OverDog: Dog Daycare & Boarding Business Tips

AI isn’t just for tech giants and sci-fi movies anymore—it’s here, it’s powerful, and it’s ready to transform your pet business if you let it. In this episode, Fern dives deep into the practical ways ChatGPT can supercharge your daycare or boarding facility. From content creation and marketing to staff training and operations, you’ll find out how this tool can become your new behind-the-scenes assistant—saving you time, boosting cr...

Sometimes the best way to grow your business is to hit pause and take a hard look at what’s really working—and what’s not. In this episode, Fern opens up about a difficult decision he had to make at Overdog and why cutting back can sometimes be the smartest move forward. If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure whether to keep pushing or pivot, you’ll relate big time.

This isn’t just theory—it’s a real-world look ...

Ever feel like you're the only one who can’t seem to get things right? This episode is your permission slip to stop beating yourself up and start looking at failure as fuel. Fern pulls back the curtain on one of his biggest flops—something he poured months and thousands of dollars into—only to watch it crash and burn. But instead of quitting, he found the hidden gold in the ashes. You’ll hear how that experience ended up resha...

Struggling to make Facebook actually work for your dog daycare or boarding business? You're not alone—and you're probably just a few tweaks away from turning it into a reliable lead machine. In this episode, we dive into a powerful three-tier strategy that breaks down exactly what kind of content you should be posting (and who it's for) so you can stop guessing and start attracting the right people at the right time....

If you’ve ever felt like you're stuck in a revolving door of employees, this episode is about to hit home. Fern teams up once again with his buddy and business retreat co-host Patrick Lyons for a deep dive into the real reasons your team might be walking out the door—and what you can actually do about it. Spoiler: it’s not just about the money. They unpack fresh research and real-life experiences to reveal the five key drivers...

If your numbers are down and you’re stressing about getting more leads in the door, you might be looking at the wrong problem. In this episode, we're flipping the script and diving into a major blind spot for many pet care businesses—customer retention. Before you start pouring money into marketing, you’ve got to find out why people are leaving. And more importantly, what you can do to stop the slow leak.

From decodin...

If you’ve ever wished more people would say “yes” to your services, this episode is going to open your eyes. Fern dives into the fascinating world of psychological selling — and no, it’s not about manipulation or cheesy tactics. He breaks down why humans make emotional decisions, how to use that to guide potential customers, and why things like “most popular” labels and small surprises can have a huge impact. You’ll hear real-world...

If you’ve ever felt like staffing your pet care business is an endless headache, you’re not alone — and this episode of the Overdog Podcast is packed with insights you can’t afford to miss. Fern sits down with Joe Latona of Walker Scout, a recruiting pro who’s helped countless dog daycare and boarding businesses find and keep the right people. They dive into the real reasons you’re not attracting great applicants, how your job post...

This week on the Overdog Podcast, Fern opens up about his own unconventional journey — one filled with risks, pivots, and a relentless drive to outwork and outsmart the competition. From his early career experiments to finding his way in the dog business, Fern shares how hard work, creativity, and a willingness to fail forward have shaped his success. You’ll hear personal stories that prove you don’t need to be the most talented pe...

Ever wondered what it really feels like to work in your own dog daycare or boarding business? This episode flips the script by diving deep into the staff’s perspective — straight from someone who lived it. With stories from both small, tightly-run teams and massive, fast-growing facilities, you’ll get a candid look at what it’s like on the front lines: the good, the frustrating, and the things that truly make a difference to your e...

Are your phones helping or hurting your business? In this episode of the Overdog Podcast, Fern uncovers a common but overlooked problem in dog daycare and boarding facilities — how phone calls are handled. From missed calls and inconsistent messaging to clunky voicemail systems and outdated automation, he explains how these mistakes can turn hot leads cold fast. You’ll also hear how smart businesses are using technology and AI to c...

Ever wonder how you can seriously stand out in the pet care industry? In this episode of the Overdog Podcast, Fern shares a game-changing insight sparked by his recent vacation to Mexico—and it has everything to do with crafting an unforgettable VIP experience. From private butlers to rooftop pools, the trip offered more than just relaxation—it served up inspiration for how pet businesses can create elevated service tiers that keep...

You're halfway through the year—are you where you thought you’d be? In this episode of the Overdog Podcast, we hit pause to take stock of the first six months of 2025. It’s the perfect time to assess what’s working, what’s not, and how to pivot for a stronger finish. Whether you're crushing your goals or feeling like you're stuck in neutral, this mid-year check-in might be exactly what your dog business needs to rese...

Ever wonder how mega-brands like Apple, Nike, and Disney build such loyal followings—and how you could channel that same magic into your dog daycare or boarding business? In this episode, Fern dives into what makes these iconic names tick, uncovering the branding strategies behind their cult-like fanbases. From Taylor Swift's superfan engagement to In-N-Out Burger's laser-focused simplicity, you'll hear fresh ideas t...

Get ready to go behind the curtain of one of the pet care industry’s most influential yet often misunderstood organizations—IBPSA. In this episode, Fern brings on Carmen Rustenbeck and Brian Remo to share the real story of how this trade association came to be, what it actually does for your business, and why now might be the most important time to get involved. It’s not just about standards and certifications—this is about communi...

Are you so busy eyeing the competition that you’re missing what’s really stalling your pet business? In this episode of the Overdog Podcast, Fern digs into a surprising truth: it’s not the new dog daycare down the street that’s threatening your success—it’s your own complacency. Tune in to hear why staying stagnant is the real danger and how obsessing over what others are doing might be costing you valuable growth opportunities.

In this episode of the Overdog Podcast, we're diving into the often-overlooked blind spots that could be silently sabotaging your pet care business. From failing to follow up with new leads to treating clients like fleeting transactions, Fern lays out seven common mistakes he's seen time and time again in dog daycares and boarding facilities. These aren't just minor issues—they're growth blockers that could be c...

What if growing your pet care business wasn't about guessing your way through it, but following a step-by-step formula that’s already been proven to work? In this episode of the Overdog Podcast, Fern dives into what he calls the “algorithm of success”—a repeatable path built from patterns he’s seen in the most successful entrepreneurs. From vision and mindset to resilience and strategy, this episode walks you through what it r...

Think you're asking the right questions about your business? Think again. In this episode, Fern and Overdog’s own Director of Operations, Kasey Jervis, dig into the questions dog daycare and boarding businesses should be asking—but usually aren’t. From understanding the lifetime value of your clients to uncovering why customers quietly drift away, this conversation challenges you to take a deeper look at your business operatio...