Let's Talk Dog Business

By: Jo & Vicky
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  • Summary

  • The ultimate hub for dog business enthusiasts!

    Join hosts Jo and Vicky as they unravel the entrepreneurial journey within the canine realm. This podcast delves deep into the business side of owning a dog business, spotlighting inspiring stories of individuals who've seamlessly woven their passion into a profitable lifestyle.

    Tune in for candid discussions on the human behaviour behind dogs, strategies to attract dream clients, and a behind-the-scenes look at Jo and Vicky's collaborative training ventures.

    Get ready for client interviews, tales behind the dogs, and insightful perspectives from actual dog owners on what they seek in a trainer. This is your go-to source for navigating the dynamic world where business meets the wagging tails.
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Episodes
  • The Pros and Cons of Running a Dog Business as an Autistic Person with Cat Topham

    The Pros and Cons of Running a Dog Business as an Autistic Person with Cat Topham
    Nov 27 2024
    In this episode, Jo & Vicky are joined by Cat Topham who talks about her experiences of living with autism and working as a dog trainer. Cat shares a fascinating insight into the impact autism has on running a business. Including, how being autistic is both beneficial and challenging when training dogs. Cat covers finding clients that fit with what you have to offer, dealing with social media when it´s all a mystery to you, being more understanding with clients and adjusting the way you communicate with them. She also explains how she manages where her energy goes to avoid burnout. KEY TAKEAWAYS Autism is a bit like a breed difference e.g. terriers' and collies’ brains are wired differently, so they have different behaviour traits. There is no point in ignoring difference, you have to adapt your approach e.g. if noise overwhelms you, recognise that and reduce your exposure to noise. All business owners benefit from learning to manage their time and energy better day to day to avoid burnout. Dogs don´t require you to mask how you are feeling, which is part of the reason neurodiverse people have such a strong connection to dogs. Many autistic people become obsessed with things they are passionate about. This makes them very knowledgeable about those things. Cat´s autism makes it hard for her to read people. She shares examples in the podcast. Seek out the right clients for you, people who want what you offer. Autistic people spot patterns, so can very easily pick up on precursor behaviours e.g. a dog's muscles tensing or ear moving just before it is about to do something. Being diagnosed as autistic empowered Cat. She understood herself better and found it easier to adapt to the challenges she faces, while further strengthening the abilities autism enhances. Social media does not come naturally to Cat, as it doesn´t for many dog trainers. BEST MOMENTS “The average neurodiverse person takes in 40% more of what's going on around them than a neurotypical person…that in itself is more tiring.” “I only have 3 hours a day to speak to people face-to-face because communication is so much harder.” “Many neurodiverse people have a connection with dogs.” “As a neurodiverse person, it isn't like excuses. You just want accommodations in certain situations.” “I just hate doing It (social media), that's the problem and I'm not bad at it.” “The way I would speak is very, very direct. I have to be very careful to not be interpreted wrong, like to say the wrong thing.“ “Running a dog training business, isn't really about dogs, is it? … It's about people” ABOUT THE GUEST https://www.instagram.com/chtopham https://www.valleydogs.uk SOCIALS AND IMPORTANT LINKS https://www.tiktok.com/@letstalkdogbusiness https://www.youtube.com/@LetsTalkDogBusiness Website www.caninebusinessacademy.com Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/caninebusinessacademycommunity/ ABOUT THE HOSTS Meet Jo and Vicky! They bring a combined 25 years of expertise in the canine industry. Jo, with a background in corporate business, and Vicky, a dedicated advocate for rescue organisations, form an unstoppable team. Beyond the mic, their lives are a whirlwind – managing two successful businesses, pursuing a full-time university degree, and parenting two little ones under four. Each of their homes combined is a lively menagerie, housing five dogs and an abundance of chickens.
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    59 mins
  • Pet Sitter Confessional with Collin Funkhouser

    Pet Sitter Confessional with Collin Funkhouser
    Nov 20 2024
    In this episode, Jo & Vicky are joined by Collin Funkhouser from Pet Sitter Confessional. He and his wife run a pet-sitting and dog-walking company which employs 13 people, while homeschooling their kids. They also run a podcast and socials that help dog professionals across the globe to share their tips, experiences, and stories. During the discussion, Collin touches on everything you need to know to establish and grow a dog business. But he goes into depth when it comes to deciding when to hire your first employee, finding the right people, training them, and nurturing their talents. He also explains how to create a company culture that ensures that your service continues to improve, and your business can grow without you being there every minute of the day. KEY TAKEAWAYS If your business is seasonal smooth out the troughs by offering other services. Let your business partner take control of the things you are not good at. If you work with your life partner, don´t talk about the business during family time. Hire good help as soon as you can. It makes your business resilient. Hiring employees rather than relying on freelancers enables you to train them and keep standards high. Hire people who are confident in their abilities yet humble enough to ask questions. Put in place the right processes and continually improve them. In a competitive market niching down works. Every dog owner has a different lifestyle, so the dog care each one needs is different. Every time something goes wrong ask – what could I have done differently? Your marketing language has a significant impact on whether the service you provide looks like good value for money. Use video to connect with your client and show them how happy you make their pet. Providing the owner gives permission it is also great for marketing. Remember that taking care of someone´s pet well makes a huge positive difference in their life. Put in place boundaries and stick to them e.g. not working on your kid´s birthdays. You are not alone, join an online dog business group to find support and understanding. BEST MOMENTS “Everybody's better when we're sharing and telling our own stories.” “To be clear is to be kind…we want our employees to know exactly what it means to have done an amazing job.” “Soft skills are the most important thing in the success or failure of people in your business.” “We´re still learning.” “Downtime takes practice because we're small business owners we're wired to …. get out there and conquer.” EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.petsitterconfessional.com https://www.facebook.com/petsitterconfessional https://www.facebook.com/groups/412597292686603 https://www.instagram.com/petsitterconfessional SOCIALS AND IMPORTANT LINKS https://www.tiktok.com/@letstalkdogbusiness https://www.youtube.com/@LetsTalkDogBusiness Website www.caninebusinessacademy.com Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/caninebusinessacademycommunity/ ABOUT THE HOSTS Meet Jo and Vicky! They bring a combined 25 years of expertise in the canine industry. Jo, with a background in corporate business, and Vicky, a dedicated advocate for rescue organisations, form an unstoppable team. Beyond the mic, their lives are a whirlwind – managing two successful businesses, pursuing a full-time university degree, and parenting two little ones under four. Each of their homes combined is a lively menagerie, housing five dogs and an abundance of chickens.
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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • Feel The Fear

    Feel The Fear
    Nov 13 2024

    In this episode, Vicky and Jo delve into the complexities of fear, particularly in relation to personal and business growth. They discuss how fears are often learned from past experiences and societal conditioning, using examples from their own lives, including attitudes towards money and the pressures of holiday expectations.

    Jo and Vicky also touch on the value of offering free content as a strategic tool for building relationships and trust with potential clients, emphasising that understanding one's worth and the outcomes of services is crucial for success.

    KEY TAKEAWAYS

    • Fear often stems from past experiences and learned behaviours rather than being inherently logical.
    • Providing free content can be a strategic way to build trust and rapport with potential clients.
    • Businesses should focus on the outcomes they provide rather than just the time spent on services.
    • There should be a range of pricing options available in any industry, allowing clients to choose what fits their budget.
    • Regular self-reflection is crucial for personal and professional growth.

    BEST MOMENTS

    "It's such an annoying thing that our human brain does, isn't it? Every time you want to do something, you suddenly get slapped in the face with a, nope, can't do that, for no logical reason."

    "If you're fearful of something, there's got to be past experiences that have led to that fear. So you've been through things that have created the fear and created the defence mechanisms around that fear."

    "You can't possibly charge that amount of money. You can't possibly do this. You can't do that. People don't want this. Make dog training affordable. I'm like, what's affordable? What does that mean?"

    "If you try and cater for everybody on a low ticket, you're going to have to work a fair amount of time in exchange for that money."

    "If you allow your brain to take over and be controlled by fear, be controlled by the unknown, be controlled by everybody else's opinion of what you should be doing with your business, nothing is going to change."

    EARLY ACCESS TO JO & VICKY´S BOOK – INCLUDING EXCLUSIVE BONUSES

    Be the first to get your own copy of Let’s Talk Dog Business Strategy: The Dog Trainer's Guide to Ideal Clients, More Money and Freedom before it's out. Plus, get exclusive bonuses! Grab this guide to make your mark on the dog training industry!

    Just, click and enter your details to join the priority list now:

    https://www.inspiredbybooks.co.uk/letstalkdog-businessstrategy

    SOCIALS AND IMPORTANT LINKS

    https://www.tiktok.com/@letstalkdogbusiness

    https://www.youtube.com/@LetsTalkDogBusiness

    Website www.caninebusinessacademy.com

    Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/caninebusinessacademycommunity/

    ABOUT THE HOSTS

    Meet Jo and Vicky! They bring a combined 25 years of expertise in the canine industry. Jo, with a background in corporate business, and Vicky, a dedicated advocate for rescue organisations, form an unstoppable team. Beyond the mic, their lives are a whirlwind – managing two successful businesses, pursuing a full-time university degree, and parenting two little ones under four. Each of their homes combined is a lively menagerie, housing five dogs and an abundance of chickens.
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    48 mins

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