Episode 292 - How an Aggressive Dog Inspired Katie Casell to Become Miami's Premier Force-Free Dog Trainer
The Poodle to Pitbull Pet Business Podcast
Release Date: 03/24/2023
The Poodle to Pitbull Pet Business Podcast
Are you blindly chasing every trend instead of doubling down on what actually works? Do you mistake creating aimless content for growing the reach of your business? And when was the last time you truly thought for yourself when refining your marketing message? In this reflective solo episode, I kick off the “dog days of summer” by taking a fresh look at the real value of going “back to school”—not for your dog, not for your kids, but for YOU. I discuss why it’s a bad idea for pet pros to be blindly copying trends, and the dangers of business owners outsourcing their brain to AI. I...
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Are you juggling too many different projects - and getting nowhere fast while burning out? Do you keep tweaking things behind the scenes instead of just biting the bullet and launching? And what could happen if you stopped chasing perfection and just hit “go” on your next big idea? In this week’s solo episode, I share some behind the scenes action from a busy week packed with calls, podcast recordings, and, as always, big client breakthroughs. And there’s one thing that keeps cropping no matter if I’m talking to clients who are launching scent spaces, struggling to control labour...
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Are you still doing every little task yourself - even though your business has doubled in size? Have you already hired help… only to find yourself even more stressed and scrambled than before? And what’s the one overlooked area in your business that could unlock serious profit (without adding more chaos)? In this episode, I share a raw and honest update from inside my own business - unpacking the changes I’ve made this year, the hires that didn’t work, and the big moves that are finally helping me regain bandwidth, momentum, and clarity. You’ll hear why even experienced business...
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Are you feeling boxed in by the same old daycare model, but unsure what to change? Ever wondered how a Midwest hotel with go-karts and water slides could teach you to sell more enrichment? And are you still not sold on the idea of Mastermind meetings changing your business trajectory forever? In this episode, I share stories and lessons from a whirlwind US trip that included mastermind meetings, connecting flights (a few more than planned), and a behind-the-scenes tour of Metropolis Resort - an adventure-packed Midwest hotel run by fellow mastermind member Brian Hahn. You’ll hear how ideas...
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Are your prices still based on what your competitors charge… instead of what your service is worth? Are worried about rising costs, inflation and increased competition which means more pet service supply and less dogs to go around? Have you ever wondered what would happen if you spent two days focused on nothing but profit, positioning, and premium clients? In this episode, Dom gives you a behind-the-scenes pass to January’s Dog Daycare Business Bootcamp in Orlando. You’ll hear directly from real pet business owners - like Amy Hillis, Sean Felty, Courtney Barnes, Mikayla Cavaness,...
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What happens when you put thirty pet pros in a room and push them out of their comfort zone? Can just three days really shift your mindset, pricing expectations, and your entire business model? And why do so many attendees say they’ll never look at their facility - or themselves - the same way again? In this week’s episode, we’re taking you behind the scenes at IMPACT 2025: The Dog Daycare Success Summit. You’ll hear live reactions from a whole host of attendees based across the UK, Ireland, and the U.S. - including first-timers and seasoned impact veterans - sharing how what they...
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Are you still undercharging… even though you know your service is worth more? Have you been “meaning to” launch a membership, but keep putting it off? And what would change in your business if you had two days to fix it - surrounded by people on the same path as you? In this episode, I pull back the curtain on the Dog Daycare Business Bootcamp - and shares the raw, unfiltered takeaways from real pet business owners who attended back in January. You’ll hear from the daycare managers, trainers, and owners who came in overwhelmed, undercharging, and unsure… and left with renewed...
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Are you the most pet biz expensive in town – or are still pretending premium pricing doesn’t apply to you? BIG MISTAKE my friend! Is your ‘modest’ price actually holding your business back rather than giving it life? You bet it is! And what’s the REAL cost of undercharging in a high-potential, high-pressure industry like pet care? Well, it could be fatal for your business... In this episode, Dom pulls back the curtain on a never-before-shared segment from last year’s Pet Business Owners Assemble event A.K.A IMPACT – this was a Marvel-themed masterclass that...
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Do your staff really understand what enrichment is - or are they just nodding along and fluffing it? Are your handlers bought into your values, or just clocking in for another day in the play zone? And is your team helping you upsell enrichment - or would they rather do without it altogether? In this episode, I’m fresh off a sun-soaked break in Menorca and back in the garden with the chickens (update incoming on that front!!) Inspired by the “onboarding” process we used to integrate our new hens into the flock, I’m talking about the vital role onboarding plays - not just for clients,...
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Ever wondered why most pet businesses stay stuck in the middle while a few rise to the top? What if you didn’t have to “pay your dues” and could skip straight to the front of the line? And what would your business look like if your competitors couldn’t even see you - let alone catch you? In this sun-soaked, cocktail-fuelled episode recorded just before my summer holiday, I share a sneak peek behind the curtain of my most ambitious event yet: IMPACT 2025: Claim the Crown. You’ll hear how this Game of Thrones-inspired business summit is being crafted to help pet pros dominate their...
info_outlineKatie Casell was born, raised and still still lives in Miami - a true Miamiam - where she now serves the community as Miami's number #1 force-free dog trainer.
Katie has been holding a dog leash since she was in dipers, and grew up with a love for dogs and horses, a passion she inherited from her animal loving dad, who also trained dogs, horses and parrots.
She worked as a groom aged 17, but then fell into a sales job selling pest control, before she started 20 year career with a floral importer.
Katie could see the writing on the wall with her sales job, and so started her own side hustle pet business in 2002. This ran alongside her regular job until 2011, when she adopting an agressive dog called Brisco, the dog who inspired a life-long love and career in dog training.
A cancer scare in 2017 finally gave her the push to follow her passion, and go all in with her dog training business.
Katie has been on thorough training journey learning from some world class training mentors, and she ended up specialising in helping leash reactive and leash agressive dogs with her private one to one training services. She also does puppy sessions to provide some light relief from the intensity of the aggressive dog cases.
In this awesome interview you will discover;
- How creating connections with local vets helped stimulate referrals and bring clients to her fledgling business
- Why Katie and I are cooking up an exclusive, high-end, luxury offer for her affluent dog training clients
- Why she niched to aggresive dogs as an homage to her first dog Brisco.
- Why you need good training AND business mentors IF you want to accelerate your career.
- Why dog trainers need speak to dog owners fears in their marketing materials
- The amazing sliding doors moment that led to Katie finding her husband...
Katie was a great guest, and an awesome coaching client I love working with, you'll get so much from her inspirational story.
To find out more about Katie's services check out her website here
To grab a ticket to the next leg of Dom's USA seminar tour click here
To get access to £1997 worth of FREE pet business marketing materials click here now
You can grab a copy of Dom's brand new book How to Disnify Your Pet Business, click here to get your copy now