The Poodle to Pitbull Pet Business Podcast

Dom Hodgson
  • 3.8 (12)
  • Marketing
  • Updated Biweekly

Join the UK's leading and most controversial pet business coach Dom Hodgson, as he goes off the leash and shares the business building secrets that will fix your pet business. If you are a dog trainer, dog walker or a dog groomer then this show will provide the marketing education you need to put your business growth on steroids.

  1. 8h ago

    Episode 461 - The Most Valuable Investment a Pet Business Owner Will EVER Make

    Are you drowning in ideas but struggling to decide what deserves your attention? Do you keep consuming more information without actually making meaningful progress? And what are the three things your business genuinely needs from you over the next 90 days? In this episode, I'm sharing the highest-return investment I've ever made in my business: hiring a coach. After spending two painful years trying to build an online store without a clear strategy, vision, or plan, I eventually realised I didn't need more information. I needed someone who could help me ignore the noise, identify the right opportunities, and hold my feet to the fire until I took action. I explain why good coaching is about far more than sharing ideas, and introduce the first of five hidden benefits of working with a coach: clarity. Because when you know exactly what you want, what is standing in your way, and which three projects matter most, progress can happen frighteningly fast. You'll also hear how one mastermind hot seat helped me systemise my dog adventure business, launch my coaching company, write my first pet business book, and achieve more in one year than I had in the previous several. In this episode, you'll discover: Why More Information Isn't the Answer – How endless books, podcasts, programmes, and Facebook advice can leave you even more stuck. The Real Value of a Good Coach – Why clarity, challenge, accountability, and objective feedback create such a powerful return How to Escape the Idea Phase – What happens when you stop analysing every opportunity and finally commit to the right priorities. The Power of a 90-Day P.O.A (Plan Of ACTION!) – How identifying three high-leverage projects creates focus, momentum, and measurable progress. What Clarity Feels Like – Why the right plan lifts the fog, removes second-guessing, and makes the next step obvious. Thanks to out amazing show sponser Tailpro, check out Tailpro Booking app by going to tailpro.uk If you have a successful pet care business but lack clarity about how to take it to the next level, add your name to the Dog Daycare Success Academy wait list at: petbusinessmarketing.com/successacademy

  2. Jul 24

    Episode 460 – The 1,000-Year Asset: Why Your Pet Biz Origin Story Is Your Most Powerful Marketing Advantage

    Is your marketing full of facts, features, and offers… but completely lacking in personality? Are you letting AI-generated beige gruel make your pet business sound like everyone else? And could the stories already sitting inside your business become your most valuable marketing assets? In this episode, I'm sharing a powerful lesson inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry, a 1,000-year-old piece of visual storytelling that recently travelled from France to the British Museum under extraordinary levels of protection and security. The tapestry survived revolutions, wars, occupation, and almost a millennium of change because somebody understood a fundamental truth about human nature: the best way to preserve an idea is to wrap it inside a story. I explain why this matters more than ever during the current AI slopocalypse, when millions of businesses are using the same tools to produce the same polished but soulless content. Your competitors can copy your services, prices, offers, and website structure. What they cannot copy is your journey, your experiences, your failures, your victories, and the moments that shaped how you run your business. In this episode, you'll discover: Why Stories Outlast Advertising – How storytelling helps ideas, businesses, and brands remain memorable for generations. The Problem With Feature-Led Marketing – Why clients care less about your facilities and qualifications than the meaning behind them. How to Escape the AI Slopocalypse – Why your real experiences and emotions are impossible for competitors or technology to commoditise. The Stories Already Inside Your Business – How origin stories, client transformations, mistakes, and victories become powerful marketing assets. From Content Creation to Story Selling – How to repurpose your core stories across email, podcasts, videos, articles, and social media. Another huge thank you to our fantastic sponsors Tailpro, whose amazing services you can find out more about by going to tailpro.uk If you want to join my free Premium Pricing Pet Care Blueprint masterclass, head to: petbusinessmarketing.com/webinar

  3. Jul 17

    Content Lessons From Lumley Castle: How to Build a Fortress of Trust That Compells Clients to Buy More Pet Services

    Are you creating content that actually builds trust… or just chasing likes, views, and followers? Why do some businesses last for centuries while others disappear almost overnight? And what if the real purpose of your marketing isn't visibility, but risk reduction? In this episode, I'm sharing the biggest lessons from our recent Dog Daycare Success Academy immersion event at Lumley Castle, where the theme was Content in the Castle. You'll hear how DDSA members used the event to create stronger content plans, build deeper trust with future clients, and connect with other ambitious pet business owners from both sides of the Atlantic. I also unpack the bigger lesson I took from spending two days inside a 600-year-old castle: longevity doesn't come from staying the same. It comes from evolving, adapting, restoring, and strengthening what matters most. Using lessons from Steven Inalareedi's content training, the history of Lumley Castle, and long-lasting businesses like Kongō Gumi, Lloyd's of London, and The Royal Mint, I explain why every email, review, video, client story, article, and testimonial should become another stone in your fortress of trust. In this episode, you'll discover: Why Visibility Isn't Enough – How familiarity creates confidence, but trust is what creates sales. Content as Risk Reduction – Why your marketing should make prospects feel safer choosing you. The Fortress of Trust – How reviews, stories, testimonials, and useful content build long-term authority. Why Long-Lasting Businesses Evolve – What centuries-old organisations teach us about adapting without losing identity. The Real Goal of Content – Why every post, email, podcast, and video should make someone trust you more. If you want to join the Dog Daycare Success Academy wait list, head to: petbusinessmarketing.com/successacademy Another huge thank you to our fantastic sponsors PawPal, whose amazing services you can find out more about here.

  4. Jul 10

    The Science of Stopping: Do You Need a Pet Business Mid-Year Reset?

    Are you trying to push through the second half of the year on fumes? When was the last time you properly stepped away from the noise of your business? And could pressing pause actually be the thing that helps you move faster when you return? In this episode, I'm sharing a lesson from a recent week away in Menorca with Beth, where we did very little on purpose. No laptop, no emails, no social media, and no heroic "just checking in" nonsense. Just rest, reading, swimming, talking, and a proper reset after a very busy first half of the year. I explain why downtime is not a luxury, but essential business maintenance, and how the best coaches, athletes, and business owners understand the power of planned recovery. From Phil Jackson and the Chicago Bulls to Andy Reid, Steve Kerr, and Carlo Ancelotti, there's a reason elite performers build pauses, resets, and review points into their working rhythm. I also share why we meet every 90 days inside the Dog Daycare Success Academy, and how quarterly immersion events help owners step out of the chaos, clear the noise, and build a sharper plan for the next phase of growth. In this episode, you'll discover: Why Rest Is Strategy – How planned downtime gives you the energy and clarity to make better decisions. The Power of the Halftime Reset – What elite sports teams can teach business owners about stopping, reviewing, and adjusting. Why 90 Day Sprints Work – How quarterly planning creates urgency, focus, and momentum without burning you out How to Protect Your Reset Time – Why stepping away from your business should be treated like an essential appointment The DDSA Rhythm – How weekly execution and quarterly immersion events keep owners focused, supported, and moving forward. Another huge thank you to our sponsors PawPal, who's amazing services you can find out more about here. If you want to join the Dog Daycare Success Academy wait list, head to: petbusinessmarketing.com/successacademy

  5. Jul 3

    Episode 457 – Meet The Pet Accountant: Vicky Clark Shares Why Pet Businesses Need to Get Serious About Their Numbers

    Are you winging your accounts and hoping everything is in the right box? Do you know whether you should be a sole trader, limited company, or something else entirely? And could one bad finance decision quietly cost your pet business thousands? In this episode, I'm joined by Vicky Clark, founder of The Pet Accountant and Pet Pro Expo. Vicky works exclusively with pet businesses across the UK, helping groomers, walkers, trainers, boarders, daycare owners, and other pet professionals get their finances, bookkeeping, tax, and business structure properly sorted. We talk about the biggest accounting mistakes pet business owners make, why DIY finances can quickly go wrong, and why copying advice from random Facebook comments is usually a terrible idea. Vicky also shares how The Pet Accountant started almost by accident, why choosing the right business structure matters, and how one client nearly overpaid HMRC by more than £13,000 because her tax return had been completed incorrectly. We also dig into Pet Pro Expo, why Vicky created the event, and why UK pet business owners need more proper business education if they want to stand out, charge more, and build something sustainable. In this episode, you'll discover: •    Why DIY Accounting Can Cost You – How getting figures wrong can lead to huge tax mistakes and missed savings. •    The Sole Trader vs Limited Company Question – Why choosing the wrong structure can create expensive problems later. •    Why Facebook Isn't Your Accountant – How bad advice from random groups can leave pet business owners exposed. •    The Value of Proper Business Support – Why working with people who understand the pet industry makes a real difference. •    Inside Pet Pro Expo – How Vicky's business conference is helping UK pet business owners improve pricing, mindset, marketing, finance, and growth. If you want to find out more about The Pet Accountant, head to: petaccountant.co.uk And if you want to grab one of the remaining tickets for Pet Pro Expo, go to: petproexpo.co.uk Thanks to our amazing show sponsor Pawpal. Find out how Pawpal can make your life easier by going to www.pawpal.uk If you want to join Dom's Dog Daycare Success Academy got to www.petbusinessmarketing.com click here now

  6. Jun 26

    Episode 456: Four Books from Boston – First Class Knowledge from a Second Hand Book Store

    Where do your best business ideas actually come from? Are you looking outside the pet industry often enough… or just recycling the same tired advice as everyone else? And could one strange book, old advert, or random story spark the next big idea in your business? In this episode, I'm sharing four business lessons from a secondhand bookstore in Boston. Before the first Dog Daycare Success Academy immersion event, Beth and I stumbled across Brattle Bookshop, and what was supposed to be a bit of sightseeing quickly turned into an hour of rummaging through dusty old books, picture books, advertising collections, money history, and vintage magazines. I walk you through four very different books I picked up and the lessons each one offers for pet business owners — from stepping outside your comfort zone, to using mascots and characters in your marketing, to the power of storytelling, to why old adverts are still some of the best marketing teachers around. The bigger lesson is simple: if you only ever consume ideas from inside the pet industry, your business will eventually look, sound, and feel like every other pet business in town. In this episode, you'll discover: Why Curiosity Creates Better Ideas – How stepping outside your industry gives you fresher, stronger business inspiration. The Power of Business Exploration – Why getting out of your comfort zone can lead to bigger opportunities and better growth. Why Characters Still Work – How mascots, hidden details, and recurring brand icons make your business more memorable. Stories Make Lessons Stick – Why the best marketing teaches through stories, not bland AI-generated content. Better Inputs, Better Outputs – How books, museums, restaurants, hotels, and old adverts can spark ideas your competitors will never see coming. If you missed the Boston immersion event and would like to be at our next quarterly mastermind then you need to join the Dog Daycare Success Academy wait list, head to: petbusinessmarketing.com/successacademy Thanks to our amazing show sponsor Pawpal. Click here to find out more

  7. Jun 19

    Episode 455 – Is Your Dog Daycare Too Boring?

    Is your daycare safe, professional, certified… yet completely forgettable? Are you losing attention because your business looks and sounds like every other pet resort in town? And what would change if you stopped playing it safe and started making your business more interesting? In this episode, I'm asking a blunt but important question: is your dog daycare too boring? After recent Dog Daycare Success Academy trainings around goal setting, vision, and building more fun into your business, I'm digging into why fun, personality, entertainment, and experience matter more than most pet business owners realise. I share the story behind BMFI — Be More F@cking Interesting — a lesson I originally taught dog owners in my first book, How to Be Your Dog Superhero. Back then, the message was simple: if you want your dog's attention, stop being dull. Today, I'm turning that same mirror onto your business. Because most daycares are beige, predictable, and clinical, and "safe supervised play" is no longer enough to stand out. We also explore why affluent dog owners crave experiences, why boring businesses become vulnerable, and how premium pricing gives you the breathing room to create a daycare people actually talk about. In this episode, you'll discover: Why Safe Isn't Enough – How "we love dogs" and "supervised play" became the bare minimum, not a USP. The BMFI Business Lesson – Why being more interesting applies just as much to your daycare as it does to dog training. What Affluent Owners Really Want – Why premium clients are looking for stories, experiences, emotion, and validation. The Danger of Being Forgettable – How indifference quietly kills client loyalty and opens the door for competitors. Why Premium Pricing Funds Creativity – How better margins allow you to create themed experiences, better marketing, stronger staff, and real wow moments. If you want to get my world famous weekly emails then go here to sign up now  And if you want to join the Dog Daycare Success Academy wait list, head to: petbusinessmarketing.com/successacademy Another huge thank you to our sponsors PawPal, who's amazing services you can find out more about here.

  8. Jun 12

    Episode 454: Why Pet Business Owners Should Attend The 2026 Pet Pro Expo!

    Are you creating content that actually moves people closer to buying… or just posting because someone told you to? What happens when you stop copying bland AI-generated slop and start showing the real personality, values, and story behind your business? And could one properly planned content system finally stop you staring at a blank screen wondering what to post? In this episode, I'm taking you behind the scenes of the latest Dog Daycare Success Academy immersion event at Lumley Castle, where the theme was Content in the Castle. You'll hear from attendees who left with clear content plans, new frameworks, and a far better understanding of how to create social media that connects, converts, and actually shows off what makes their businesses different. I also explain why the DDSA immersion events have become such an important part of the programme, how the asset-building curriculum works, and why business owners get the biggest results when they stop coasting and fully commit to doing the work. Then, in the second half of the episode, I'm joined by Vicky Clark from The Pet Accountant and Pet Pro Expo. We talk about why she created the event, why UK pet business owners desperately need more business-focused education, and what's coming up at this year's Pet Pro Expo in Birmingham — including the special bonus day I'll be running. In this episode, you'll discover: Why Better Content Matters – How stronger, more personal marketing helps you stand out from boring, beige competitors. The Content in the Castle Takeaways – What DDSA members learned from Steven Inalareedi's content frameworks. Why Immersion Events Work – How in-person masterminds create clarity, accountability, and proper action plans. The Problem With Copycat Marketing – Why relying on generic posts, AI slop, and bland industry advice makes your business invisible. Inside Pet Pro Expo – Why this UK event is helping pet business owners finally learn the business skills they were never taught. If you want to join the Dog Daycare Success Academy wait list, head to: petbusinessmarketing.com/successacademy And if you want to attend Pet Pro Expo in Birmingham on October 3rd, head to: Petproexpo.co.uk Another huge thank you to our sponsors PawPal, who's amazing services you can find out more about here.

See All (451)

Ratings & Reviews

3.8
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Join the UK's leading and most controversial pet business coach Dom Hodgson, as he goes off the leash and shares the business building secrets that will fix your pet business. If you are a dog trainer, dog walker or a dog groomer then this show will provide the marketing education you need to put your business growth on steroids.

Information