Episode 284 - Juggling a Pet Sitting Business, Conference Organising and Adopting Seven Children, with Jessica Milam
The Poodle to Pitbull Pet Business Podcast
Release Date: 02/13/2023
The Poodle to Pitbull Pet Business Podcast
Ever wondered what actually goes into launching a book that could reshape the way dog daycares think about enrichment? What happens when you return from a whirlwind U.S. expo, jump straight into coaching calls, and then dive headfirst into recording your next audiobook? And what is it about enrichment that has daycare owners buzzing, levelling up, and leaving rave reviews within days? In this episode, I check in from a frosty, Christmas-tinged Town Farm to share the story behind the launch of Mission Enrich, my newest (and most unusual) pet business book. Fresh off the plane from Hershey,...
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What really happens when you take your business across the pond and into one of the biggest pet care expos in the world? How do you turn an event stand into a sales machine, attract 20+ new members, and launch a brand-new book in the middle of it all? And what does it take to keep your energy (and sanity) when you’re juggling clients, speaking gigs, and international travel all in one week? In this episode, Me and Tim Jackson check in from Heathrow Airport after an unforgettable week at the Pet Boarding & Daycare Expo in Hershey. Between two days in New York, the Mission ENRICH...
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Ever wondered what breakthroughs are possible when you step away from the business and into a room full of people who “get it”? And what did a room full of those ambitious pet pros learn that helped them raise prices, specialise, and start leading their clients (instead of being led by them)? Did you see we missed last week’s episode and wonder if I had finally taken a day off?, Well, fear ye not because in this episode, I return after a non-stop US trip to share what went down at my latest business bootcamp. After a marathon week in Maryland and Washington — including masterminding...
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Still running your business with sticky notes, spreadsheets, and late-night messages? What if you could turn that chaos into a seamless system that saves you hours, grows your profits, and upsells clients automatically? And what happens when a dog daycare grows 200x in size—and creates the tech to make it all work? In this week’s episode, I sit down with long-time Elite members Sarah and Pete Stevens of K9 Adventures and Pawpal UK to reveal how they went from a disorganised dog van full of cash and confusion… to running one of the UK’s most advanced, organised, and profitable pet care...
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Are you still trying to fix your business problems alone because you’re afraid of outside influence? What could change if you let a fresh pair of eyes look under the hood and point out what you’re missing? And how much faster would you grow if you stopped winging it and started working with people who’ve already been where you want to go? In this week’s episode, I share a field report from Elite member and Enrich U co-founder Tim Jackson, who spent 24 hours on site with fellow Elite members, and Enrich U scholars Sarah and Pete Stevens at K9 Adventures London. Tim reveals how their...
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Are you still treating enrichment like an optional extra instead of the core of your daycare experience? What would change in your business if you stopped cramming more dogs into the yard — and started charging more for a deeper, more meaningful day? And how much easier would life be if your staff, clients, and dogs were all on board with the same enrichment-first philosophy? In this episode, I sit down with enrichment expert and long-time collaborator Tim Jackson to recap the biggest breakthroughs from the 2025 Pet Care Enrichment Summit. Together we share how the industry is shifting away...
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Are you still treating enrichment like an optional extra instead of the foundation of your service? Do your clients really understand the experience you’re selling—or are you still stuck flogging time blocks? And if enrichment is mandatory in zoos, why are so many daycares still offering the bare minimum? Great questions, which all get answered on this weeks show, where I also share a behind-the-scenes update from my busy final quarter of the year—planning events, wrapping up the final touches on my new book, and preparing for the 2025 Pet Care Enrichment Summit. You’ll hear why...
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Are you leaving money on the table by treating enrichment like an optional extra instead of a core service? Do you know how to package and price your enrichment services so they actually make you money? And wouldn’t it help to see what’s working right now for daycares, trainers, and even zookeepers around the world? In this episode, I lift the lid on the upcoming Pet Care Enrichment Summit 2025—the only event of its kind dedicated to turning enrichment into a profit centre for your pet business. You’ll hear from Tim Jackson, Dean of Enrich U, about his brand-new “House of...
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What do experienced pet business owners actually talk about behind closed doors at leadership events? Is it worth travelling across the Atlantic just to sit in a conference room with people you could speak to on Zoom? And do you ever feel like you know what you need to do, but can never work out how to take action? In this episode, I give you an exclusive peek behind the scenes of the Dog Handler Academy Leadership Summit in Chicago—hosted by Eve Molzhon and attended by some of the most ambitious pet business owners in the country. I talk about the true value of being in the same room as...
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What happens when you stop overthinking and get the allow fresh eyes on your business? Could a room full of equally ambitious pet pros be the key to your next big business leap? And how far would you travel for clarity, confidence, and a breakthrough plan you can action immediately? In this episode, I bring you more behind-the-scenes insights from the latest UK Elite Mastermind meeting – this time with two standout guest clips. First, you’ll hear from Jodie Wang, who travelled all the way from Reno, Nevada to attend her second Elite Mastermind of the quarter, this time on UK soil. Then...
info_outlineThis weeks guest is one of the busiest pet professionals I've ever had on the show...
Jessica Milam is the CEO of Fur Services Fur Pets, a thriving pet sitting business in Aubrey, Texas. She also runs a Sign Gypsies franchise, is on the board and plays a big role in the Texas Pet Sitters Conference, and in November 2021 she and hubby Chris adopted seven children!
Born in an entreprenuerial family Jessica was great at maths at school, and ended up using those skills doing accounts and systemising her dads air conditioning business.
She had dreams of starting her own boarding and daycare facility when she finished her degree and bachelor's, but a lack of funds meant
Jessica took the unusual step of starting and growing a pet care business whilst at the same time working full time for her dad. A motorcylce injury forced her to take a step back, and it was then she decided to go full time with Fur Services Fur Pets.
Since then the team has grown dramatically, they just celebrated their best year ever, and won Naaps Pet Sitter of the year 2022.
In this packed episode you will discover;
- Why it's a total trip working in the business with hubby Chris, but why you also need clearly defined roles when you work with family members.
- The unusual benefits that happen when you start a pet business, whilst also working in a full time job
- How to ride the wave of scaling up with staff and letting people go as demand for services changes over the seasons.
- Why there's always an opportunity to start a pet business even if you have no experience, and no money!
- What an organisational team looks like for a national pet sitting conference
- How Jessica survived for nearly six months with hardly any sleep as they adopted a family of seven children aged 6-13!
And much, much more...
Tune in now to find out more about Jessica's amazing story tune in now!
Find out more about Jessica's business click here now
To find out more about the Texas Pet Sitters Conference click here now
To find out about Dom's USA tour of his Grow Your Pet Business FAST! seminar click here now
And if you enjoyed that you should grab a copy of my brand new book How to Disnify Your Pet Business, click here to grab it now
To sign up for Dom's FREE Five Day Disnify Your Pet Business Challenge, click here now
To grab a ticket to IMPACT 23 - The Disnify Your Pet Business Success Summit, click here now