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524: Hire the Heart, Train the Skill

524: Hire the Heart, Train the Skill

Collin

Have you ever struggled to find the perfect hire for your pet care business? In this episode, we dive into the importance of hiring for soft skills like empathy, communication, and adaptability, while training the technical aspects later. We discuss the value of a multi-stage hiring process to thoroughly vet candidates and ensure they fit your company culture. While the technical skills are trainable, finding someone with the right heart is key to long-term success. We share our own experiences in building a team that truly connects with both pets and clients.

512: The State of Job Sharing

512: The State of Job Sharing

Collin

Have you seen an increase in requests to job share? In this episode, we delve into the increasingly common practice of job sharing, where multiple caregivers collaborate on a pet's care. We discuss the reasons behind this trend, such as more pet sitters entering the market and clients seeking cost-effective solutions. We also highlight the challenges, including communication issues and varying standards of care, emphasizing the importance of clear documentation and agreements. Finally, we cover practical advice, stressing the need to know when to trust your gut and when to decline job sharing requests.

503: The Subtle Art of Dog Behavior with Fanna Easter

503: The Subtle Art of Dog Behavior with Fanna Easter

Collin

Are you struggling to understand a dog's anxious or reactive behavior? Fanna Easter, owner of Positive Pooch Behavior, dives into the nuances of canine anxiety, distinguishing between general anxiousness and separation anxiety. Fanna emphasized the importance of addressing the root causes rather than just managing symptoms, highlighting the role of pet sitters in observing and responsibly handling these behaviors. She also discussed the critical nature of professional collaboration between pet sitters and behavior consultants to ensure the best outcomes for pets. This insightful conversation provides essential strategies and knowledge for pet care professionals aiming to improve their understanding and management of complex canine behaviors.

498: Keeping Fear From Controlling You

498: Keeping Fear From Controlling You

Collin

Is fear holding you back in your pet care business? In this episode, we delve into the various types of fears business owners face and why addressing them is crucial for success. We discuss the physical and cognitive effects of fear, from the fight-or-flight response to avoidance behaviors, and provide strategies for overcoming these challenges through education and preparation. Building a support system and developing practical steps to manage fear are highlighted as essential tools for growth. Learn how to keep fear from controlling your business and empower yourself to achieve your goals.

482: Dirty Clients, Clean Answers

482: Dirty Clients, Clean Answers

Collin

How do you manage when a client's home is more than just messy? We dive into the challenging world of hoarding and its impact on our business as pet sitters and dog walkers. We explore what hoarding really entails and how it creates unsafe and unhealthy working conditions. From navigating privacy issues to ensuring the safety of the pets and maintaining professional boundaries, we cover the essential strategies for approaching these sensitive situations with gentleness and genuine concern. Join us as we provide practical advice to help you handle even the most difficult environments effectively.

404: Communicating in Stressful Situations

404: Communicating in Stressful Situations

Collin

How do you handle stressful situations? From acute to chronic, we encounter all sorts of situations in running our business. As a business owner, we’re obligated to not just take care of stressful situations and emergencies, but also communicate and help others through it as well. We break down how to cope with stress in the moment. We give several strategies for effective communication and also how to plan for after the emergency is taken care of.

367: Getting the Most out of Your Insurance with Colleen Giles-Harris

367: Getting the Most out of Your Insurance with Colleen Giles-Harris

Collin

You pay for insurance, but is it protecting you? Running a business means we have to understand the risk we take on with the services we offer. As your business changes, so too do your insurance needs. Colleen Giles-Harris, Underwriter with Pet Sitters Associates, joins the show to walk us through the questions we need to ask about our businesses to make sure we are covered. She explains where the homeowners insurance comes into play during a claims process and why it matters the kind of pets you’re caring for. Colleen also shares how to properly document for a claims process and how to approach minimum-level of care concerns.

268: Why You Need Thick Skin in Business

268: Why You Need Thick Skin in Business

Collin

We had a client abruptly stop using our services recently. It hurt. In the pet care industry, we invest so much of ourselves, which means we’re more vulnerable. However, when we step back and assess a critique, we begin to not take things personally. On this episode we discuss ways to overcome being hurt by business transactions and why bring thick skinned in your business is important. Then, Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do I build my brand?”

256: Fear Free Pet Sitting with Mikkel Becker

256: Fear Free Pet Sitting with Mikkel Becker

Collin

Mikkel Becker, from Fear Free and Fear Free Happy Homes, discusses how following the Fear Free philosophy impacts our ability to build trust with the pets in our care. It not only makes our job easier, but also sets up the pet and owner for success. Mikkel shares how fear manifests itself in dogs and cats, and what we can do to help them in those moments.

193: Reactive and Aggressive Dogs with Rene Smith

193: Reactive and Aggressive Dogs with Rene Smith

Collin

Reactivity and aggression in dogs can take many forms. From resource guarding to separation anxiety, as pet professionals, we should be mindful of the context and history of the pets we are working with. Rene Smith, owner of Street Dog Rehab, started off with a passion for dogs, but got in over her head. After learning how to be a dog trainer, she’s dedicated her life to helping dogs stay in their forever home. Rene shares common signs of aggression, ways we can help clients and their pets through aggression, and why consistency is key. We discuss how to help dogs self-regulate and what it means to build a sacred bond between the pet and their owner.

187: Helping Clients Bond with Their Pets with Cherie Marquez

187: Helping Clients Bond with Their Pets with Cherie Marquez

Collin

How do we help deepen the relationship between the client and their pet? With the pet craze in full swing and many owners struggling to connect with their new family member, pet professionals can help guide their clients into a deeper bond with their pets. Cherie Marquez, The Dog Mystic, is passionate about keeping pets in their forever home through education, training, and building trust. Cherie encourages us to set aside the technology and be present in the moment to focus on the pets around us. She also shares some awesome techniques to teach our clients how to deal with separation anxiety.

175: Breaking Up with a Client

175: Breaking Up with a Client

Collin

Have you had to fire a client? If you’re in this business long enough, you will likely have to do it. Whether it’s because the pet isn’t a good fit or you are tired of dealing with the client. We break down some of the most common reasons it happens, how to navigate the process, and how to deal with the aftermath. Then, Natasha O'Banion answers, "How do I find out the culture of my business?"

163: Insurance with Colleen Giles-Harris

163: Insurance with Colleen Giles-Harris

Collin

The world of insurance can seem overwhelming, but Colleen Giles-Harris, Manager and Underwriter with Pet Sitters Associates, joins us to discuss what we need to know about being fully protected as pet care professionals. Colleen shares what it means to recognize the liability we're exposed to and how even with waivers we still need insurance to protect us. We also discuess why using your personal insurnace isn't the best idea and how not all insurance policies are created equal.

091- Coping with the Unexpected, with the House Sit Diva

091- Coping with the Unexpected, with the House Sit Diva

Collin

The House Sit Diva, Kelly Hayes-Raitt, joins us for her SIXTH appearance on the podcast. Kelly shares how, not surprisingly, not every pet sit or house sit goes according to plan. Even though we screen and ask all the questions, unforeseen things can and do happen. Kelly gives us some awesome tips for overcoming the unexpected and how to avoid becoming overwhelmed in the midst of the let down.

080- Customer Service in Pet Care

080- Customer Service in Pet Care

Collin

Today on the podcast, Meghan and Collin discuss their personal approach to customer service and point out some best practices to ensure clients have the best experience possible. The goal is to provide the best possible care to the pet, but we can’t forget about how we treat the owners! On the ‘Ask a Pet Business Coach’ segment, Natasha O’Banion answers the question everyone has as they start to grow: how you stay connected and communicate with clients as you add staff.

046 - Kitchen Confessions

046 - Kitchen Confessions

Collin

On this weeks Kitchen Confessions, we share some tips on working from home if you’ve never had to do it before and what it’s like running a business with your significant other.

043- Kroopin's Poopin Scoopin

043- Kroopin's Poopin Scoopin

Collin

Erica Krupin, owner of Kroopin’s Poopin Scoopin, discusses what it’s like running and operating a poop scooping business. What started off as a conversation ostensibly about scooping poop, turned into a wonderful discussion about customer service and managing employees. From keeping it all organized, to finally being able to lead the life she’s always wanted, Erica shares what she loves about the life of a pet waste removal technician!

038- Miguel Rodriguez

038- Miguel Rodriguez

Collin

What's life like for a dog walker at the epicenter of the Covid-19 outbreak in the US? On this episode, we talk with Miguel Rodriguez about what business is like in New York City and the lessons he's learning while serving his community.