641: Building an Ethical Pet Business with Helen Motteram
What does it really mean to be a kind and ethical pet care provider? In this episode, Helen Motteram of The Pet Professional Network shares her personal story of burnout, bullying, and the powerful impact of kindness in an industry that often lacks support. She explains how ethical pet care involves both the animals and the humans who love them, and why setting clear boundaries is crucial to sustainable compassion. Helen also unpacks common ethical dilemmas pet sitters face and how we can stay grounded in our values through them. Whether you’re new or experienced, her message encourages you to cultivate personal touch and protect your own wellbeing as part of professional kindness.
628: Recovering from a Bad Hire
What happens when the excitement of growing your team turns into the disappointment of a bad hire? In this episode, we explore why failed hires sting so deeply, from the personal investment of time and trust to the disruption it causes clients, pets, and team morale. We share how rushing to replace too quickly can compound mistakes, while ignoring red flags or skipping feedback loops leaves you vulnerable to repeat issues. While every bad hire feels discouraging, it doesn’t have to define your business or your leadership. By giving yourself space to grieve, reviewing the clues left behind, strengthening your hiring funnel, and communicating transparently with your team, you can recover with resilience and make smarter, more confident hires in the future.
625: Pet First Aid Essentials Every Sitter Should Know with Arden Moore
What should you do when a pet emergency happens on your watch? In this episode, Arden Moore returns to share practical, life-saving advice for pet sitters and dog walkers. From subtle signs of stress to new research on treating heatstroke, Arden emphasizes the importance of preparedness, adaptability, and calm communication. She also discusses the mental mindset needed to respond effectively and the benefits of her new self-paced CPR and first aid courses. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, this episode will help you handle emergencies with confidence.
565: How Metrics Transform with Corinne Moore
How do you transform your business into one that works for you? In this episode, Corinne Moore, owner of Paws and Claws Pet Service and founder of Pawsome Metrics, shares how data-driven decisions helped her streamline services and reclaim balance. From navigating the challenges of purchasing a family business to making tough choices like cutting underperforming services, Corinne opens up about the power of metrics in creating a sustainable and fulfilling company. She emphasizes the importance of aligning business operations with personal and professional goals while empowering her team to thrive. Whether you’re looking to refine your services or improve work-life balance, Corinne’s story is a reminder that change starts with knowing your numbers.
541: Beyond Colors and Fonts: Building a Brand that Connects with Cagney Collins
Are you creating a brand that truly connects with your ideal clients? Cagney Collins, of Pet Marketing Unleashed, explores what it takes to build a brand that goes beyond colors and fonts. Cagney shares how consistency, quality visuals, and a clear brand voice work together to attract the right audience. She discusses why understanding your clients’ lifestyle and preferences is essential in crafting a brand vibe that resonates. Plus, Cagney offers tips on balancing personal preferences with the needs of your target market for a cohesive, memorable brand experience.
404: Communicating in Stressful Situations
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.
307: Workflows and Productivity with Doug Keeling
What does it mean to be productive? How do we get work done, other than the pet care? Doug Keeling, owner of Bad to the Bone Pet Care, joins the show to share his workflows in his business. Whether you decide to use technology or pen and paper, the first step is writing your ideas and projects down so you have a place to reference it later. From communications to implementing new ideas, Doug shares how important it is to have a review system. When you know how you work, you’re better able to get feedback and stay on track to make sure you’re accomplishing your goals and objectives.
253: Becoming an Employer
What happens after you post your job ad? Should you be doing anything else? 🤔Turns out, there are a LOT of things you need to have in place and think through. From insurance to team communication, we break down what you need to do before bringing on staff. Having a manager mindset will allow you to anticipate problems and remember that you are the authority. Then, Natasha answers, “What else can I have my staff do?”
094- Holistic Pet Care with Gillian Edwards
On today’s episode, Gillian Edwards, owner of Four Paws Holistic Therapy, joins us to talk all about holistic pet care. Gillian shares how pet sitters are a part of the pets care team, and how we can learn more about massage, animal communication, and the role reiki plays in their long term care.
005- Drop-ins
We talk about all the things you should think about when doing drop-ins. We end the episode discussing communication, setting boundaries, and dealing emotionally as a pet sitter.