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Choosing the Best Yard Surface for Your Dog Daycare If you’ve spent any time in dog daycare owner Facebook groups, you’ve seen this debate play out. Grass versus turf versus pea gravel gets argued like a religious conversion, and everyone

A Reward System Your Budget Can Actually Support The pet care industry has some of the worst turnover rates of any service industry, with some sources putting it as high as 125%. This means many facilities are essentially replacing their

Help Your Clients’ Dogs Beat the Boom The 4th of July is right around the corner, and for anyone working in pet care, that means one thing: firework anxiety season is here. A 2026 Rover survey found that 65% of

Are You Using the Right Treats? What Every Dog Care Professional Should Know This week’s blog is brought to you by our friends at St. Rocco’s Treats. We’re excited to welcome them as a guest contributor and think their perspective

Hiring and Retaining Staff in Pet Care — Practical Guide and Priorities High turnover costs time and money: recruiting, training, and lost institutional knowledge all add up. Retention reduces operational friction and improves client experience because familiar staff deliver more

The Best Owners Never Stop Learning There is a version of running a dog daycare or boarding facility where you get good at it and stop growing. You find what works, you protect what you’ve built, and you focus on

Q1 Financial Review: How to Use Your Numbers Heading Into Spring Q1 just closed, and your numbers are sitting there telling you something useful. The question is whether you take 30 minutes to actually listen before the spring rush makes

  Every April, National Pet First Aid Awareness Month comes and goes, and most dog daycares and boarding facilities let it pass without a second thought. They’re busy. There’s a full playgroup on the floor. There are emails to answer

Marketing That Works: What Every Pet‑Care Team Should Know About Attracting and Keeping Clients Marketing isn’t just a job for the owner or the person running your social media. In pet‑care businesses — daycare, boarding, grooming, training, and shelters —

Affordable Marketing Tactics for Pet Care Businesses Pet care is one of the fastest‑growing industries in the U.S., with spending reaching $136.8 billion in 2023 and was projected to hit $157 billion in 2025. That growth means opportunity, but it

Premium Pricing Strategies for Pet Care Businesses Price for value, not fear. Small, strategic price moves—tiered packages, smart bundles, and short tests—usually lift revenue more than blanket discounts because pet owners keep spending even when budgets tighten. Pet care isn’t

Be Ready, Stay Calm: Handling Medical Problems at Your Facility Most serious medical incidents are preventable with clear preparation and a practiced response. Focus on having the right resources and processes in place—adapted to whatever your facility’s rules and systems

Running Your Pet Business Without Losing Your Sanity Owning a pet care business is rewarding — you get to spend your days surrounded by animals and build a service that truly matters to families. But behind the wagging tails and

Highlights from the 2025 DHA Business Leadership Summit From September 10–12, pet care professionals from across the globe gathered in Chicago for the second annual Dog Handler Academy Business Leadership Summit. Over three days, attendees explored real-world strategies, shared candid

Hiring a Virtual Assistant: A Game-Changer for Dog Daycare & Boarding Professionals As dog daycare and boarding businesses grow, so do the demands on their owners and managers. Between client communication, reservation approvals, hiring, training, scheduling, invoicing, and social media,

Client Onboarding Friction: Is Your Software Helping or Hindering? You’ve done the hard work—built a beautiful facility, hired a caring team, and invested in software to keep everything running smoothly. But here’s a question that’s often overlooked: Is your system

Last month, our leader, Eve Molzhon, hopped the pond to be the Keynote Speaker at the IMPACT Summit in Sunderland, United Kingdom. Here is are some of her takeaways from that event. Curating the Client Experience: Why Pet Parents Deserve

The Summer Shift: Adapting Dog Daycare for Seasonal Behavior Changes Noticing a Change in Canine Behavior? You’re Not Imagining It.As the school year ends and summer kicks off, many pet parents notice subtle (and not-so-subtle) changes in their dogs’ behavior.

Introducing Our New Course 601: Playgroup Management! Dog Handler Academy is thrilled to announce the official launch of our newest course, Course 601: Playgroup Management! This course is designed to equip you and your team with the knowledge and skills

Education and Insights for Pet Business Owners and Managers Are you finding it harder than ever to make your business stand out in a crowded market? Do you and your team feel prepared to handle real emergency situations? Are rising

Meet Dog Handler Academy Founder Eve Molzhon at Pet Boarding & Daycare Expo West! Are you attending Pet Boarding & Daycare Expo West, happening May 5–8, 2025, at the Horseshoe Las Vegas? Don’t miss your chance to connect with Eve

The Secret to Booking More Clients: Marketing Strategies Every Pet Business Needs Guest blog by Joe MeyersChief Digital Strategist, Share Marketing Agency Listen, if you own a pet business, you already know the demand is there. Pet parents are spending

Our Latest Webinar: Handling Social Media Backlash Like a Pro In today’s digital world, managing your business’s reputation is more complicated than ever. You need a strong social media presence, but having one exposes you to dissatisfied clients and others

Why Fast Responses Matter: Taking Your Time Takes Away Profit In today’s fast-paced world, pet owners expect quick replies when they reach out — especially when booking important services like daycare or boarding. A fast, efficient communication process not only

What is a Virtual Assistant & Do I Need One? Is your business growing, but you’re not sure if you need additional on-site staff? Is your valuable time as an owner or manager being swallowed up by administrative or other

Dog Handler Academy founder Eve Molzhon and the DHA team are gearing up for the Owners of Dog Daycares (ODDs) ODD Ball conference and trade show, taking place Jan. 13-16 at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina in

Thoughtful Holiday Gift Ideas for Your Dog Daycare Staff Your staff members work tirelessly to care for furry family members, keeping beloved pets happy, safe and entertained while their parents are away. During the holiday season, thoughtful gifts are a

6 Holiday Gift Ideas for Your Dog Daycare and Boarding Business Clients In the world of pet daycare and boarding, client satisfaction isn’t just about providing top-notch care for pet parents’ furry family members — it’s about building trust, loyalty

Introducing Our New Course: Puppy Training 101 Dog lovers know that few things are more exciting (and exhausting) than welcoming a new puppy into the family. Their adorable faces and boundless energy and curiosity make them irresistible. But along with

Education and Insights for Pet Business Owners and Managers Are you ready to transform your dog care business? The Dog Handler Academy Business Leadership Summit is your opportunity to sharpen your leadership skills, network with industry professionals, and gain insights

Introducing Our New Course 501: Dog Injury & Illness Guidance We are thrilled to announce the official launch of our latest course, Course 501: Dog Injury & Illness Guidance! This comprehensive training program is designed to equip you and your

Thought Leadership: Empowering Your Team to Thrive In the world of pet care, the demand for exceptional services continues to grow. However, to succeed, businesses must go above and beyond the ordinary and strive for excellence. This is where nurturing

Unleash the Holiday Cheer: Add-on Ideas for Your Dog Daycare and Boarding Business As the holiday season approaches, pet parents are not the only ones getting excited about the festivities. Dogs, too, deserve a taste of the holiday spirit during

Nurturing a Pet-Friendly Work Environment in Dog Daycare and Boarding Businesses In dog daycare and boarding businesses, the dynamics extend beyond the furry clientele. Dedicated employees work behind the scenes, and they not only manage the daily operations but also

Current Trends in the Dog Daycare and Boarding Industry The dog daycare and boarding industry is witnessing a transformative shift, as more pet parents seek high-quality care and unique experiences for their furry companions. With the pet care landscape evolving,

Supporting Clients Through the Loss of Their Beloved Dogs The bonds formed with dog daycare and boarding clients and their furry companions often run deep. However, when a dog passes away at home, it’s crucial to extend your support and

How to increase income at your dog business without raising prices Running a dog daycare and boarding business can be a rewarding venture, but it can also be challenging when it comes to generating income. While raising prices may seem like a

Inspiring Your Dog Daycare Team Members As the owner or manager of a dog daycare and boarding business, you know how important it is to have a team of dedicated and passionate staff members. Your staff is responsible for caring

Offering more benefits for your dog daycare employees By Eve Molzhon I am, like many of you, trying to look at how to offer more benefits to my dog daycare team members without breaking the bank. Health insurance always seems

Discussing how to set boundaries with your dog daycare staff As a leader, more than likely you’ve had to learn how to set boundaries for yourself, boundaries between you and your clients, and boundaries between you and your staff. It’s tricky to

Winter weather preparedness for your dog daycare Let’s talk about winter weather preparedness. Whether you’re on the East Coast or West Coast, it seems everyone is experiencing colder, harsher weather than anticipated. We’ve all experienced ice this year. For those

Hiring, pay, and incentives for your dog daycare staff We’ve all been there, and many of us are there right now. It’s tough to find, hire, train, and retain good employees. Especially now, it’s important to shift your focus from

Time is money at your dog daycare Time is money, and many dog daycare and boarding businesses can’t afford to waste time grading paperwork or training every new hire on all of the basics necessary to get up to speed

Training for the “Oh sh*t!” moments at your dog daycare How do you teach your staff all of the dog behavior that they may need to handle? In Course 201, we show you real-life videos of dogs in a daycare

Are you ready for the rush at your dog daycare? Are you ready for the rush? Now’s the time to gear up! Many dog daycares around the country have reported an influx of dogs in daycare as well as training programs

Creating a dog day training program Could your facility use a couple extra thousand dollars of revenue a month? Simply carving out 1–2 hours for your dog handlers’ time a day and using treats, collar, and a leash is all

Standards and basics for training your dog daycare staff There are many challenges facing dog daycare and boarding facilities these days, and the struggle to hire, train, and maintain your ideal staff might be even harder than usual right now. 

Dog Handler to Day Trainer example (video) These are some of the things you will learn in our Dog Handler to Day Trainer standalone course. We break down the steps to train dogs on basic obedience. https://doghandleracademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/DH2DT-example-from-FB.mp4 Why wait? Let’s get

Additional revenue and marketing ideas for your dog daycare (video) https://doghandleracademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Additional-Revenue-and-Marketing-Ideas-FB.mp4 Why wait? Let’s get started! Join now to lock in PREMIER PRICING for life! JOIN NOW! View Demo Facebook-f Instagram Envelope

Dog Handler to Day Trainer course update (video) Our Dog Handler to Day Trainer standalone course is available for purchase here. https://doghandleracademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/DH2DT-update-from-FB.mp4 Why wait? Let’s get started! Join now to lock in PREMIER PRICING for life! JOIN NOW! View Demo