Shows / Pet Sitter Confessional
Pet Sitter Confessional
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…
Episodes
Pet Sitter Confessional631: Building a Business that Feeds Your Soul with Sam Erbaugh
What does it look like to run a pet care business with heart? Sam Erbaugh, owner of Paw Beach Pet Care, shares her journey from interior designer to pet care…
Pet Sitter Confessional630: Legal Landscape for Pet Sitters
What do new laws mean for your pet care business? Across the U.S., states are passing legislation that raises the standards for how pets are cared for—and the…
Pet Sitter Confessional629: Shaping Industry Standards with Jenn Dahinten, Chair of PACCC
What does it really mean to be a professional in the pet care industry? In this episode, Jenn Dahinten, Chair of PACCC, joins to explore the importance of…
Pet Sitter Confessional628: Recovering from a Bad Hire
What happens when the excitement of growing your team turns into the disappointment of a bad hire? In this episode, we explore why failed hires sting so…
Pet Sitter Confessional627: Profit Isn't Just About Money with Morgan Weber
What does it really mean to grow your business? In this episode, Morgan Weber of Lucky Pup shares why growth isn't always the answer and how defining success…
Pet Sitter Confessional626: The Ho-Hum Pet Sitter
What happens when the joy of pet sitting starts to fade into monotony? In this episode, we explore why the "ho-hum" feeling creeps in, from repetitive routines…
Pet Sitter Confessional625: Pet First Aid Essentials Every Sitter Should Know with Arden Moore
What should you do when a pet emergency happens on your watch? In this episode, Arden Moore returns to share practical, life-saving advice for pet sitters and…
Pet Sitter Confessional624: When the Pivot Hurts
What happens when your business no longer fits the market—or the law? In this episode, we explore the challenges of pivoting, from labor law changes to zoning…
Pet Sitter Confessional623: Helping Pet Birds Thrive with Dr. Jennifer Graham
How can we make sure we're providing the best care possible for pet birds? Dr. Jennifer Graham, President of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, joins the…
Pet Sitter Confessional622: Who Are You Beyond the Leash?
This episode explores the powerful role identity and labels play in the life of a pet sitter. Too often, we adopt labels given by clients, colleagues, or even…
Pet Sitter Confessional621: Weddings, Walks, and Winning Clients with Kaitlin Wood
Kaitlin Wood of Kaitlin's Pet Sitting in Chattanooga, TN shares her journey from teenage sitter to full-time business owner. She discusses the evolution of her…
Pet Sitter Confessional620: The 10 Non-negotiables You Need in Your Policies
Non-negotiables aren't just nice-to-have—they're the backbone of running our pet care business. In this episode, we share the 10 essential policies and…
Pet Sitter Confessional619: From Silos to Synergy: Building Better Pet Care Together with Dr. Christie Cornelius
What happens when pet sitters and independent veterinarians start working together more intentionally? Dr. Christie Cornelius, Director of the Independent…
Pet Sitter Confessional618: Building a Self-Strengthening Business
In this episode, we explore what makes a pet care business stronger over time. Using the example of Corten steel—designed to strengthen through exposure—we…
Pet Sitter Confessional617: Building a Community Pet Store That Sticks with Morgan and Austin Weber
What happens when pet sitters take the leap into retail? Morgan and Austin Weber, owners of Lucky Pup Adventures, share how they purchased and now run Woofs…
Pet Sitter Confessional616: The Bankruptcy of Wag!: What It Means for Us
Wag!, one of the largest gig economy pet care platforms, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is undergoing a rapid restructuring. This episode explores the…
Pet Sitter Confessional615: Boundaries, Budgets, and Burnout with Rachelle Steele
Are you treating your pet sitting like a real business? In this episode, Rachelle Steele of Loving Arms Pet Services returns to share how she transitioned from…
Pet Sitter Confessional614: How to Listen Instead of React
Business owners often feel compelled to defend every policy and decision. We share a recent incident that brought that into sharp focus. We explore why…
Pet Sitter Confessional613: Transitioning from Full-Service to Specialty with Mandi Fleitz
Have you ever wondered if your business could thrive by serving just one type of pet? In this episode, Mandi Fleitz, owner of Durham Cat Company, talks about…
Pet Sitter Confessional612: 13 Years, 13 Lessons: What We've Learned as Pet Sitters
Over the past 13 years, we've built, paused, and rebuilt our pet sitting business across multiple cities and life stages. In this episode, we share the lessons…
Pet Sitter Confessional611: Partnerships that Support Felines and Their Owners with Dr. Ashlie Saffire
Are pet sitters and veterinarians really on the same team when it comes to caring for cats? In this episode, Dr. Ashlie Saffire, feline specialist and…
Pet Sitter Confessional610: The Trap of Loving What You Built Too Much
Have you ever clung to a system simply because you built it? In this episode, we explore the IKEA effect—how emotional investment in our creations can…
Pet Sitter Confessional609: Love 4 Dogs, Love for Community with Maricella Sauceda
What does it take to start over and succeed in pet care—twice? After moving from Los Angeles to Canada, Maricella Sauceda launched Love 4 Dogs Pet Services…
Pet Sitter Confessional608: Why You Shouldn't Skip Your Mid-Year Review
How is your year going—really? In this episode, we share why doing a mid-year review is essential for personal and business clarity. We explore common reasons…
Pet Sitter Confessional607: Sustainability, Stress, and Success with Wendy Mackay
What does building a sustainable pet care business look like? Wendy Mackay, founder and owner of Pet Sitters Nelson, shares her 20-year journey from…
Pet Sitter Confessional606: The Power of Both/And Thinking
In today's pet care world, it's easy to fall into false choices — between daycare and in-home care, solo sitters and teams, enrichment and exercise, and more…
Pet Sitter Confessional605: Innovate & Elevate: Pet Care Synergy with Ines McNeil
What happens when dog training meets pet sitting? Ines McNeil, APDT Chair, dives into how the pet care industry can benefit from cross-disciplinary…
Pet Sitter Confessional604: Marketing Pet Sitting in a Modern Experience Economy
How should pet sitters adapt as client expectations shift? Camp Bow Wow is celebrating 25 years as a market leader in daycare and boarding. Their recent brand…
Pet Sitter Confessional603: The Mission of Midwest Pet Sitter Affiliates with Kristin Holzapfel
What does local collaboration mean in 2025 and beyond? Why should pet sitters care about it? Kristin Holzapfel, founder of Midwest Pet Sitter Affiliates, joins…
Pet Sitter Confessional602: From Pastels to Pet Care: Crafting a Lasting Legacy
How can a centuries-old art supply company teach us about running a pet care business? This episode draws lessons from La Maison du Pastel in Paris, a…
Pet Sitter Confessional601: Not One More Vet with Gigi Tsontos
What is life really like behind the scenes at your vet's office? Collin sits down with Gigi Tsontos, Executive Director of Not One More Vet, Inc. (NOMV), to…
Pet Sitter Confessional600: Knowing When to Take Action
Have you ever found yourself endlessly planning but never actually launching? This episode explores the common trap of over-planning and perfectionism that…
Pet Sitter Confessional599: Standing Out in a Saturated Market with Natalie Durack
How do you take a pet sitting business from one city to two, grow a team of 30+, and develop a thriving brand? In this episode, Natalie Durack of Happy Hounds…
Pet Sitter Confessional598: Selling What Has to Be Experienced
How do you market something that has to be experienced to be believed? In this episode, we dig into the challenge of selling emotional value—like peace of…
Pet Sitter Confessional597: Building Community, One Pet Store at a Time with Teresa Miller
How important are independent pet stores to our community? In this episode, Teresa Miller, president of IndiePet and owner of Treats Unleashed, discusses the…
Pet Sitter Confessional596: Being Price Proud
How confident are you when sharing your rates? In this episode, we explore the mindset of being price proud—what it means to stand behind your pricing without…
Pet Sitter Confessional595: Pet Aftercare and Ethical Standards with Donna Shugart-Bethune
What happens after a pet passes away, and how can pet professionals support owners through this difficult time? Donna Shugart-Bethune, Executive Director of…
Pet Sitter Confessional594: Crafting Personalized Pet Care
How do you offer truly personalized pet care? From daily routines to unique quirks, pets need more than just a one-size-fits-all approach. As professional pet…
Pet Sitter Confessional593: Building and Letting Go with Nicole Packin
How do you know when it's time to transition your business—or even your life? In this episode, Nicole Packin shares her incredible journey through selling two…
Pet Sitter Confessional592: Bridging the Trust Gap
Trust is essential in every part of a pet sitting business. It begins before a client ever reaches out and is built through clear communication, consistency…
Pet Sitter Confessional591: From Lions to Labradors with Leanne Burger
What happens when you treat pet sitting not just as a job, but as a serious and deeply rewarding responsibility? Leanne Burger, owner of Going Away Pet and…
Pet Sitter Confessional590: Finding Repeatable Success
Have you ever wondered why something worked so well in your business, but struggled to replicate it? In this episode, we discuss the critical importance of…
Pet Sitter Confessional589: It's All About the Heart with Janet Buchwald
What does it take to create a business that truly stands out? Janet Buchwald, owner of Kisses Happen, shares her journey from a corporate career to running a…
Pet Sitter Confessional588: Success on Your Terms: Escaping the Comparison Trap
What does success really look like in today's pet care industry? In this episode, we dig into the shifting landscape of 2025 and explore how external…
Pet Sitter Confessional587: The Changing Landscape of Pet Services with Carmen Rustenbeck
How are mergers and acquisitions reshaping the pet care industry? In this episode, we welcome back Carmen Rustenbeck of IBPSA to discuss the rise of corporate…
Pet Sitter Confessional586: Stop Running Someone Else's Business
Are you building the business you actually want—or just the one you think you should have? In this episode, we get honest about the constant pressure to scale…
Pet Sitter Confessional585: Building Client Trust Through Niche Services with Niki Lepine & Steph
How do you build trust with clients while offering specialized pet care services? Niki Lepine and Steph Law of Dog Jogs share how they carved out a niche in…
Pet Sitter Confessional584: Show Up and Stand Out: Visibility and Value for Pet Businesses
Can showing up at local events truly set our pet businesses apart? We discuss our experiences speaking at a Home and Garden show, highlighting how community…
Pet Sitter Confessional583: Creating a Trusted Name in Pet Sitting with Justina Allen-Yancey
How do you build a pet sitting business that becomes a household name? Justina Allen-Yancey, owner of Justina's Pet Sitting, shares how she turned her business…
Pet Sitter Confessional582: Dealing with Setbacks and Frustrations—Without Losing Your Passion
Have you ever felt like no matter how hard you try, your business just isn't moving forward? We breakdown the setbacks that can derail even the most passionate…
Pet Sitter Confessional581: Driving Success Through Core Values with Amy Munns
How do you build a pet care business that stands the test of time while staying rooted in your core values? Amy Munns, owner of Leash 4 Lease, shares how she…
Pet Sitter Confessional580: Why Consistency Beats Intensity
How does consistency impact the long-term success of your pet care business? We explore why steady, reliable actions build stronger client trust and…
Pet Sitter Confessional579: From Legacy to Leadership with Lauren Dunkle
How do you build a thriving business while staying true to its legacy? Lauren Dunkle, owner of The Pet Lady, shares how she transformed her aunt's…
Pet Sitter Confessional578: New Client Experience: Why Your Onboarding Process Matters
How does your onboarding process impact your client relationships? We discuss why a smooth, clear onboarding experience is crucial for building trust and…
Pet Sitter Confessional577: Burnout, Automation, and Private Equity—A Pet Industry Roundtable
What does the future of pet sitting and dog walking look like in a rapidly evolving industry? Collin sits down with four industry leaders—Morgan Weber, Doug…
Pet Sitter Confessional576: From Survival Mode to Sustainability
Do you ever feel like your pet sitting business runs your life? In this episode, we discuss the mental burden that comes with owning a pet care business and…
Pet Sitter Confessional575: Avoiding Google Suspensions: What Every Pet Sitter Must Know with Amy Toman
How do you keep a Google Business Profile working for your business? Amy Toman, owner of Pet Sitter SEO, explains why "almost anyone can get a Google Listing…
Pet Sitter Confessional574: Why the Industry Needs Professionals More Than Ever
Do clients really understand what it means to hire a professional pet sitter, or do they think you're just another neighbor kid with a key? In this episode, we…
Pet Sitter Confessional573: Building a Team That Empowers Your Business with Angela Watts
How do you go from burnout to building a thriving pet care business? In this episode, Angela Watts of Pawsitive Dawg Walking shares her journey of navigating…
Pet Sitter Confessional572: Do People Really Know Your Story?
Do potential clients really know your story, or are you just another pet business in their eyes? In this episode, we explore the power of storytelling in…