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. 2d ago

    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

    23 min

  2. 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

    23 min

  3. 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.

    24 min

  4. 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.

    25 min

  5. Jun 5

    Inside the Dog Daycare Success Academy: What DDSA Members Are Saying About the Pet Industries Transformational Mastermind

    Do you know your business needs to change… but keep putting off the big moves? What happens when you put ambitious dog daycare owners in a room and force them to think bigger? And could the right accountability finally push you to raise prices, set proper goals, and get serious about growth? In this episode, I'm sharing more behind-the-scenes audio from the first Dog Daycare Success Academy immersion event in Boston. You'll hear directly from DDSA members as they talk about their biggest takeaways from the room — from dreaming bigger and setting clearer 90-day goals, to targeting more affluent clients, adding premium tiers, and finally taking proper action on pricing. I also explain why the DDSA doors are closing again, what new members go through during onboarding, and why the programme is designed to help serious dog daycare and pet resort owners stop drifting and start building a more profitable, valuable, and focused business. If you've been sitting on the fence, wondering whether this is the right room for you, this episode gives you a real feel for the people, the energy, and the results inside the academy. In this episode, you'll discover: Why Big Goals Matter – How clearer one-year, three-year, and five-year thinking changes the way you run your business. The Power of Pricing Confidence – Why raising prices is often the first serious step toward better clients and better profits. What Happens in the Room – How peer feedback, hot seats, and 90-day accountability create faster action. Why Premium Positioning Works – How targeting affluent clients changes your marketing, service, and revenue. Who DDSA Is Really For – Why this programme is built for owners who want to do more, make more, and actually implement. Want to know more about how the Dog Daycare Success Academy can help you dramatically grow your dog daycare or pet resort? Then you need to enroll before the deadline on June 7th. Click here to enroll now! Thanks to our amazing show sponsor Pawpal. Click here to find out more about how their amazing booking app can help save you time and money. Find out more here

    23 min

  6. May 29

    Episode 452 - Lessons from the 'Boston Profi-T Party' - Behind the Scenes at the First Dog Daycare Success Academy Immersion Event

    Why do so many dog daycare owners stay busy… but still feel broke? Why do some facilities make more money with fewer dogs than others? And what happens when you stop thinking like a warehouse and start thinking like a premium pet business owner? In this episode, I'm taking you behind the scenes of the very first Dog Daycare Success Academy immersion event in Boston — aka the "Boston Profit TEA Party." See what I did there.... The theme was simple: Profit First. Profit Always. Profit Every Time. Over two days we deep dived into pricing psychology, money mindset, profit stacking, customer development systems, aggressive follow-up, and the practical strategies that help dog daycare owners dramatically increase profits without cramming more dogs into the building. I'm also sharing some of the biggest breakthroughs members had in the room — from confidence around raising prices to understanding why affluent dog owners are the key to building a calmer, more profitable business. In this episode, you'll discover: Why Pricing Affects EVERYTHING – From staff retention and hiring to marketing, client quality, and long-term growth. The "Profit Per Dog" Philosophy – Why more dogs isn't always the answer to making more money. How To Move Clients Up The Value Ladder – Simple ways to increase customer value through upsells, enrichment, and better systems. Why The Traditional Meet & Greet Is Broken – And how induction programmes are transforming profitability and customer experience. The Power of Aggressive Follow-Up – Why most dog daycares leave a fortune on the table by failing to communicate properly with clients. What Profit Stacking Really Means – How layering multiple profit moves together can create rapid transformation in your business. I also share details about the upcoming DDSA immersion events including: Content In The Castle at Lumley Castle with Steven Inala-Reedy in June And World-Class Customer Service in Annapolis in August with Vance 'Disney Guy' Morris And if you want to attend my upcoming FREE live workshop: The New Rules of Profitable Dog Daycare: How Smart Operators Are Making More Money With Fewer Dogs — WITHOUT Scaling The Chaos Head to: petbusinessmarketing.com/workshop  And if you want to learn more about the Dog Daycare Success Academy: petbusinessmarketing.com/successacademy

    22 min

  7. May 22

    Episode 451 - How to Overdeliver in Your Pet Business: Lessons from Bryan Kurtz and Barry Jacobson

    Are you giving your best clients the kind of experience that makes them stay, spend, and refer? What can Disney, Club 33, and world-class direct marketers teach you about premium pet care? And how do you build a daycare that doesn't just supervise dogs — but removes worry from their owners' lives? In this episode, I'm talking about two big lessons I picked up from Brian Kurtz and Barry Jacobson at a recent mastermind in Florida. Brian is one of the true legends of direct response marketing and the author of Overdeliver, while Barry spent decades helping Disney create VIP, luxury, and members-only experiences for some of their most valuable guests. I unpack how Brian's RFM principle can help you identify your best clients, reward them properly, and create higher-priced services around what they already want. Then I dive into Barry's Disney-style lesson that luxury isn't really about piling on more stuff — it's about removing worry, creating certainty, and making people feel genuinely looked after. If you want to build a more premium, experience-led pet business, this episode will help you rethink what "overdelivering" really means. In this episode, you'll discover: The Power of RFM – How recency, frequency, and monetary value help you identify your best clients. Why Best Clients Deserve More – How rewarding loyal clients creates more referrals, retention, and revenue. What Luxury Really Means – Why premium service is less about fancy extras and more about removing worry. Building a Fortress of Trust – How great daycare experiences give dog owners peace of mind all day long. Where the Industry Is Heading – Why smart operators are moving away from warehouse-style daycare and toward personalised, experience-led service. If you want work with Dom and join the Dog Daycare Success Academy wait list, head to: petbusinessmarketing.com/successacademy Thanks to our amazing show sponsor Pawpal. Find out how their amazing booking platform can save you time and money with your own company branded app! Click here to find out more

    25 min

  8. May 15

    Episode 450 – What Affluent Dog Owners REALLY Want From Your Dog Daycare

    Are you creating content that actually attracts the right clients… or just posting because you feel you should? Do affluent dog owners really spend more on everything — or only on what matters to them? And how can your daycare become one of those things they see as worth paying premium prices for? In this episode, I'm joined by Steven Inala-Reedy from A Content Space, who'll be the special guest at our upcoming Dog Daycare Success Academy immersion event at Lumley Castle. We talk about consistency, content mistakes, why follower count matters less than most people think, and how pet business owners can create meaningful content without spending their entire life glued to a phone. Then, after the break, I dig into what affluent dog owners are really looking for in a dog daycare. Using Tyson Fury, private jets, Asda shopping, Dan Kennedy's affluent marketing lessons, and my own experience helping pet businesses reposition themselves, I explain why wealthy clients don't spend more on everything — they spend more on what matters. And your job is to make your daycare matter. In this episode, you'll discover: Why Content Consistency Wins – How showing up regularly beats chasing viral hits and follower counts. The Real Content Mistake – Why most business owners post without research, structure, or strategy. What Affluent Buyers Value – Why premium clients care about time, expertise, status, convenience, and experience. How to Be Seen As a Pet Pro Expert – Why books, guides, frameworks, awards, and authority assets help you claim top dog status. The Power of Membership and Experience – How exclusivity, themed enrichment, and "velvet rope" positioning attract better clients. If you want to join the waiting list for the Dog Daycare Success Academy, head to: petbusinessmarketing.com/successacademy Thanks to our amazing sponsor Pawpal. To find out more about how Pawpal can help your business go to Pawpal.uk

    26 min
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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.

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