Podcast
OverDog: Dog Daycare & Boarding Business Tips
Hosted by Fernando Camacho · EN
This is where dog daycare and boarding businesses can learn the top tips and business strategies to grow. Discover what the top dog daycares are doing to overcome challenges, improve everything they do and keep their staff and customers happy. Learn the latest in marketing pet businesses as well as creative ways to increase your brand's image and move your business farther, faster. Running a pet business can be difficult and often leave you feeling like an underdog. Not anymore - together we'll make you the OVERDOG.
18episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
256: Stop Doing More. Start Executing Better
2w ago00:33:09Tap to summarizeInspiration without execution is just a really good feeling that fades. In this episode, Fern breaks down why so many pet resort owners leave conferences and coaching calls fired up — only to find themselves back in the same patterns two weeks later. It's not about effort. It's about focus.This episode covers the Focus Shift Exercise (5 questions that create more clarity than a 3-hour planning session), the 6 most common execution killers in pet resort businesses, and a simple framework for building a 90-day momentum plan that actually sticks.What you'll learn:Why adding more almost always slows you downThe 5-question Focus Shift ExerciseThe 6 execution killers hitting pet resort businesses right nowHow to build a simple 90-day momentum plan
Transcribe →255: Embracing The Future While Preserving Your Brand
3w ago00:31:15Tap to summarizeIf you’ve been feeling the pressure to “modernize” your pet resort but secretly worry about losing what made your business special in the first place, this episode is going to hit home. We’re diving into that tension between keeping up with changing client expectations—faster communication, better systems, more polished experiences—and holding onto the relationships, personality, and trust you’ve worked so hard to build. The truth is, growth doesn’t have to mean becoming cold, corporate, or generic . . . but there is a right and wrong way to evolve.In this episode, we break down how to actually move your business forward without creating chaos, overwhelm, or identity drift. You’ll start to rethink automation, systems, and even your service offerings in a way that strengthens what already makes you great instead of replacing it. Plus, we get into the common traps that quietly sabotage a lot of facilities—and how to avoid them before they cost you. If you want to grow smarter, stay relevant, and still feel like you, this one’s worth a listen.
Transcribe →254: What the Past, Present, and Future Can Teach You About Growing a Better Pet Resort
4w ago00:29:43Tap to summarizeThis episode digs into a deceptively simple idea that most pet resort owners overlook: real momentum doesn’t come from doing more—it comes from aligning how you think about your past, present, and future. The conversation unpacks why so many operators feel stuck or overwhelmed, even when they’re busy all day, and challenges some of the usual ways people approach growth. There’s a strong push to rethink what’s actually holding your business back—and it might not be what you think.You’ll hear a fresh perspective on how to stop carrying old baggage into your day-to-day decisions, get brutally honest about what’s really happening in your business right now, and start shaping a future that actually fits the life you want. It’s not about hustle or adding more to your plate—it’s about clarity, intention, and making the kind of moves that quietly build real traction over time. If things have felt heavy or directionless lately, this one will hit.
Transcribe →253: How to Finally Stop Guessing on Your Schedule
Apr 2800:39:51Tap to summarizeWhat if the biggest drain on your profits isn’t your pricing, your marketing, or even your staffing… but the way you schedule your team? In this episode, we dive into one of the most overlooked (and frustrating) parts of running a pet resort—and why most owners are unknowingly leaving serious money on the table. Fern brings in Sean Felty, an expert who’s helped scale multiple locations and uncover hidden inefficiencies, and together they unpack why “winging it” with your schedule is quietly wrecking your margins.You’ll hear a totally different way to think about labor, staffing, and daily operations—one that replaces guesswork with clear, measurable targets. If you’ve ever felt like your schedule is a constant juggling act, or like you’re busy but not actually profitable, this conversation is going to hit. It’s not about working harder—it’s about finally understanding what your numbers are trying to tell you… and what to do about it.
Transcribe →252: Turn Demand Into Dollars: Dynamic Pricing for Pet Resorts
Apr 2100:45:00Tap to summarizeIf you’re still charging the same price every day of the year, this episode might make you a little uncomfortable—in a good way. Joined by Chris Tilson from Goose, we dig into the idea of dynamic pricing and why sticking to flat rates could be quietly capping your revenue. There’s a smarter, more flexible way to price your services that aligns with demand, and once you see it, you can’t unsee it. This conversation pulls back the curtain on how other industries have been doing this for years—and why pet care is finally catching up.You’ll hear how Chris breaks down the mindset shift behind dynamic pricing and how it can unlock growth without adding more dogs, more staff, or more chaos. It’s not about gouging or overcomplicating things—it’s about being intentional and strategic with the demand you already have. If you’ve ever felt maxed out during peak times but underwhelmed during slower periods, this episode will get you thinking differently about how you run your business—and what you might be leaving on the table.
Transcribe →251: Smart Money vs Fast Money: Financing Growth in the Pet Care Industry
Apr 1400:41:30Tap to summarizeWhen growth opportunities show up in the pet care industry, they rarely wait around. In this episode, Fern sits down with financing experts Claire Cronin and Jacqueline Pait of Live Oak Bank to unpack a topic that every daycare or boarding owner eventually faces: how to fund your next move without putting your business under unnecessary pressure. From expansions and acquisitions to hiring ahead of demand, they dig into why the type of money you choose can shape the future of your facility more than you might think.The conversation breaks down the difference between “fast money” and “smart money,” and why the easiest option isn’t always the one that sets you up to win long-term. You’ll hear how strategic financing can support growth, the common traps pet care owners fall into when they need capital quickly, and how to think about borrowing in a way that actually strengthens your business. If you’ve ever wondered when it makes sense to use financing—and when it doesn’t—this episode will give you a clearer framework for making those decisions.
Transcribe →250: The Pet Resort Website Wake-Up Call
Apr 700:34:53Tap to summarizeMost business owners think if their website looks great, it must be working. But what if that beautiful site is quietly leaking customers? In this episode, we dig into a common mistake pet care businesses make with their websites—and why design alone isn’t enough to turn visitors into bookings. If your site is acting more like a brochure than a sales system, you could be losing clients without even realizing it.We break down the subtle elements that separate a website that simply exists from one that consistently generates customers. From the psychology of trust to the hidden “checklists” every pet parent is mentally running through when they land on your page, this conversation will challenge the way you think about your online presence. If you want your website to actually work for your business—not just sit there looking nice—this episode will give you a whole new lens to evaluate it.
Transcribe →249: Improving Your Payroll Margins
Mar 3101:07:31Tap to summarizeIf payroll is eating your lunch every month and you’re not totally sure why, this episode is going to hit home. In this special replay, we’re sharing a powerhouse training from the late Philip Parris, who joined our Pet Resort Rocket Ship members to break down the real story behind payroll margins. Not the Facebook-group version. Not the “someone said it should be 30%” version. The real, boots-on-the-ground numbers and the operational decisions that quietly make or break your bottom line.Philip dives into what actually drives payroll up (hint: it’s not just hourly rates), how your daycare model changes everything, why enrichment might be helping—or hurting—you, and the sneaky habits that drain profit without you realizing it. He also gets into hiring, training, scheduling, incentives, grooming pay structures, and what healthy net profit really looks like in a multi-service facility. It’s practical, honest, and packed with perspective from someone who saw behind the curtain of a lot of pet resorts. If you want clearer numbers, stronger margins, and a smarter way to think about staffing, this is one you’ll want to listen all the way through.
Transcribe →248: How to Handle Staff Drama Without Losing Your Culture (or Your Mind)
Mar 2400:57:48Tap to summarizeRunning a dog daycare or boarding facility means working with a lot of people, a lot of personalities… and inevitably, a little (or a lot) of workplace drama. In this episode, we bring back leadership consultant Patrick Lyons to unpack why staff conflict shows up so often in pet care businesses—and why it’s rarely just about “difficult employees.” From clashing belief systems to unclear expectations, we dig into the hidden forces that turn small frustrations into full-blown team drama. If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly putting out people problems instead of running your business, this conversation will hit home.But the real focus here isn’t just why drama happens—it’s what owners can actually do about it. Patrick shares a different way to think about accountability, why holding standards matters more than “holding people accountable,” and the leadership traps that quietly make culture worse. You’ll also hear practical ways to address gossip early, handle high performers who bring chaos with them, and create a workplace where your team learns to resolve issues instead of escalating them. If you want a healthier team and less day-to-day friction in your resort, this episode is packed with ideas worth stealing.
Transcribe →247: How to Upgrade Your Facility Without Regretting It Later
Mar 1700:48:31Tap to summarizeIf you’ve been thinking about renovating your facility, this episode is your wake-up call. We’re joined by the team at TWC who live and breathe pet resort builds and renovations—and they’re breaking down what really goes into doing it right. From flooring failures and drainage disasters to kennel upgrades that actually improve efficiency, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the stuff most owners don’t think about… until it’s too late. If you’re considering upgrades, expansions, or even just replacing old equipment, you’ll want to hear what they wish every owner knew before swinging the hammer.We also dig into timelines, budgeting realities, hidden curveballs behind the walls, and how to renovate without crushing your revenue during busy season. There’s a big difference between hiring someone who can build walls… and someone who understands what live animals, daily cleaning, staff flow, and client tours actually demand. If you want your next renovation to last decades instead of becoming an expensive redo, this episode will help you think bigger, plan smarter, and avoid the mistakes that cost owners the most.
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