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500: Finding Inspiration and Motivation

500: Finding Inspiration and Motivation

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What inspires and motivates you? To celebrate our 500th episode, we share some of our favorite quotes, reflect on their meaning and how they helped us. We share quotes on finding your priorities, setting boundaries, taking ownership of responsibility, as well as embracing a love of learning. Life of a dog walker and a pet sitter is full of ups and downs. While we look to our mission and our values to guide us and lead us through tough times, sometimes we need a little extra encouragement along the way. If you have a quote that encourages you to keep going, please share it with us!

380: The Pet Business Owner Toolbox

380: The Pet Business Owner Toolbox

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What tools does it take to build a business? As the business owner, you need to be equipped with the right tools to grow and run a successful business. We break down 10 tools we think every pet business owner should have in their tool box, and why they help you run a better business. Everything from organization and policies, to mindsets and personal development are needed, but you get to decide how they’re implemented for you. The best tools are the ones you know how to use and fit how you work.

357: Empowering Empathy with Stephanie Castro

357: Empowering Empathy with Stephanie Castro

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What does it mean to be empathetic in our business? Showing empathy allows you to connect with nervous clients. It also helps both clients and staff feel like they are understood and are not alone. Stephanie Castro, owner of Stay Home Pet Sitting, joins the show to share why the words we use help clients see the value in our business. She also explains how she’s growing her company culture, and what it means to make hard decisions.

346: What’s in Store for 2023?

346: What’s in Store for 2023?

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What’s 2023 looking like? The economic outlook is shaping up as a mixed bag. We walk through ways to stay nimble as a business, through planning and staying open to new opportunities. We also share how we’ve been approaching planning for 2023 and why it’s critical to take a wholistic approach that takes both your personal life and business into account. 

328: Rocky Road in 2023?

328: Rocky Road in 2023?

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Monetary policy and interest rates are slowing the economy down, and most suggest a recession is in the work in the next 12 months. How do we digest this data and apply it to your business? What does this mean for the pet services industry? We break down several key questions for you to think through in your business. We also address the very real need for a support network and the psychological toll a recession takes on small business owners.

280: Changing a Client’s Perspective

280: Changing a Client’s Perspective

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Do you have potential clients contact you for services you don’t offer or advertise? How do you convert a potential client from one service to another? It’s all in how you communicate with them! First, you have to make sure you are both using the same terminology. We break out 5 steps in communicating that can help you when faced with converting a client to a service you actually offer. Plus, Natasha O’Banion answers, “When is the right time to market?”

241: How to Resolve Conflict the Right Way

241: How to Resolve Conflict the Right Way

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How do you resolve conflict? All relationships have it, so it’s imperative to know how to handle it. Whether you deal with clients, your staff, a significant other, or a business partner, there are strategies for navigating a disagreement. We discuss the various types of conflict resolution and share what works for us.

233: Eating Well as a Busy Pet Sitter

233: Eating Well as a Busy Pet Sitter

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How do you plan your meals throughout the week? What makes a good snack for a busy dog walker and pet sitter? It’s not easy and is unique for everyone. We sent out a survey to other pet sitters to get a better idea of what others have experienced. Our businesses run on our bodies. So, we should seriously consider what we’re putting into it. For preparing the night before, to staying hydrated, there are simple things to get on a better track. We share some of the biggest struggles to planning meals, how to overcome them, and hacks to being more consistent. Then, Natasha shares her best piece of business advice.

193: Reactive and Aggressive Dogs with Rene Smith

193: Reactive and Aggressive Dogs with Rene Smith

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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.

119: Back to Basics- Boarding

119: Back to Basics- Boarding

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On today’s episode we go back to basics and cover boarding! We break down how we operate boarding a small number of dogs in our home, how we approach cleaning and up keep, as well as dealing with the chaos of feeding times and schedules. Natasha answers the question, “How do I take my business to the next level?”

076- Aunt Mary's Pet Care with Mary Cornelius

076- Aunt Mary's Pet Care with Mary Cornelius

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Mary Cornelius, owner of Aunt Mary’s Pet Sitting, started a pet care business 5 years ago with an extensive background in the hospitality industry. From how she defines who her clients are to how she meets their needs, she brings that expertise into everything she does. Mary discusses the importance of clear communication and setting expectations in her policies, and how she makes clients and their pets feels happy and respected.

038- Miguel Rodriguez

038- Miguel Rodriguez

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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.

035- Housesitting in the Time of Covid-19

035- Housesitting in the Time of Covid-19

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Kelly Hayes-Raitt was expecting an extensive travel period over the next several months, but then Covid-19 happened. Stuck in London, on this episode she shares her experience of travel restrictions, quarantines, and her take on what’s happening.

016- Connections with Kelly

016- Connections with Kelly

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What are ways to meet new people and interact with the community while housesitting?

Housesits are usually not in touristy areas (yay!), but that can make them a bit more isolating, as you're not among other travelers -- plus you have the pet-caring and house-caring responsibilities. Kelly gives us some great tips for making the most out of our stays!

012- House Sitting

012- House Sitting

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The main topic today is house sitting. When do you get their key? Can you eat their food? What do you do with your time? All that and so much more!