Not every day in pet care is easy—and this episode goes straight into the situations most owners hope never happen. Joined by industry veteran Rich Schlatter, we dig into the uncomfortable but necessary side of running a dog daycare or boarding business: the moments when things go wrong and the pressure is on. It’s not about avoiding every problem (because you can’t), it’s about whether you’re actually ready when something serious hits.

Rich brings over two decades of real-world experience to break down how strong operators think, prepare, and lead in high-stakes situations. From handling intense client interactions to navigating true emergencies, this conversation is all about building the kind of business that can take a hit and keep moving. If you’ve been putting off thinking about worst-case scenarios, this episode will change that—and probably make you rethink how prepared you really are.

Inspiration 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 down
• The 5-question Focus Shift Exercise
• The 6 execution killers hitting pet resort businesses right now
• How to build a simple 90-day momentum plan

If 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.

This 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.

What 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.

If 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.

When 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.

Most 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.