Episode 313 - Disnifying Your Doggy Daycare with Luke Millington from Stay n Play
The Poodle to Pitbull Pet Business Podcast
Release Date: 09/01/2023
Episode 425:
The Poodle to Pitbull Pet Business Podcast
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...
info_outline
Episode 424: The Biggest Breakthroughs from the 2025 Doggy Daycare Business Bootcamp- Pricing Wins, Positioning & Profit Power Plays
The Poodle to Pitbull Pet Business Podcast
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...
info_outline
Episode 423: The Pawpal Story, The All-in-One Pet Care Booking App that Solves your Business Scheduling Woes
The Poodle to Pitbull Pet Business Podcast
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...
info_outline
Episode 422: Stop Going It Alone: Why Smart Dog Daycare Owners Get Help (and Stubborn Ones Stay Stuck)
The Poodle to Pitbull Pet Business Podcast
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...
info_outline
Episode 421: Enrichment In Pet Care Isn’t the Future… It’s the Now: Big Takeaways from the 2025 Pet Care Enrichment Summit
The Poodle to Pitbull Pet Business Podcast
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...
info_outline
Episode 420: Why Enrichment is the Golden Key: How Smart Daycares Are Charging More and Delivering Better
The Poodle to Pitbull Pet Business Podcast
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...
info_outline
Episode 419: The Future is Enrichment: What to Expect at This Year’s Pet Care Enrichment Summit
The Poodle to Pitbull Pet Business Podcast
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...
info_outline
418: Lessons Learned at the Dog Handler Academy Leadership Summit (Plus, 2025 Pet Care Enrichment Summit Sneak Peak…)
The Poodle to Pitbull Pet Business Podcast
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...
info_outline
Episode 417: The Mastermind Advantage: Why Pet Pros Fly Across the World to Fix Their Business
The Poodle to Pitbull Pet Business Podcast
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_outline
Episode 416 - Behind the Scenes at Dom's UK Elite Mastermind
The Poodle to Pitbull Pet Business Podcast
Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at one of my Elite Mastermind events? Curious what top-tier pet business owners actually get out of two days in the room together? And how do you know when you’re ready to join a group like this yourself? In this special episode, I take you inside the September UK Elite Mastermind meeting—with a mic passed around the room so you can hear directly from the members themselves. They open up about their biggest takeaways, leadership lessons, marketing breakthroughs, and the surprising power of just showing up and doing the damn work you promised...
info_outlineStrap in folks, because todays guest has a brilliant pet business story AND an even more amazing doggy origin story to share with you...
I'm talking to Luke Millington, the CEO of Stay N' Play Doggy Daycare, who have two branches in Radcliffe and Bury.
He grew up in Stretford with his older brother Kyle, and enjoyed playing Rugby and trying to play football...
When he was 15 years old, he was sitting watching TV at a friends house Luke was attacked by a dog, and had to have 200 stiches and 6 hours of micro-surgery to fix his face. This transformed him from being someone who would cross a street to meet a dog, to being terrified of dogs for the next two years.
He has has a ton of jobs including Macdonalds - which he LOVED - then as a manager at Pizza Hut, Millies Cookies, a Juice bars, and in retail.
His family members have always ran business, so Luke always had an interest in business, which led to him doing his grooming and training qualifications, and in 2016 he opened Stay N Play Doggy Daycare.
Luke shares how he employed a multi-media approach to promoting his daycare, including posters, social media, networking and his website. This strategy took him from 2 clients on day one, to being full within six months, and in 2019 opened a second location which also offers hydrotherapy.
Tune in to discover;
- How chance conversation on a beach in Turkey led to Luke launching his dream dog business..
- Why you need to 'sell your staff' to reasure your clients, if you want to be able to step back from the business.
- How Luke initially advertised his daycare through networking and using 'guerilla' marketing tactics.
- The pricing mistakes Luke made, which you need to avoid if want to be able to quickly scale a pet business.
- Why Luke believes in doing research and surveys before opening a pet business - so you can tap into the local demand with the services you offer.
- Where they offer daycarre, grooming, training and pets as therapy services, like emotional talking therapies and reading therapies .
- Luke also shares how a visit to a local hospice inspired him to start offering pets as therapy services, which led to Luke developing a program which operates in four schools where he helps children struggling with emotional, talking and reading therapies!
This is a super insighful and inspiring episode, and you'll love listening to Lukes story, enjoy!
To find out more about Luke and what he has going on at Stay n Play click here now
Remember, if you are a USA based pet business owner you need to grab a ticket for my Pet Business Premium Pricing Secrets Masterclass in Orlando on September 30th. This is my last LIVE seminar in the USA in 2023, click here now to grab a ticket.
If you want more help and advice from me then you should grab a copy of my brand new book, How to Disnify Your Pet Business, click here to get your copy now
If you want to join the Pet Business Inner Circle where you can get access to hundreds of trainings and ask Dom anything inside the members only private forum, then click here now
To apply to join Dom's Diamond private coaching program click here now