Pet Sitter Confessional

Pet Sitter Confessional, LLC
  • 4.9 (103)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Weekly

Pet Sitter Confessional is the go-to podcast for pet sitters who want to grow, learn, and feel seen. Having run a pet sitting and dog walking business since 2012, Meghan and Collin share the real, behind-the-scenes life of professional pet sitting—from funny mishaps and tough lessons to business insights and personal stories. Each week, they also interview fellow sitters and industry pros to explore what it really takes to thrive in pet care. Whether you're just starting out or a seasoned pro, you'll find support, inspiration, and a community that truly gets it. Your story belongs here, too!

  1. 7h ago

    Building for Family, Purpose, and the Future with Jillian and Bert Riegelsperger

    What does it look like to build a pet care business that means something beyond today's appointments and revenue? Jillian and Bert Riegelsperger, owners of Mama Jill's Pet Care in Smithfield, North Carolina, share how a desire for greater freedom grew into a family business rooted in trust, service, and a deeply personal mission. They discuss building sustainable pricing and boundaries, maintaining high standards inside clients' homes, and balancing their very different strengths as husband-and-wife business owners. Jillian also shares how the loss of her brother Stephen shaped the business's connection to suicide prevention and their desire to remind people that they matter. Together, they explore what it takes to turn dreams into goals and build a company their children could one day choose to carry forward. Main topics: Building a Generational Business Trust Through Consistent Service Balancing Care and Profitability Working Successfully With Family Turning Dreams Into Goals About our guest: "We can dream it, but is it a dream or is it a goal?" There's a big difference between having an idea for your pet care business and building a plan to make it happen. Jillian and Bert of Mama Jill's Pet Care have plenty of dreams for their company, but they're learning to slow down, look at the numbers, understand the costs, and identify the steps required to move forward. That matters whether your goal is hiring your first employee, adding a service, opening a facility, or simply creating a business that gives your family more freedom. Dreaming gives you direction. Planning gives you movement. On this episode of Pet Sitter Confessional, we talk about building a business for the long term, balancing heart with financial sustainability, protecting client trust, and creating something that might one day continue without you. About our guest: Jillian and Bert are the owners of Mama Jill's Pet Care, a personalized in-home pet care company serving Smithfield, North Carolina, and the surrounding area. After years in corporate accounting and the fire service, they launched the business with a vision of creating greater freedom for their family and something their children could one day choose to continue. Their approach centers on dependable care, integrity, strong client relationships, and treating both pets and homes with respect. Mama Jill's Pet Care also carries a personal connection to suicide prevention in memory of Jillian's brother, Stephen. Links: Mama Jill's Pet Care: https://www.mamajillspetscarellc.com Buy Us A Coffee to help the show grow! Check out our Starter Packs See all of our discounts! 📞 Call us: (636) 364-8260 Follow us on: Instagram, Facebook Email us at: petsitterconfessional@gmail.com Full show notes and transcript Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest. Music: "Almost August" by Dan Lebowitz. Used under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0). Source: Directory.Audio. Edited for length and mixed with spoken audio. Sponsored by: ❤️ Our AMAZING Patreon Supporters   Time to Pet Visit: https://timetopet.com/confessional Code: 50% off first 3 months C-Squared Accounting

    Building for Family, Purpose, and the Future with Jillian and Bert Riegelsperger

  2. 2d ago

    The Other Side of AI: Reports, Routines, and Repetitive Clicks

    What would we do with the time we spend downloading reports, searching for information, and clicking the same buttons every week? In this episode, we break AI into five categories (creation, retrieval, analysis, automation, and computer use) to help us evaluate specific jobs in our pet care businesses. We share how we're using automated report downloads and explore where data analysis and schedule reviews might offer support. We also discuss protecting sensitive information, checking results, and matching human oversight to the consequences of a mistake. Before we automate anything, we ask whether the task deserves to exist and how handing it off could give us more time to care for clients, support our teams, and lead with intention. Main topics: Understanding Five AI Categories Automating Repetitive Administrative Tasks Using Data With Judgment Protecting Sensitive Client Information Matching Oversight to Consequences Main takeaway: "What we are looking to do is build a better business and build a business that serves our clients with excellence." What could you do for your clients and your team with a little more room in your day? Downloading the same reports and copying the same numbers can take time away from coaching an employee or checking in with a client. Using AI for some of that repetitive work may help us show up with more attention for the people counting on us. We still need to check the results, protect sensitive information, and own the decisions made in our businesses. Before handing off a task, ask whether it serves a purpose, what could happen if it goes wrong, and how much human judgment it needs. In this episode of Pet Sitter Confessional, we explore those questions and share where we're drawing the line in our own business. What's one repetitive task you'd love help with, and what would you do with the time you gained? Links: Buy Us A Coffee to help the show grow! Check out our Starter Packs See all of our discounts! 📞 Call us: (636) 364-8260 Follow us on: Instagram, Facebook Email us at: petsitterconfessional@gmail.com Full show notes and transcript Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest. Music: "Almost August" by Dan Lebowitz. Used under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0). Source: Directory.Audio. Edited for length and mixed with spoken audio. Sponsored by: ❤️ Our AMAZING Patreon Supporters   Your peace of mind is part of great pet care. Pet Sitters Associates provides the insurance you need to get the work done. Visit: https://www.petsitllc.com and use the code 'confessional' for $10 off today!   Using Meta ads is hard, www.petcaregrowth.com makes it easy. Use PSC15 for 15% off the course!

    The Other Side of AI: Reports, Routines, and Repetitive Clicks

  3. Oct 7

    When "Bad Behavior" Is Actually Communication with Lauren Sisak

    What if the behavior we label as a problem is actually a dog trying to tell us something important? Lauren Sisak, founder of Sit Stay Stella, joins Collin to explore how pet care professionals can better understand anxious, reactive, and overwhelmed dogs by paying attention to what their behavior is communicating. Lauren explains her green, yellow, and red zone framework, how to recognize when a dog cannot perform a familiar behavior, and why treats, distance, and environmental changes can be powerful tools. They also discuss safer meet-and-greets, building trust without forcing interaction, and communicating clearly with clients about what their dogs actually need. Along the way, Lauren connects those same lessons to entrepreneurship, boundaries, sustainable growth, and learning to give ourselves the same grace we give the dogs in our care. Main topics: Understanding canine stress signals Green yellow red zones Safer dog meet-and-greets Communicating expectations with clients Boundaries for sustainable businesses Main takeaway: "The moment that they see the scary thing and they check in with you first, you're golden." Trust with a dog does not always look like cuddles, perfect leash manners, or immediately accepting affection. Sometimes, the biggest breakthrough happens when something scary appears and the dog chooses to look at you. As Lauren Sisak explains, "The moment that they see the scary thing and they check in with you first, you're golden." That check-in tells us the dog is beginning to see us as part of their support system. Getting there requires patience, observation, consistency, and a willingness to listen when a dog says an environment or interaction is too much. As pet sitters and dog walkers, our job is not simply to get a dog to comply. It is to create enough safety and predictability that they learn they can work through difficult moments with us. About our guest: Lauren Sisak is the founder of Sit Stay Stella, a dog training and concierge pet care company serving clients in the New York City area. Her work was heavily influenced by her experiences with her own dogs, including Stella, whose anxiety and reactivity led Lauren deeper into positive-reinforcement and force-free training. Today, Lauren and her team provide personalized training and pet care with an emphasis on dogs who may need additional patience, support, and individualized routines. Her approach focuses on protecting a dog's agency while helping pet parents develop practical skills that strengthen their relationship with their dogs. Links: Sit Stay Stella Website: ⁠sitstaystella.com Stellar Sitter Course / Course Waitlist:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdFjuUJ_U3vbR7aW7xb6Kz4HYJvBH4-Oi7LlXH293WWsNcChQ/viewform Check out our Starter Packs See all of our discounts! 📞 Call us: (636) 364-8260 Follow us on: Instagram, Facebook Email us at: petsitterconfessional@gmail.com Full show notes and transcript Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest. Sponsored by: ❤️ Our AMAZING Patreon Supporters  Time to Pet Visit: https://timetopet.com/confessional Code: 50% off first 3 months Pet Sitters International- Visit https://www.petsit.com/psc

    When "Bad Behavior" Is Actually Communication with Lauren Sisak

  4. Oct 5

    You Don't Need Another Planner

    What happens when we are organized, scheduled, and still cannot keep up? In this episode, we look at why overwhelm is often a capacity problem rather than a productivity problem, and why another planner, app, or system cannot create more time, energy, or people. We walk through six moves available when demand exceeds capacity: do less, delay, delegate, simplify, stop, or intentionally increase capacity. We also talk about stabilizing the business around pet safety, existing commitments, payroll, scheduling, and truly urgent work before trying to redesign everything at once. Finally, we challenge ourselves to ask what can wait, what exists only because we have always done it, what we are the wrong person to keep doing, what can be 80% good, and what can stop entirely. Main topics: Capacity Versus Better Organization Stabilizing Core Business Functions Six Moves for Overload Delegating Work You Outgrew Choosing Eighty Percent Good Main takeaway: "You cannot organize your way out of having more responsibilities than you actually have the capacity to carry." That is the trap so many of us fall into as business owners. We think the answer to feeling overwhelmed is another planner, another app, another calendar system, or a better way to organize the work already sitting in front of us. But a beautifully organized schedule full of too much work is still too much work. When demand exceeds our capacity, something actually has to change. Some work may need to wait. Some needs to be delegated, simplified, done at 80% instead of 100%, or stopped entirely. The question isn't always, "How do I get everything done?" Sometimes the much more important question is, "What am I willing to let drop?" Links: Check out our Starter Packs See all of our discounts! 📞 Call us: (636) 364-8260 Follow us on: Instagram, Facebook Email us at: petsitterconfessional@gmail.com Full show notes and transcript Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest. Sponsored by: ❤️ Our AMAZING Patreon Supporters   Your peace of mind is part of great pet care. Pet Sitters Associates provides the insurance you need to get the work done. Visit: https://www.petsitllc.com and use the code 'confessional' for $10 off today!   Pet Perennials Visit: https://petperennials.com/pages/register-for-a-business-account Code: 'PSC' when registering for a $2 off coupon on any purchases in the 1st 90 days

    You Don't Need Another Planner

  5. Sep 30

    Honest Intake, Better Boundaries, Safer Walks with Maddie Krzanowski

    What does it take to confidently care for dogs that other pet professionals may be hesitant to handle? Collin talks with Maddie Krzonowski, owner of Maddie's Dog Walking, about building trust with reactive dogs, recognizing behavioral warning signs, and knowing when a case is beyond your skill set. Maddie shares how honest client communication and thorough meet-and-greets help her determine whether a dog is a safe and appropriate fit. They also discuss growing a pet care business while attending college, hiring help, and becoming known for solving difficult client problems. Finally, Maddie opens up about burnout, physical limitations, grief, and why sustainable self-care matters when you build close relationships with pets and their families. Main topics: Evaluating Reactive Dog Clients Reading Canine Warning Signals Building Trust Through Boundaries Protecting Staff From Risk Preventing Pet Care Burnout Main takeaway: "Come to me with how your dog is, not how you want them to be." That may be one of the most important things a pet care professional can ask of a client. Honest information about reactivity, bite history, triggers, equipment, and behavior allows us to make better decisions for everyone involved. We cannot build an effective care plan around the dog someone hopes to have six months from now—we have to care for the dog standing in front of us today. In this episode, Maddie Krzonowski shares how that honesty helps her work with reactive and behaviorally challenging dogs while maintaining clear safety boundaries. Sometimes great pet care means helping a dog make progress. Other times, it simply means respecting that dog's limits, creating predictability, and giving the client a trustworthy person who understands their situation. About our guest: Maddie Krzonowski is the owner of Maddie's Dog Walking, a New Jersey pet care business she first began as an entrepreneurial 11-year-old walking neighborhood dogs. Over the past decade, she has grown the business into a multi-area operation with additional team members while simultaneously completing her undergraduate education. Maddie is also a dog trainer with a particular interest in reactive dogs and helping owners navigate challenging behaviors. Her background also includes several years working as a veterinary technician, giving her a broad perspective on animal care, client relationships, and the emotional demands of the pet care industry. Links: Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/maddies.dog.walking/ Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583299275196 Her new book: https://amzn.to/4AEYR6x Check out our Starter Packs See all of our discounts! 📞 Call us: (636) 364-8260 Follow us on: Instagram, Facebook Email us at: petsitterconfessional@gmail.com Full show notes and transcript Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest. Sponsored by: ❤️ Our AMAZING Patreon Supporters   Time to Pet Visit: https://timetopet.com/confessional Code: 50% off first 3 months   Tiny Paws Bookkeeping - visit TinyPawsBookkeeping.com to start putting profit first!

    Honest Intake, Better Boundaries, Safer Walks with Maddie Krzanowski

  6. Sep 28

    Grow by Doing Less

    What if the next stage of growth in our business comes not from adding more, but from deliberately taking things away? In this episode, we examine the owner trap; how work stays on our plates because we are fast at it, familiar with it, and emotionally attached to being needed. We explore how complexity creeps into services, scheduling, pricing, communication, and client exceptions, and why every extra variation quietly raises the cost of running the business. We walk through a five-question subtraction audit: should this stop, can it be simpler, can we standardize it, can we automate it, and who should own it? By learning to remove what no longer deserves to exist, we can create more capacity for the work, people, and systems that actually move the business forward. Main topics: Escaping the owner dependency trap Reducing operational complexity deliberately Standardizing policies and exceptions Stopping work before automating it Building capacity through subtraction Main takeaway: "A better business isn't the one doing the most. It's the one that has figured out how to do fewer things exceptionally well." Growth has a funny way of convincing us that the answer is always more. More services. More software. More meetings. More processes. More exceptions. But every new thing we add creates something that has to be priced, trained, scheduled, communicated, monitored, and eventually handed off. Sometimes the best thing we can do as business owners is stop asking, "How can I get this off my plate?" and start asking, "Does this need to exist at all?" Before you automate it, delegate it, or write another SOP for it, give yourself permission to remove it. Your next stage of growth might not come from adding another thing. It might come from finally deciding what your business can do without. Links: Check out our Starter Packs See all of our discounts! 📞 Call us: (636) 364-8260 Follow us on: Instagram, Facebook Email us at: petsitterconfessional@gmail.com Full show notes and transcript Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest. Sponsored by: ❤️ Our AMAZING Patreon Supporters   Your peace of mind is part of great pet care. Pet Sitters Associates provides the insurance you need to get the work done. Visit: https://www.petsitllc.com and use the code 'confessional' for $10 off today!   Pet Perennials Visit: https://petperennials.com/pages/register-for-a-business-account Code: 'PSC' when registering for a $2 off coupon on any purchases in the 1st 90 days

    Grow by Doing Less

  7. Sep 23

    Helping Google Trust Your Pet Care Business with Amy Toman

    What does Google actually need to see before it trusts and recommends your pet care business? Amy Toman of Pet Sitter SEO joins us to explore how AI is changing Google Business Profiles, local search, reviews, photos, verification, and even phone calls to businesses. We discuss why consistency across your website, social media, directories, and Google listing matters more than ever and how experience, expertise, authority, and trust help establish your business online. Amy also shares important cautions about changing your Google Business Profile, dealing with missing or fake reviews, claiming 24/7 availability, and relying on AI-generated advice. We close with practical ways pet sitters can build a stronger digital presence without chasing every new SEO trend. Main topics: AI Changes Local Search Building Google Business Trust Managing Reviews and Verification Optimizing Google Business Profiles Strengthening Online Business Authority Main takeaway: "The more Google knows about you, the more likely they are to recommend you or your business." — Amy Toman Being found online is becoming about much more than stuffing the right keywords into a website. Google is looking across your website, Google Business Profile, social media, reviews, photos, services, directories, and other sources to understand who you are, what you do, and where you do it. For pet care businesses, that means consistency matters. If you want to be known for dog walking, cat sitting, or another specific service, make sure your online presence actually demonstrates that expertise instead of simply mentioning it once. In this episode, Amy Toman joins us to unpack how AI is changing local search and what pet sitters should be doing now to build trust, authority, and visibility. The goal isn't to trick Google. It's to give Google enough consistent evidence to confidently understand and recommend your business. About our guest: Amy Toman is the founder of Pet Sitter SEO and a Google Business Profile Diamond Product Expert who specializes in local SEO, Google Business Profile troubleshooting, and reinstatements. She founded Pet Sitter SEO in 2017 after beginning website work in 2015 and has worked extensively with pet care professionals to improve their online visibility. Amy has contributed to industry organizations, spoken at pet care conferences, and audited hundreds of websites and Google Business Profiles. Today, she continues to help small businesses navigate the increasingly complex relationship between local search, Google Business Profiles, and AI. Links: Earn 1 CEU https://petsitterseo.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-toman-🗺️-25945047 https://www.petsitterconfessional.com/episodes/575 https://www.petsitterconfessional.com/episodes/267 https://www.petsitterconfessional.com/episodes/120 https://whitespark.ca/blog/missing-google-reviews-checklists-for-troubleshooting-review-loss/ https://reputationarm.com/why-are-my-google-reviews-disappearing-the-silent-review-purge-what-google-isnt-telling-you/ Check out our Starter Packs See all of our discounts! 📞 Call us: (636) 364-8260 Follow us on: Instagram, Facebook Email us at: petsitterconfessional@gmail.com Full show notes and transcript Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest. Sponsored by: ❤️ Our AMAZING Patreon Supporters Time to Pet Visit: https://timetopet.com/confessional Code: 50% off first 3 months Critter to turn insights into action. Use 'PSC20' for 20% off your first three months

    Helping Google Trust Your Pet Care Business with Amy Toman

  8. Sep 21

    The Messy Middle

    Have you reached the point where your pet care business is too busy to run alone but not yet profitable enough to comfortably add support? In this episode, we unpack the "messy middle," where demand has outgrown our available hours even though the margin has not caught up. We talk through the two intentional paths forward: growing through the stage by pricing in help, delegating, and building systems, or scaling back by raising prices, tightening service areas, and simplifying services. We also explain why hiring admin should be based on hours, measurable triggers, and a defined trial period rather than fear or vague job titles. Most importantly, we challenge ourselves to build a business that fits our lives, protects our capacity, and operates better regardless of its size. Main topics: Recognizing the messy middle Choosing growth or scaling back Pricing support into services Delegating through strategic admin hours Protecting capacity with boundaries Main takeaway: "The messy middle is your business asking a simple question: Do you want to operate in a better way, regardless of size?" The messy middle isn't just about revenue. It's what happens when your business has grown beyond what one person can comfortably carry, but the margin hasn't caught up enough to pay for the help you need. That tension can make you feel like the only answer is to keep pushing harder. It isn't. You can intentionally grow through this stage, or you can intentionally simplify and scale back. Both can be smart business decisions. What matters is choosing a direction, building the systems to support it, and creating a business that works better for the life you actually want. If you're in the messy middle right now, what needs to change first? Links: Check out our Starter Packs See all of our discounts! 📞 Call us: (636) 364-8260 Follow us on: Instagram, Facebook Email us at: petsitterconfessional@gmail.com Full show notes and transcript Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest. Sponsored by: ❤️ Our AMAZING Patreon Supporters Your peace of mind is part of great pet care. Pet Sitters Associates provides the insurance you need to get the work done. Visit: https://www.petsitllc.com and use the code 'confessional' for $10 off today!  Tiny Paws Bookkeeping - visit TinyPawsBookkeeping.com to start putting profit first!

    The Messy Middle
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4.9
out of 5
103 Ratings

About

Pet Sitter Confessional is the go-to podcast for pet sitters who want to grow, learn, and feel seen. Having run a pet sitting and dog walking business since 2012, Meghan and Collin share the real, behind-the-scenes life of professional pet sitting—from funny mishaps and tough lessons to business insights and personal stories. Each week, they also interview fellow sitters and industry pros to explore what it really takes to thrive in pet care. Whether you're just starting out or a seasoned pro, you'll find support, inspiration, and a community that truly gets it. Your story belongs here, too!

Information

  • Creator
    Pet Sitter Confessional, LLC
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    742
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2019-2026 Pet Sitter Confessional LLC
  • Show Website
    Pet Sitter Confessional

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