Pet Boarding and Daycare Podcast with Dominic Hodgson

Why do some pet business owners survive for twenty years while others disappear after two or three? What does it really take to build a business that clients trust, staff stay with, and competitors struggle to copy? And if you’re feeling frustrated because growth is taking longer than you’d hoped, could it be that you’re actually closer than you think? In this week’s episode of the Pet Boarding & Daycare Podcast, Dom sits down with Dog Daycare Success Academy member Pat Hall to talk about his twenty-year journey building Dog Daze in South Carolina. From starting out as a kennel technician at a veterinary clinic to becoming the owner of a thriving boarding, daycare and training business, Pat shares the lessons he’s learned along the way, including the mistakes, the breakthroughs, and why playing the long game has paid off. You’ll hear how he differentiated his business through premium outdoor adventures, enrichment, concierge-style in-home pet care and exceptional customer hospitality. Pat also explains how Enrich U transformed his daycare programme, why his clients happily pay for premium services, and how a charity 5K race became a huge success for both his business and the local community. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why Most Businesses Underestimate the Long Game – Pat shares what it was really like building a business over two decades. The Power of Premium Services – How outdoor adventures, enrichment and concierge care help Dog Daze stand out. Why Customer Hospitality Matters So Much – The simple things that keep clients loyal through price increases and market changes. How Enrich U Changed Everything – Why adding structured enrichment created happier dogs, happier staff and stronger profits. The Value of Being Around Ambitious People – Pat explains why joining DDSA accelerated his thinking and implementation. How a Charity Event Strengthened the Brand – The story behind Dog Daze’s hugely successful charity 5K and what other owners can learn from it. Thanks to Pat Hall from DogDaze for sharing his amazing story. Find out more about Pats facility and services by clicking here now Huge thanks to this week’s amazing show sponsors, Playcore and First Financial Bank First Financial Bank we offer a wide range of flexible terms tailored to your unique situation. Whether you are buying, selling or refinancing, we’ll work with you, one-on-one, every step of the way. FFB lenders have been in your shoes and are here to help you reach your goals, click here to find out more Playcore help communities create healthier, happier places through play, recreation, and outdoor spaces. To learn more about their innovative products and mission, visit PlayCore Want to plug the Enrichment University program into your facility? Click here to enroll now Want to work with the World Leading Pet Business Coach? Add your name to the waitlist for Dom’s Exclusive coaching program The Dog Daycare Success Academy now by clicking here. Episode Highlights [01:49] – Dom talks about planning ahead and why successful businesses use markers and events throughout the year.[03:49] – Meet Pat Hall and hear how he got started in the pet care industry.[08:27] – Why becoming a dog trainer wasn’t quite the overnight success Pat imagined.[17:16] – Early struggles, waiting for the phone to ring and building a reputation from scratch.[20:14] – The role education, workshops and continual learning played in Pat’s success.[23:34] – Why staff retention and customer hospitality are such powerful competitive advantages.[30:12] – How Pat discovered Enrich U and why he knew it would transform the business.[37:15] – Pat explains why he joined the Mastermind and later DDSA.[43:53] – The story behind Dog Daze’s charity 5K and raising more than $12,000 for a local animal charity.

Are you focusing heavily on scent, activity, and social play…but overlooking one of the dog’s most powerful senses? Have you ever considered that the bedding, cushioning, and physical comfort inside your facility could be one of the biggest opportunities to improve behaviour, client confidence, and revenue? And what if enrichment didn’t always require more labour…but instead could quietly increase value while using the space you already have? In this week’s episode of the Pet Boarding & Daycare Podcast, host Dom Hodgson sits down with Fred Silber from Pet Therapeutics to explore one of the fastest-growing areas of enrichment: comfort-driven enrichment — and why the sense of touch is becoming a major differentiator for premium dog daycares and pet resorts. Fred has spent decades working in pet product design and behavioural comfort solutions, helping facilities move beyond basic raised cots and into structured, science-backed comfort environments that reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in boarding dogs. Together, Dom and Fred unpack how luxury-style bedding, pressure-based comfort, and smart enrichment bundling are helping facilities improve dog wellbeing, increase customer retention, and unlock new revenue streams — often with minimal additional labour. In this episode, you’ll discover: Comfort as the Missing Enrichment Pillar – Why touch and pressure-based comfort plays a major role in reducing stress and anxiety. Design for Luxury, Proven for Profit – How premium bedding and comfort upgrades create powerful upsell opportunities. Bundling for Bigger Returns – Why using comfort items as anchor upgrades dramatically increases package value. Near-Zero Labour Enrichment – How comfort-driven upgrades increase perceived value without increasing staffing pressure. Retention Through Experience – Why facilities using luxury comfort environments are holding onto clients longer and defending against competition. Huge hanks to my awesome guest Fred Silber for sharing his knowledge. Find out more about Pet Theraputics by going to PetTheraputics.net Want to work with the World Leading Pet Business Coach? Discover if you’re a good fit to work with Dom by going to www.petbusinessmarketing.com/audition Canine Labs Testing are the amazing sponsors of this episode. Go to CanineLabsTesting to find out more about their fabulous service that keeps your facility parasite free! Remember, the next big Barkleigh event is the PB & D Expo West which this year is in Phoenix, Arizona! You can register for the event and be the first to find out when tickets go on sale by clicking here now Grab a copy of Dom’s latest book Mission ENRICH by clicking here now Episode Highlights [00:51] – Dom opens the episode with a lesson from The Apprentice, and why business owners must stop confusing activity with achievement.[07:16] – Dom challenges listeners to focus on the high-impact activities that truly move their business forward.[10:21] – Dog News: Westminster Best in Show inspires creative marketing and user-generated content ideas for daycare owners.[12:28] – Meet Fred Silber and the growing concept of comfort-driven enrichment in pet care.[13:12] – Why the sense of touch is often overlooked, and how pressure-based comfort helps reduce fear and anxiety.[14:17] – Luxury bedding bundles, upgrade packages, and the real-world profitability operators are seeing.[17:25] – The science behind leaning, compression, and why dogs naturally seek supported resting environments.[21:17] – Senior dogs, anxious dogs, and creating comfort solutions for different behavioural and physical needs.[25:39] – Near-zero labour enrichment and how comfort upgrades improve guest experience without adding staff workload.[30:30] – Selfie stations, front-desk sales opportunities, and using comfort products to drive client engagement and retention. Huge thanks to our fantastic show sponsors Canine Lab Testing. You can learn more about their fast, reliable parasite testing solutions at: www.caninelabtesting.com

Does your pet facility smell similar to most others… like nothing in particular? Or worse, have you become nose-blind to something your clients notice the second they walk in? Did you know scenting wasn’t just about odour control…but one of the simplest ways to create a high-value, premium brand experience? In this week’s episode of the Pet Boarding & Daycare Podcast, host Dom Hodgson sits down with Kevin Rhodes from Air Essentials to explore one of the most overlooked elements of experiential marketing in pet care: scent. And we don’t mean scent work, we mean how your facility actually smells. Kevin has spent nearly a decade working with luxury hotels, resorts, and now pet boarding facilities, helping those businesses eliminate odours, create instant positive first impressions, and build memorable brand environments through professional scenting systems. In this conversation, Dom and Kevin unpack why pet facilities often become nose-blind to their own environment, how scent links directly to memory and emotional recall, and why top hospitality brands treat smell as part of their brand identity, not an afterthought. They dive into odour mitigation, branded signature scents, seasonal scenting, anxiety-reducing pet-safe fragrances, and how facilities are quietly using scent to increase perceived value, client trust, and repeat bookings. In this episode, you’ll discover: Odour vs Experience – Why scent solves hygiene and brand perception at the same time. First Impressions That Last – How smell links to memory, emotion, and instant trust. Blind Spots in Your Facility – Why facility owners miss what clients notice the moment they walk in. Signature & Seasonal Scents – How luxury brands use scent to build identity and keep experiences fresh. Premium Perception – Why a clean, consistent scent quietly signals care, quality, and value. Thanks to my awesome guest Kevin Rhodes for sharing his wisdom. Find out more about AirEssentials by going to AirEssentials.com Want to work with the World Leading Pet Business Coach? Discover if you’re a good fit to work with Dom by going to www.petbusinessmarketing.com/diamondnow Canine Labs Testing are the amazing sponsors of this episode. Go to CanineLabsTesting to find out more about their fabulous service that keeps your facility parasite free! Remember, the next big Barkleigh event is the PB & D Expo West which this year is in Phoenix, Arizona! You can register for the event and be the first to find out when tickets go on sale by clicking here now Grab a copy of Dom’s latest book Mission ENRICH by clicking here now Episode Highlights: [00:51] – Dom introduces the episode and explains why scent is one of the most overlooked opportunities in pet care.[02:07] – A personal update from Dom on why focus and clarity matter when building a business that stands out.[07:30] – Dog news: the rise of wellness in pet care, and what modern pet parents are willing to pay more for.[11:30] – Meet Kevin Rhodes from Air Essentials — the man helping luxury hotels and now pet boarding facilities that want to smell as good as they look.[13:30] – Why even clean facilities can suffer from hidden odour problems, and how nose-blindness catches most owners out.[14:53] – How scent links directly to memory and emotional recall, and why first impressions are formed in seconds.[17:43] – Why plug-ins, sprays, and candles don’t solve the real issue, and what professional scenting systems do differently.[19:49] – Signature scents, seasonal aromas, and how luxury brands use smell to build identity and recognition.[28:30] – The study showing dogs prefer certain scents, and how specific fragrances can reduce anxiety in pet environments.[38:00] – Disnifying, “five-sensing” environments, and why scent is the heavyweight champion of premium experience design. Huge thanks to our amazing show sponsors Canine Lab Testing. You can learn more about their fast, reliable parasite testing solutions at: www.caninelabtesting.com

Do you want to grow your business…without having to cram more dogs into your facility? Are you clear on what business you’re actually in — or are you still pricing your services like everyone else? And what does premium positioning really look like when it’s done properly? In this week’s episode of the Pet Boarding & Daycare Podcast, host Dom Hodgson records while aboard the Barclay Pet Pro Cruise and shares a powerful, practical interview with Kim Buchanan, owner of Fetch Dog Resort in Indianapolis and one of Dom’s Elite Mastermind members. Kim has been in the industry for nearly 20 years, and instead of scaling her business simply by admitting as many dogs as she could into her facility, she’s built a deliberately small, premium, hospitality-led business that continues to grow by increasing value, deepening relationships with her ever-satisfied client base, and charging accordingly for her top-of-the-range services. In this conversation, Kim walks through her journey from working in marketing into opening her own dog daycare, the hard lessons she learned along the way, and how enrichment, memberships, and customer experience have become the backbone of her growth strategy – and why it should be the same for you. In this episode, you’ll discover: Value vs Volume – Why Kim chose to build a “high-end steakhouse” instead of a McDonald’s-style daycare. What Business Are You Really In? – How shifting from “dog daycare” to hospitality changes pricing, perception, and profit. Enrichment as a Growth Lever – How structured enrichment unlocked new revenue without adding capacity. Memberships That Aren’t Discounts in Disguise– How Kim rolled out tiered memberships, price increases, and higher-value services at the same time. Customer Appreciation That Pays Back – Why gifts, gestures, and hospitality drive loyalty far more than discounting your services. Thanks to Kim Buchanan for sharing her inspirational story. Check out Kim’s facility by going to Fetch Dog Resort.com Want to work with the World Leading Pet Business Coach? Discover if you’re a good fit to work with Dom by going to www.petbusinessmarketing.com/diamondnow Canine Labs Testing are the amazing sponsors of this episode. Go to CanineLabsTesting to find out more about their fabulous service that keeps your facility parasite free! Remember, the next big Barkleigh event is the PB & D Expo West which this year is in Phoenix, Arizona! You can register for the event and be the first to find out when tickets go on sale by clicking here now Grab a copy of Dom’s latest book Mission ENRICH by clicking here now Episode Highlights: [00:51] – Dom checks in live from the Barclay Pet Pro Cruise and sets the scene for this week’s episode.[04:30] – Why growth in 2026 must start with clarity, if you don’t know where your business is headed you won’t go anywhere.[06:20] – Dog news: the rescue dog story that highlights the power of scent work and giving second chances.[09:24] – Why partnering with local rescues builds goodwill, visibility, and long-term trust with your clients.[10:00] – Meet Kim Buchanan: nearly 20 years in business and a deliberate decision to stay small.[16:08] – “What business are you really in?” — daycare vs hospitality vs wellness and why you need to be clear about your identity.[18:22] – Why premium positioning protects you from competition and price wars, not to mention making things easier around the facility.[23:29] – Customer appreciation strategies that drive loyalty without discounting.[26:38] – How Kim managed to roll out Enrich U, memberships, and price increases all at the same time without giving her clients whiplash.[34:00] – From integral operator to sit-back CEO: the importance of building a team that allows real growth to happen without taking up all of your precious time.