About this episode

The episode discusses the shift from traditional warehouse-style dog daycare to more personalized enrichment experiences for dogs.

Are you still running your daycare like a giant dog mosh pit while clients are demanding something more personalised? Have you noticed more dogs struggling in traditional group play more stress, more overstimulation, more behavioural issues? And what if the future of daycare isn’t “more dogs” but better experiences for the right dogs? In this week’s episode of the Pet Boarding & Daycare Podcast, Dom sits down with Mandy Ekins from Manners Matter Training & Dog Daycare to unpack one of the biggest shifts happening in the pet care industry right now: the move away from chaotic, warehouse-style daycare and toward structured enrichment experiences that actually improve dogs’ lives. Mandy shares her fascinating journey from posting dog training ads on Craigslist to building one of the few remaining independently owned daycare businesses in her area, complete with enrichment programmes, day training, trick training, scent work, and customised canine experiences. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why Traditional Daycare Is Breaking Down – The hidden problems with “warehouse-style” daycare and why more owners are looking for something different. The Trick Training Upsell That…

Topics covered

• dog daycare
• enrichment experiences
• behavioral issues
• training
• client transition

More episodes of Pet Boarding and Daycare Podcast with Dominic Hodgson

• Ep. 124 – The Missing Piece in Your Dog Daycare Marketing Message: Why Personality is Your Greatest USP · June 10, 2026 · 50 min
• Ep. 123 – Behind the Scenes at the Pet Boarding & Daycare Expo West in Phoenix! · June 3, 2026 · 50 min
• Ep. 122 – The Costly Social Media Mistake That Keeps Your Daycare Empty:  How to Turn Content Into Clients · May 27, 2026 · 43 min
• Ep. 121 – Strategy vs Tactics: Why So Many Dog Daycare Owners Stay Busy, But Never Really Grow Their Business · May 20, 2026 · 47 min

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