638: Competing Smart: What Really Matters in Pet Care Growth
Release Date: 10/13/2025
649: Caring for Senior Pets and Serving Senior People with Angela Dinsmoor
Pet Sitter Confessional
How do we better serve aging pets and their senior owners? Angela Dinsmoor, gerontologist and founder of Grey Whiskers, joins the show to share how her background in human aging informs her unique approach to senior dog care. From adapting grooming practices to handling emotionally complex client conversations, Angela outlines the deep overlap between pet and human aging. She discusses the importance of mental enrichment, emotional sensitivity, and communication with senior clients. This episode sheds light on a growing, underserved part of the pet care industry—and how we can all do better....
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648: How to Build a Business That Runs When You Can’t (Part 1)
Pet Sitter Confessional
What would actually happen to your pet sitting or dog walking business if you couldn’t show up tomorrow? In this episode, we share how a scary experience during COVID forced us to confront just how much our business depended on us personally. We walk through the first four ways to build a more resilient business: having a backup as a solo sitter, creating a team-based system with employee backups, handing off admin tasks, and getting your “in-your-head” knowledge documented. We talk about the mental load of being the only one who knows how to run payroll, schedule, and respond to...
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647: Grassroots Growth: How Collaboration Keeps the Texas Pet Sitters Association Thriving
Pet Sitter Confessional
In every industry, true leadership isn’t about recognition—it’s about service. In pet care, that spirit shows up in those who give their time, share their experience, and create space for others to grow. Few embody that better than Deanna Schaar and Cathy Vaughan of the Texas Pet Sitters Association. What began as a small meet-up in a boarding facility has become one of the most beloved conferences in pet care—an annual, volunteer-led non-profit event that draws attendees from across the country. They share how early chaos and tech mishaps shaped their approach, how they find and...
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646: What Should Your Pet Sitting Insurance Really Cover?
Pet Sitter Confessional
Are you covered for what you actually do today—not what you did last year? We walk through our annual insurance review. We cover the “must-haves”, when bonding makes sense, and why non-owned auto and business property matter once you add staff or an office. We also explain what petsitting business insurance does not cover—and how workers’ comp and personal health insurance fit in. Finally, we share practical risk-management habits and the customer-service “intangibles” we expect from any insurer. Main topics: Core coverage essentials Care, custody & control Non-owned...
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645: Saying No, Growing Smart: Building Your Dream Business with Lindsey Perriello
Pet Sitter Confessional
What does it take to build a successful, heart-centered pet sitting business? Lindsey Perriello shares her path from surgical tech to pet care professional, highlighting the emotional toll of past jobs and how her values shaped the company she leads today. She discusses the challenges of setting boundaries, training staff, and keeping a personal touch with 300+ clients. Lindsey’s approach is rooted in education, empathy, and honesty—qualities she believes all pet sitters should bring to their work. This conversation is full of practical insights and vulnerable moments that reflect the...
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644: Copycats: They Can Copy the Idea, Not the Way You Deliver
Pet Sitter Confessional
What do you do when competitors copy your ideas, wording, or services? In this episode, we share a practical mindset shift: ideas are cheap—execution is everything. We explore how delivery, team training, client experience, and reliability become the differentiators copycats can’t replicate. We talk through stability as a strategy, resisting reactive changes, and doubling down on strengths. We close with concrete ways to serve deeper, not louder, so you lead for years—not minutes. Main topics: Copying vs. true execution Delivery as differentiation Stability as a strategy Serve...
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643: Balancing the Hustle with Miguel Rodriguez
Pet Sitter Confessional
What does it really mean to educate your community while running a thriving pet care business? Miguel Rodriguez of City Dog Pack returns to share how he balances content creation, training, boarding, and walking services—while staying grounded in his values. He opens up about recognizing the value of his time, setting clear policies, and learning to say “no” without guilt. Miguel also explains his shift toward video and course-based learning, and how gratitude reshaped his approach after COVID-19. This conversation is a powerful reminder that being an educator starts with empathy,...
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642: Why the Cat Fanciers Association Just Elevated Professional Cat Sitting
Pet Sitter Confessional
In this episode, we unpack how the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) used its magazine to point cat owners toward insured, trained, professional sitters—despite being sponsored by a gig-app. We explore why that subtle editorial stance signals a cultural shift and how it aligns with PSI’s new global standards. We share what owners are now encouraged to ask: insurance, medical competence, meet-and-greets, backups, and referrals. We also name the gaps (team-based models and continuing education) while celebrating a rising floor for industry expectations. Main topics: CFA’s pro-sitter...
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641: Building an Ethical Pet Business with Helen Motteram
Pet Sitter Confessional
What does it really mean to be a kind and ethical pet care provider? In this episode, Helen Motteram of The Pet Professional Network shares her personal story of burnout, bullying, and the powerful impact of kindness in an industry that often lacks support. She explains how ethical pet care involves both the animals and the humans who love them, and why setting clear boundaries is crucial to sustainable compassion. Helen also unpacks common ethical dilemmas pet sitters face and how we can stay grounded in our values through them. Whether you’re new or experienced, her message encourages you...
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640: Raising the Bar: Inside PSI’s Global Standards for Pet Sitters
Pet Sitter Confessional
What happens when an “unregulated” industry finally publishes standards? We unpack PSI’s new Global Standards for professional pet sitting and dog walking, explaining why standards are the floor—not the ceiling—for ethical care and business practices. We discuss how courts, insurers, and regulators use industry standards to define “reasonable care,” and what that means for documentation, insurance, and client data security. We also outline practical next steps to self-audit your policies, train your team, and communicate compliance to clients. Finally, we share how clearer...
info_outlineWho actually wins when the pet care industry gets bigger, noisier, and more competitive? We break down how the market has matured, why growth feels harder, and why the old “post on Facebook and wait” playbook no longer works. We introduce three market layers—generic/basic, niche/specialized, and high-end/boutique—and explain how our choices determine the effort and spend it takes to get clients. We share practical tactics like building referral engines, forging one-to-one partnerships with vets, trainers, and boutiques, and crafting high-touch client experiences. Most importantly, we show how clarity about who we serve beats trying to be everywhere at once
Main topics:
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Industry maturity & shifting playbook
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Three service layers explained
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Client experience as differentiator
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Referrals and partnership strategies
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Avoiding burnout through clarity
Main takeaway: “Where you choose to compete determines the effort and money needed to get clients.”
If you’re fighting for attention in the same crowded “anyone can do it” space, you’ll pay more—in dollars and energy. Pick your lane: generic, niche, or boutique. Then design everything—from intake to follow-up—around that choice and the client you serve best. Partnerships, referrals, and a high-touch experience compound when your positioning is crystal clear. Stop trying to be everywhere; be unmistakable to the right people.
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Full show notes and transcript
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest.
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