641: Building an Ethical Pet Business with Helen Motteram
Release Date: 10/22/2025
662: The 3 Resets Every Growing Pet Care Business Faces
Pet Sitter Confessional
What happens when the skills that built your pet care business are no longer the ones it needs to grow? In this episode, we respond to a thoughtful listener question about the uncomfortable transition from doing the work to running a company. We unpack why growth often feels harder instead of easier, even when things are “going well.” We walk through three major mindset resets that every owner eventually faces as responsibilities shift. This conversation is about sustainability, leadership, and learning how to care at scale. Main topics: From execution to decisions Passion versus...
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661: Why “Good Enough” Pet Care Isn’t Enough Anymore with Niki Tudge
Pet Sitter Confessional
What does “professional” pet care actually mean—and why does it matter so much right now? Collin sits down with Niki Tudge, founder of the Pet Professional Guild, to talk about the gap between what pet owners assume they’re buying and what many providers actually deliver. Niki shares the eye-opening real-life process she used to hire a pet sitter for her own dogs—and why it convinced her the industry needs higher minimum standards. Together, they discuss practical ways to educate clients, set non-negotiables, and document care like it truly matters. The conversation ends with a...
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660: Starting 2026 on the Right Foot
Pet Sitter Confessional
What if 2026 isn’t about doing more—but about doing what actually lasts? In this episode, we talk about why the end-of-year holiday rush can push pet sitters and dog walkers straight into toxic productivity. We walk through how to name what didn’t work in 2025 (without shame), especially where policies, boundaries, and overcommitment quietly drifted. Then we shift to what did work—life-giving habits, decisions that reduced stress, and systems that keep you steady even when you’re tired. Our goal is simple: a grounded, repeatable, sustainable 2026 built on consistency, not intensity....
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659: Giving Back Through Your Business with Cheyenne Williams
Pet Sitter Confessional
How can you use your pet care business to make a bigger impact? Cheyenne Williams returns to share how community involvement has transformed her life and her business. From leading suicide prevention walks to supporting foster care initiatives, Cheyenne explains how giving back is not just about writing checks—it’s about connection, purpose, and passion. She shares the challenges of balancing business demands with emotional nonprofit work, and how boundaries and clarity of purpose keep her grounded. This conversation is a powerful reminder that we were whole people before our businesses,...
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658: Converting Clients to New Services
Pet Sitter Confessional
What do we do when a service isn’t working anymore—but we don’t want to lose the revenue or the client? In this episode, we walk through how converting clients is leadership, not upselling, and why adding or changing a service isn’t a failure. We break down two conversion scenarios: when the service is a poor fit for the pet/client, and when it’s a poor fit for the business. We share practical strategies for leading with friction points, using observational authority, and making the transition feel low-risk through trials and clear replacement paths. We also talk about the reality...
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657: At The Crossroads in Pet Care with Matthew Kutas
Pet Sitter Confessional
What does the future of the pet service industry look like as technology and client expectations evolve? Matthew Kutas, founder and CEO of Republic of Dog, talks about the challenges and opportunities facing pet care businesses today. He discusses how technology can streamline operations without losing the emotional connection at the heart of the work, and why onboarding is a make-or-break process for client trust. Matthew shares insights on staffing, scaling, and the professionalization of the industry. He also explores how pet care intersects with city planning, corporate wellness, and...
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656: The Commodity Trap and How to Escape It
Pet Sitter Confessional
What happens when clients see your pet care business as interchangeable with everyone else? In this episode, we break down the commodity trap and why it’s not a pricing problem—it’s a positioning problem. We walk through the client, financial, and operational red flags that quietly signal your business is stuck competing on price. We explain why being more trained, more insured, and more professional often hurts more when the market doesn’t reward it. Finally, we share a practical framework for moving from commodity to chosen by selling outcomes, making your process visible, and...
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655: Building a Business Worth Buying with Erin Fenstermaker
Pet Sitter Confessional
Have you ever thought about what happens to your business when you’re ready to step away? In this episode, Erin Fenstermaker, certified exit planner and pet industry veteran, breaks down the key elements that make a pet business valuable and sellable. She discusses the importance of recurring revenue, documented systems, and building a team of employees over independent contractors. Erin also explains what EBITDA is, what influences it, and how emotional readiness impacts a successful exit. Whether you’re brand new or 30 years in, this conversation offers a roadmap to long-term value and...
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654: The Phrase That Changed Our Year
Pet Sitter Confessional
What if the key to protecting your business and sanity is actually learning to care less? In this episode, we share how our unorthodox Word of the Year—“care less”—helped us step back from constant urgency, emotional overload, and decision fatigue. We talk about naming our non-negotiables, especially around safety and standards, while letting go of guilt and overinvestment in pricing pushback, employee drama, and social media opinions. We walk through the practical tools we used, like decision deadlines, “good enough” standards, and release phrases that helped us move from dwelling...
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653: Fear Free Tools for Pet Sitters and Dog Walkers with Melissa Spooner-Raymond
Pet Sitter Confessional
for taking the ‘pet’ out of ‘petrified’. Get 10% off the with promo code PSC10. What does it really mean to be Fear Free certified as a pet sitter or dog walker? In this episode, Collin talks with Melissa Spooner-Raymond, a licensed veterinary technician and veterinary behavior specialist with Fear Free, about practical ways to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress for pets in our care. They explore reading body language, setting realistic goals for each visit, and using “the three Fs”—food, fun, and favorites—to create positive associations. Melissa shares real-world scenarios,...
info_outlineWhat 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 to cultivate personal touch and protect your own wellbeing as part of professional kindness
Main Topics
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Burnout and industry bullying
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Defining kindness in business
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Setting boundaries with clients
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Ethical dilemmas in pet care
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Maintaining personal touch while scaling
Main Takeaway:
“You can’t be friends with everyone. But having a small group of cheerleaders you trust makes all the difference.”
In the pet care industry, it’s easy to feel isolated—especially when you face difficult client relationships or judgment from peers. That’s why it’s essential to find your people. The ones who get it. The ones you can ask the hard questions and be vulnerable with. Not everyone will be your supporter, but when you find your cheerleaders, hold them close—they’re the ones who remind you why you started and help you keep going.
About our guest:
I'm Helen - a Behaviourist, Coach and International Speaker and have loved and worked with animals all of my life. From rescue work, travelling overseas to work with hundreds of dogs, to helping my own dog, Sally, overcome her own fear of other dogs. But it’s not only animals that I'm passionate about. I help kind, ambitious, hardworking pet professionals to have more fun, more time and greater confidence in their business. With a focus on how to create a niche that fits to your personality or branding! I feel we all offer something truly Distinctive and we should embrace our individuality. So that's where I come in. To offer a soundboard and someone who can walk in your shoes. I'm the proud founder of the Pet Professional Network, a community that offers business support and networking for ethical pet professionals all across the globe. When I'm not working I'm running crazy marathons to raise money for bird rescue and spending time with my husband and Mum who've always been an inspiration.
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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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