and what breeding and show is like in Australia! You'll love this enjoyable journey and how she made it all come together!
Lory shares it all! She tells about her journey into breeding, what it's like raising Bulldogs (it's a lot more work than my GSPs!), and she breaks some of the misconceptions people have about Bulldogs and health concerns. As a canine nutritionist, she shares her journey and process with raw feeding and the benefits she's seen! She also shares about her turf experience and what she recommends. Lastly, she shares WONDERFUL information about marketing, how she does her email newsletter, how her we...
Breeding Livestock Guardian Dogs is a whole other world of breeding! Kim talks about the dynamics of breeding farm dogs and how people often think that they should breed them just because they breed other livestock, like sheep or chickens. She dabbles into how she's been able to increase her price and educate buyers so they understand what they are getting and why her breeding produces a better farm dog. She further dives into how she is using a Facebook group, her website, and her email newslet...
Jessica went from being fired from the Humane Society to being on Fire with her Dalmatian breeding program. You'll get to hear her incredible stories as an animal control officer and then hear what it was like working for the Humane Society where she was eventually fired. She has built an incredible breeding program and it's changed her life–especially as a mom who gets to spend more time with her kids and do more with them because of the lifestyle breeding provides. You'll love learning about h...
Bill and his wife Alice recently built a beautiful facility for their breeding program. Bill is a flooring contractor and he shares what he did with designing and constructing his building to make clean up a dream! He also shares how he applied business principles from his contracting business to dog breeding and how it has placed their program a cut above. You'll enjoy hearing how they delegate tasks and work together to create a great breeding program.
Struggling with Instagram? Having a hard time figuring out what to post? You'll love this episode! Elli does a mini training on her best tips and tricks for Instagram, what's she's doing, how it's working, and ways you can dabble with these techniques to better your Instagram reach and conversion.
Susan started her own bloodlines of Australian Labradoodles nearly two decades ago! She built her program from the bottom up and has amazing dogs today because of it! She shares her story, her ups and downs, how she got started and what she loves. She also explains her method of explaining temperament, drive, personality, and activity level in a way that truly helps her buyers understand. You'll love learning from her experience and story.
Cristine recently fulfilled a dream she's had for over 30 years, breeding her first litter. Learn how she prepared and planned for this or the last few years and how the process went. How she prepped to get ready for whelping and what to do when you feel unsure. She shares how she loves showing dogs and how she was able to build a network of supportive people to help her while she is a mom and has a career. She also shares how she prepared to market these puppies over the past year and how that ...
How would you breed if you're blind? Meghan is an incredible breeder, she has a heart of gold and she shares her story of how she breeds without using sight and how it might actually make her a better breeder! She also shares service dog training and helps you understand things you can look for early on with your puppies to better understand them on an individual level. You'll love all the wonderful insight into breeding without your eyes in this episode.
Tara has built her program from the bottom up! She started with livestock showmanship and her love for her dog and decided breeding Goldens was her path forward. She has built a wonderful program and discusses how she's selling her puppies and how she was able to overcome the Covid craze and continually sell pups with little effort. If you're a new breeder looking for inspiration or want to learn how she's tackled marketing in an easy-to-manage way, you'll love this episode!
This holiday season, I’m thrilled to bring you something truly special—welcome to the 12 Days of Breeders 2024! Over the next 12 episodes, we’re spotlighting breeders from all walks of life—different breeds, styles, locations, and experience levels. These aren’t just incredible breeders; they’re also members of the Dog Breeder Society, and they’re here to share their stories, insights, tips and tricks. You’ll hear from: 🐾 Breeders just getting started on their journeys, 🐾 Breeders who’ve spent...
Everyone says you need a blog, but how do you incorporate it into your dog breeding business marketing plan? That's exactly what we'll discuss in this episode: if you need a blog and where it fits into your marketing plan.
Recently I posted on my Instagram stories a poll about what was the biggest marketing struggle people were facing with their dog breeding business. These were the four options and their respective percentage of votes: - 35% voted the buyers didn’t want to pay their price - 32% voted not enough people were contacting them - 21% said they didn’t know where to advertise - and 11% said the wrong people were contacting them Let's dive into these problems, discuss what they mean, and what your options...
Want to save yourself the pain and heartache? In this episode I discuss five things that, looking back, I wish I had done sooner. Many of them would've made dog breeding easier, more enjoyable, with less overwhelm, and more income! I'd love to know, which one speaks to you most? Email Me and let me know! Learn more about: HoneyBook The Dog Breeder Society Get the Lock Screen Download...
