© 2022 Barkleigh Productions
© 2022 Barkleigh Productions
Thousands of years ago, humans domesticated the gray wolf and began tweaking and perfecting the species that would eventually become man’s best friend. Fast forward to today, and we now have nearly 200 AKC-recognized dog breeds that have become an integral part of our everyday lives. They are so important to us that we often […]
Being faced with a pandemic was an overwhelming, stressful and unexpected challenge. Operating a business during a pandemic may have felt impossible. Finding and keeping staff was at the top of the list of difficulties. Learning continuously-changing safety protocols and keeping lines of communication open continue to be an obstacle course for mental health and […]
It’s been a year like no other. Many of the personal lessons I have learned during the COVID pandemic cross over to the business, which I suppose is not surprising when it is a small family-run business. Prior to COVID we were thriving, which is crazy to think of in a very rural area of New York like ours. […]
With a pent-up need to get out of the house, people are finally traveling in droves. This means a parade of furry guests who need your services—but do you have the staff to handle it? For many pet care businesses, COVID meant downsizing, and just as many are finding it harder than ever to find […]
If you have ever been to or heard about Mardi Gras, you know it is THE place to have fun and party. The guests of Mary Mac’s Doggie Retreat, located in New Orleans, Louisiana, enjoy luxurious accommodations and specialized activities that make every day a paw-ty. Owner/operator Courtney McWilliams has developed a unique approach to […]
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, dog trainers had to cancel group classes and were not able to meet clients in person because of safety restrictions. At the same time, pet owners acquired more pets and needed help with training. So, dog trainers had to find a safe way to help people train their pets. Thank […]
The pet boarding and daycare industry has proven to be one of the few established industries to achieve consistent growth over the past decade. Evolving consumer attitudes toward their pets have driven growth as an increasing number of pet owners now treat their pets like family members. This trend has led to rising demand for […]
With more families predicted to travel this holiday season than last year, now is the time to start attracting your holiday boarding clients. This is the year to have a well-planned-out strategy to entice existing and new clients for feline boarding. As many businesses are eager to start making up for the lost profits of […]
Let’s face itas great as our facilities are, they’re not home, and we’re not our guest dogs’ humans. So, at least in the beginning, there’s some level of wariness for most dogs. For some the caution goes away quickly, but for many—especially with the high number of “pandemic puppies” we’re all seeing—fear accompanies most […]
As a leader, I’m sure you’ve had those days. The ones where it feels like no one is doing their job and you say to yourself, “If everyone would just do what I tell them to, everything would be great.” Perhaps that feeling may ring true in the moment, but what you’ve described is a […]
If every pet could be completely in charge of their lives and be the ones to choose which facility they’d like to stay at; if they could be the ones paying the bills or expressing any complaints, then you’d definitely be in the pet business. However, that’s not the case at all. These pets are […]
“Our story is a bit different from many others,” says Rachel Brix, owner/operator of Percy’s Playground. We are the Ozarks’ only canine enrichment center. We offer dog daycare and boarding, but without playgroups. Instead, we focus on individualized dog/human interaction, enrichment, and client education.” The approach Rachel and her husband, Ryan, use is dog-centered and […]