608: Why You Shouldn’t Skip Your Mid-Year Review
Pet Sitter Confessional
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 business owners avoid this process, from fear and overwhelm to unclear goals, and offer a practical roadmap to reflect, adjust, and move forward with purpose. We also dive into what to track, how to celebrate your progress, and how to simplify or pivot your goals. Mid-year is not just about performance—it’s about direction, clarity, and peace of mind. Main Topics Mid-year business reviews Setting and tracking goals Common...
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607: Sustainability, Stress, and Success with Wendy Mackay
Pet Sitter Confessional
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 backpacking traveler to thriving business owner, offering a fresh look at how community involvement and flexibility can drive success. She dives into how she developed her signature services like “doggy day outs,” and the power of group walks in rented paddocks. Wendy also opens up about facing burnout, overcoming serious health challenges, and reimagining her business to prioritize her well-being. Her story is a heartfelt reminder that pet...
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606: The Power of Both/And Thinking
Pet Sitter Confessional
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. But these false dichotomies often lead to confused clients, bad service matches, and needless infighting between pet professionals. In this episode, we explore the most common false dichotomies in pet care, how they show up in client conversations and marketing, and how we as pet sitters and dog walkers can communicate more clearly and provide better care by embracing nuance. Because in pet care, it’s rarely either/or — and...
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605: Innovate & Elevate: Pet Care Synergy with Ines McNeil
Pet Sitter Confessional
What happens when dog training meets pet sitting? Ines McNeil, APDT Chair, dives into how the pet care industry can benefit from cross-disciplinary collaboration. She explores innovative training methods, shared challenges, and evolving client expectations. Her conversation also highlights the impact of emerging regulations on pet care practices. Ultimately, she showcases how working together can transform care for both pets and their owners. Main Topics: Bridging Pet Training and Sitting Navigating Industry Legislation Challenges Innovative Dog Training Techniques Building...
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604: Marketing Pet Sitting in a Modern Experience Economy
Pet Sitter Confessional
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 refresh and national pet parent survey offer valuable clues about where the pet care consumer mindset is heading — and what we, as dog walkers and pet sitters, can learn to better serve clients and compete in an increasingly emotional and experience-driven marketplace. In this episode, we explore insights from the survey, including the rise of the emotional experience economy, the power of community connection, and the growing demand...
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603: The Mission of Midwest Pet Sitter Affiliates with Kristin Holzapfel
Pet Sitter Confessional
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 us to share her journey of building a thriving community of pet sitters across the Midwest. She talks about the importance of educating both pet sitters and clients, how to move beyond third-party platforms, and why fostering an open-minded, collaborative culture matters for the future of the pet care industry. We cover how local organizations can raise industry standards, support professional growth, and create lasting connections that...
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602: From Pastels to Pet Care: Crafting a Lasting Legacy
Pet Sitter Confessional
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 300-year-old handcrafted pastel maker, to explore what it means to build a business rooted in quality and culture. It highlights the importance of prioritizing craft over scale, using thoughtful service offerings to meet specific client needs, and collaborating with clients to create personalized care. The conversation also emphasizes the power of storytelling in marketing and preserving company culture through growth and change. You’ll walk...
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601: Not One More Vet with Gigi Tsontos
Pet Sitter Confessional
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 discuss the hidden mental health crisis facing veterinary professionals. Gigi shares the mission of NOMV, the complex stressors vets face, and the resources NOMV provides—from peer support to emergency grants. They also explore how pet sitters and pet parents can shift the culture through empathy, gratitude, and everyday check-ins. It’s a call to action to recognize, respect, and support the emotional toll behind every diagnosis....
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600: Knowing When to Take Action
Pet Sitter Confessional
Have you ever found yourself endlessly planning but never actually launching? This episode explores the common trap of over-planning and perfectionism that keeps business owners stuck. Drawing lessons from Thomas Edison’s relentless experimentation, it contrasts “dwelling” with “doing” and emphasizes the power of messy, iterative action. It unpacks how fear of failure and the sunk cost fallacy often prevent entrepreneurs from testing ideas, and why feedback—not perfection—should guide the next move. With practical tools and real-world examples, the episode encourages you to take...
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599: Standing Out in a Saturated Market with Natalie Durack
Pet Sitter Confessional
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 Services shares how she expanded from the Gold Coast to Brisbane, navigating market differences and competition. She discusses the importance of client communication, onboarding team members, and building a recognizable brand. Natalie also explains how she introduced wedding pet attendance and proposal services, creating new ways for pet parents to include their furry friends in big life moments. Tune in to learn how she sets herself...
info_outlineHow 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 successful pet care businesses, moving across the country, and preparing for her next adventure. She opens up about the emotional and practical challenges of letting go, creating healthy boundaries, and finding new passions after nearly two decades in the industry. She discusses the evolving pet care landscape, the pressure entrepreneurs put on themselves, and the importance of taking space to breathe and reflect. Whether you’re thinking about selling your business, refining your services, or simply looking to reclaim your time, Nicole’s story offers valuable insights and inspiration.
Main topics:
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Selling and transitioning businesses
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Work-life balance and boundaries
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Evolving pet care industry
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Marketing dog walking services
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Personal growth through change
Main takeaway: “I think sometimes when we work in our passion, you can lose that excitement—and every business owner, every athlete, every musician, every actor, anybody that has a passion, that happens.”
That quote from Nicole Packin really hit home for us. When you build a business around something you love—like pet care—it’s easy for that passion to become work, and for that work to consume every part of your life.
It starts innocently enough: you say yes to every client, answer every late-night text, and spend your weekends planning the next big thing. Before you know it, the excitement that once got you out of bed starts to feel like a weight you’re carrying around.
That’s why stepping back on purpose isn’t quitting—it’s resetting. Sometimes, you need space to breathe, to reconnect with why you started in the first place, and to remember that you are more than your business.
Nicole’s story is a powerful reminder that taking a break doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re human—and it could be the first step toward falling in love with your work all over again.
✨ If you’ve ever felt like you’ve lost your spark, this episode is for you. Listen to our conversation with Nicole Packin on Pet Sitter Confessional wherever you get your podcasts.
About our guest:
Nicole Packin is a seasoned entrepreneur and industry innovator with over 18 years of experience in pet care. She founded Miami Pet Concierge, a full-service pet care company, before launching The Packin Method, a mobile dog fitness service in Dallas. Nicole’s passion for canine health and wellness led her to develop unique services focused on physical fitness for pets. After successfully selling both businesses, she is now launching Healthy Hounds Fitness Club in Colorado, combining her love for adventure and pet wellness. Nicole’s expertise spans pet sitting, dog walking, canine massage, and fitness training, and she is a sought-after voice in the pet care community.
Links:
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