OverDog: Dog Daycare & Boarding Business Tips
This is where dog daycare and boarding businesses can learn the top tips and business strategies to grow. Discover what the top dog daycares are doing to overcome challenges, improve everything they do and keep their staff and customers happy. Learn the latest in marketing pet businesses as well as creative ways to increase your brand's image and move your business farther, faster. Running a pet business can be difficult and often leave you feeling like an underdog. Not anymore - together we'll make you the OVERDOG.
Episodes
Want to add luxury boarding options but think your space just isn’t built for it? In this episode, Fern sits down with Fred Silber of Pet Therapeutics, who’s created something that could completely change how you think about “luxury” in your facility. You’ll hear how the right kind of bedding—designed with both science and dog behavior in mind—can elevate the entire experience for both dogs and their humans without the need for a m...
This week’s episode is all about the one area of your business you really don’t want to mess up—your finances. Fern sits down with Jerry Joshva and Ally Howard from Granite Peak, two experts who are on a mission to clean up the accounting chaos in pet resorts. If the words “bookkeeping” and “tax planning” make your eyes glaze over, this convo is going to change the way you see your numbers—and why knowing them could mean the differ...
Running a pet resort is never a smooth ride, and in this episode, Fern dives into the art of staying resilient through the rollercoaster. From shifting pet parent expectations to staff struggles and financial curveballs, this one’s all about preparing your business—not just to survive the tough times, but to bounce back even stronger. Whether you’ve been riding out the recent economic dip or just trying to stay ahead of industry ch...
Thinking about opening another location or leveling up your current facility? In this episode Fern brings on two longtime friends—and industry insiders—from Live Oak Bank to unpack everything you need to know before expanding your pet care business. From financial indicators and loan options to the crucial operational groundwork, they break down what it really takes to grow the right way. Whether you’re dreaming of a second locatio...
If you think automation is just for tech giants, think again. In this episode, Fern sits down with Irem Metin, Chief Product Officer at Goose, to talk about how smart systems and AI are transforming dog daycare and boarding businesses. From streamlining operations to personalizing customer experiences, they explore how tools that used to be out of reach are now leveling the playing field for smaller pet care businesses—and making l...
Your staff might be showing up—but are they showing up with energy? In this episode, Fern dives into a powerful but often overlooked force in your pet resort: the energy your team brings into the building every day. It’s not about how many hands you have on deck—it’s about how those hands feel, act, and interact. From emotional labor to burnout red flags, this episode explores why the vibes behind the scenes might be the secret wea...
What if your pet resort delivered the kind of service that made people rave about you—and gladly pay more? In this episode, you’ll learn how to take a page from one of the most iconic service brands in the world and apply those same principles to your daycare, boarding, grooming, or training business. It's all about creating intentional, memorable customer experiences that set you apart.
From empowering your staff to go above a...
December isn’t just for hot cocoa and ugly sweaters—it’s actually a powerful month to fine-tune your marketing, max out holiday bookings, and position your pet business for a killer start to the new year. In this episode, Fern lays out a full-on holiday game plan packed with clever internal promos, customer engagement strategies, and community connection ideas to help you close out the year strong. Whether it’s sprucing up your ema...
Ever wonder how something as simple as gratitude could actually boost your business? In this episode, Fern breaks down how appreciation isn’t just a feel-good emotion—it’s a strategic tool that can strengthen loyalty, energize your team, and even drive growth. Whether you're looking to improve client retention, boost morale among your staff, or just find more joy in your daily grind, this episode offers a ton of actionable way...
What if the secret to finally leveling up your pet business wasn’t some new hack or tool, but something a lot simpler—and often overlooked? In this episode of the Overdog Podcast, Fern dives into the surprising power of consistency and how it can make or break your business. From operations and team dynamics to client experience and marketing, this episode breaks down the crucial ways predictable, repeatable actions can create trus...
What if the secret to growing your business isn’t in the metrics—but in your mindset? In this soul-stirring episode, Fern gets real about what it takes to build not just a thriving pet care business, but a fulfilling life along the way. Inspired by personal stories and lessons from his book Getting Paid to Play with Puppies, he explores the surprising traps that can quietly drain your joy—even as your business appears successful on...
What if your general manager could think and act like a business owner—fully invested, capable, and trusted to lead your team? In this episode, Fern is joined by leadership pro Kelli Dodds, who unveils her brand-new initiative designed to level up managers into true leaders. They dive into the crucial mindset shifts, skill development, and emotional intelligence needed to transform your GM into the MVP of your pet resort. This isn’...
Toxic employees can quietly destroy everything you've worked to build—your team morale, your client experience, and your overall business culture. In this episode, Fern breaks down how even one negative team member can ripple through your pet resort and create serious damage. From subtle eye-rolls to full-blown defiance, it all adds up faster than you think. The big question is: how do you spot it early, and what do you do onc...
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...
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