Let's Talk Dog Business Jo & Vicky

In this episode, Jo & Vicky are joined by Sarah Whitehead, an internationally renowned canine behaviour and trainer, speaker, and author. She started working in the industry 35 years ago when only Barbara Woodhouse talked about dog training. At that time, hardly anyone had heard of positive reinforcement clicker training. 

Sarah talks about what working in the industry was like. She, Jo & Vicky discuss how to manage the fact that working as a dog trainer is so stressful and how to reduce your stress levels. Sarah also reveals a really interesting new dog business model which anyone can start providing.

KEY TAKEAWAYS


Research shows that being a dog behaviourist is incredibly stressful.
Sarah´s research has revealed that most dog trainers share remarkably similar personality traits. 
Weirdly, dog trainers are more likely to be blood group A.
Set boundaries and stick to them.
Stop treating your business like a hobby.
Get off the hamster wheel.
Look at things from a client perspective. Ask – is this something my clients really want or need? If it is not, don´t waste your time and energy on it.
People are paying a fortune for pre-trained dogs.
Add an online booking system to your website and the ability to book a call with you.
You learn a lot more from doing than you will from constantly taking courses.
Focus on offering the service that you enjoy delivering.
Imagine what you want your business to look like in a year. Then, take the necessary steps to get there.
Look outside of the dog industry and learn from other successful business owners.

BEST MOMENTS

‘From the outset, go, this is what I want to do, and this is what I don´t and be really comfortable with that. ´

‘We need to make it much easier for people and be much more professional.’

‘Invest in yourself, invest in your business…it will avoid burnout.’

 

GUEST AND EPISODE RESOURCES

https://sarahwhitehead.com/

https://sarahwhitehead.thinkific.com/

SOCIALS AND IMPORTANT LINKS

https://www.tiktok.com/@letstalkdogbusiness

https://www.youtube.com/@LetsTalkDogBusiness

Website www.caninebusinessacademy.com

Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/caninebusinessacademycommunity/

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Meet Jo and Vicky! They bring a combined 25 years of expertise in the canine industry. Jo, with a background in corporate business, and Vicky, a dedicated advocate for rescue organisations, form an unstoppable team. Beyond the mic, their lives are a whirlwind – managing two successful businesses, pursuing a full-time university degree, and parenting two little ones under four. Each of their homes combined is a lively menagerie, housing five dogs and an abundance of chickens.

PODCAST DESCRIPTION

The ultimate hub for dog business enthusiasts! 

Join hosts Jo and Vicky as they unravel the entrepreneurial journey within the canine realm. This podcast delves deep into the business side of owning a dog business, spotlighting inspiring stories of individuals who've seamlessly woven their passion into a profitable lifestyle. Tune in for candid discussions on the human behaviour behind dogs, strategies to attract dream clients, and a behind-the-scenes look at Jo and Vicky's collaborative training ventures. Get ready for client interviews, tales behind the dogs, and insightful perspectives from actual dog owners on what they seek in a trainer. This is your go-to source for navigating the dynamic world where business meets the wagging tails.

In this episode, Jo & Vicky talk about dog training from a client's perspective. They are sitting down with Jess Bolton, who is an author, podcaster and content creator who mostly works on Instagram. Through these mediums, she has been telling the story of Jess her very anxious 10-year-old whippet and their new anxious dog Otto. Sharing her experiences and those of other owners of anxious pets.

Jess explains how specialist trainers have helped her and her husband to understand their anxious dogs. Enabling them to help both dogs, while looking after their own mental health.

KEY TAKEAWAYS


Most dog owners are not well equipped to look after an anxious dog.
Learn how to read your dog´s body language.
Overcoming separation anxiety takes a while, so you have to be really committed.
Jess first got help over Zoom, during the pandemic. Not all anxious dog training has to be done in person.
Some of the behaviours are brought on by medical conditions, which need to be addressed first.
Owning an anxious dog can limit where you can go and when which can negatively impact your mental health. Be aware of this and be strategic about tackling this issue.
Sighthounds are predisposed to anxiety.

BEST MOMENTS

‘She's worried about leaving the house, meeting new people and being anywhere near the edge of her comfort zone. ´

‘With anxious dogs, you have to go straight to the professionals and get yourself some really robust support.’

‘Manage those expectations up front.’

 

EPISODE RESOURCES

https://www.worriedwhippet.co.uk/

Worried Whippet by Jess Bolton - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Worried-Whippet-Book-Bravery-Bolton/dp/1400242126

https://www.instagram.com/worriedwhippet/

Brave Little Podcast - https://shows.acast.com/brave-little-podcast

https://www.tiktok.com/@worriedwhippet

SOCIALS AND IMPORTANT LINKS

https://www.tiktok.com/@letstalkdogbusiness

https://www.youtube.com/@LetsTalkDogBusiness

Website www.caninebusinessacademy.com

Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/caninebusinessacademycommunity/

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Meet Jo and Vicky! They bring a combined 25 years of expertise in the canine industry. Jo, with a background in corporate business, and Vicky, a dedicated advocate for rescue organisations, form an unstoppable team. Beyond the mic, their lives are a whirlwind – managing two successful businesses, pursuing a full-time university degree, and parenting two little ones under four. Each of their homes combined is a lively menagerie, housing five dogs and an abundance of chickens.

PODCAST DESCRIPTION

The ultimate hub for dog business enthusiasts! 

Join hosts Jo and Vicky as they unravel the entrepreneurial journey within the canine realm. This podcast delves deep into the business side of owning a dog business, spotlighting inspiring stories of individuals who've seamlessly woven their passion into a profitable lifestyle. Tune in for candid discussions on the human behaviour behind dogs, strategies to attract dream clients, and a behind-the-scenes look at Jo and Vicky's collaborative training ventures. Get ready for client interviews, tales behind the dogs, and insightful perspectives from actual dog owners on what they seek in a trainer. This is your go-to source for navigating the dynamic world where business meets the wagging tails.

For this episode, Jo & Vicky are joined by the very intriguing Caroline Griffith who is known as The Spiritual Dog Trainer. She is the founder and owner of Canine Flow, which is a way of understanding, training, and being with dogs that is unlike any other. It is a unique spiritual approach that strengthens your connection with your dog and others.

Caroline explains how she learned to do this and how you can do the same. She shares the details of what people learn in her retreats. Including, using hypnotherapy, the Fibonacci sequence, nutrition, and the law of attraction to connect with, help, heal, and train dogs. Invaluable skills that are very much in demand.

KEY TAKEAWAYS


Come back to who you are, what you want to teach, and why. 
Become a warrior, not a worrier who is concerned about where the next £10 is coming from.
Dogs, like humans and all living things, have a life energy flowing through them. 
If you are constantly asking dogs to stop doing something you are blocking their energy flow.
You have to give dogs the chance to ground themselves regularly throughout the day.
Dogs open us up emotionally, which is one reason we are so attracted to living with them.
Energy and magnetic attraction are not woo-woo. It is all real and measurable.
Supporting your body enables you to stay energetic and enthusiastic.

BEST MOMENTS

‘All of my dogs have been not just teachers, but way showers towards a different way of being. ´

‘When we are working with dogs, we are working really with our heart space.’

‘Get into the mind space of your potential client.’

 

GUEST AND EPISODE RESOURCES

https://canineflow.com/

https://www.facebook.com/canineflow/

https://www.facebook.com/LoveWoofandWonder/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnFk5tfT8Cx-43uqJanT1aA

Oracle dog cards - https://canineflow.com/resources/heart-deck 

https://canineflow.com/insights/how-the-fibonacci-sequence-relates-to-dog-training 

SOCIALS

https://www.tiktok.com/@letstalkdogbusiness

https://www.youtube.com/@LetsTalkDogBusiness

https://www.caninebusinessacademy.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/caninebusinessacademycommunity/ 

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Meet Jo and Vicky! They bring a combined 25 years of expertise in the canine industry. Jo, with a background in corporate business, and Vicky, a dedicated advocate for rescue organisations, form an unstoppable team. Beyond the mic, their lives are a whirlwind – managing two successful businesses, pursuing a full-time university degree, and parenting two little ones under four. Each of their homes combined is a lively menagerie, housing five dogs and an abundance of chickens.

PODCAST DESCRIPTION

The ultimate hub for dog business enthusiasts! 

Join hosts Jo and Vicky as they unravel the entrepreneurial journey within the canine realm. This podcast delves deep into the business side of owning a dog business, spotlighting inspiring stories of individuals who've seamlessly woven their passion into a profitable lifestyle. Tune in for candid discussions on the human behaviour behind dogs, strategies to attract dream clients, and a behind-the-scenes look at Jo and Vicky's collaborative training ventures. Get ready for client interviews, tales behind the dogs, and insightful perspectives from actual dog owners on what they seek in a trainer. This is your go-to source for navigating the dynamic world where business meets the wagging tails.

In this episode, Jo & Vicky talk about improving your lead generation and getting in front of people who want your service, piquing their interest and persuading them to get in touch, so that you can turn them into customers. Jo & Vicky share how they have done that in their businesses.

This episode will provide you with  5 simple tips that will immediately improve the effectiveness of your lead generation so that you can secure more business.

KEY TAKEAWAYS


Lead generation is essentially how you get new customers.
Show your face. If you can, include a family picture. People want to know who they are hiring.
Use your name, not just your business name.
Look at your website from a client's point of view. Can they easily navigate it and find what they need?
Making your qualifications and awards the focus of your website will not help potential customers find what they need from you.
Remove the fluff and learn how to write copy that sells.
Ask how people found you and focus on improving that lead source e.g. Google Maps and Facebook.
Put in place prompting processes. That makes sure that you touch base with customers regularly.
Ask for reviews and reply to them.
Don´t ignore negative reviews. Jo & Vicky explain how to tackle them in a way that will help your business.

BEST MOMENTS

‘When it is full of dog pictures, it actually turns people off, because there is no way for them to know who they are going to be working with. ´

‘You really do have to start thinking about that customer journey.’

‘Identify your main traffic driver… ask where are people finding me?’

 

EPISODE RESOURCES

How to Write Copy That Sells - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Write-Copy-Sells-Step-Step/dp/B07VFQBXB7

SOCIALS

https://www.tiktok.com/@letstalkdogbusiness

https://www.youtube.com/@LetsTalkDogBusiness

https://www.caninebusinessacademy.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/caninebusinessacademycommunity/ 

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Meet Jo and Vicky! They bring a combined 25 years of expertise in the canine industry. Jo, with a background in corporate business, and Vicky, a dedicated advocate for rescue organisations, form an unstoppable team. Beyond the mic, their lives are a whirlwind – managing two successful businesses, pursuing a full-time university degree, and parenting two little ones under four. Each of their homes combined is a lively menagerie, housing five dogs and an abundance of chickens.

PODCAST DESCRIPTION

The ultimate hub for dog business enthusiasts! 

Join hosts Jo and Vicky as they unravel the entrepreneurial journey within the canine realm. This podcast delves deep into the business side of owning a dog business, spotlighting inspiring stories of individuals who've seamlessly woven their passion into a profitable lifestyle. Tune in for candid discussions on the human behaviour behind dogs, strategies to attract dream clients, and a behind-the-scenes look at Jo and Vicky's collaborative training ventures. Get ready for client interviews, tales behind the dogs, and insightful perspectives from actual dog owners on what they seek in a trainer. This is your go-to source for navigating the dynamic world where business meets the wagging tails.

In this episode, Jo & Vicky are joined by Tarendeep Kaur, a highly experienced content creator and social media management consultant. She works with small female-led businesses that are struggling to be visible online. Providing them with a service that is tailored to their needs and is designed to take them from small beginnings to having a huge online presence. 

Tarendeep shares her journey, including how she tackled imposter syndrome and overwhelm. As well as sharing some fantastic social media strategies you can start using immediately to promote your business, regardless of what stage you are at.

KEY TAKEAWAYS


If you don´t grow, your business won´t grow.
Learn how to run your business sustainably. Burnout is not a badge of honour.
Social media is used as a search engine to see if the business is real. If you are not on at least one platform and show your face people will not trust you.
Social media is like a playful puppy that always wants attention. Post regularly to look like a real business but don´t let it take over.
Don´t post just for the sake of posting. Figure out what your audience likes or needs and post that.
Your social media manager is a member of your team. Train them and if you don´t like something speak up. Be available for them.
You need to be the one that replies to comments etc.
Social media is free, but to use it well you do have to invest time and maybe hire a consultant.
What works changes, you need to keep up and evolve.
Having an engaged audience is more important than having lots of followers.
Repurpose your content. Tarendeep explains exactly how in the episode. 
Pay attention to the conversations you have with your clients. They contain great ideas for more content.

BEST MOMENTS

‘We can start working small and we can go big. ´

‘The engagement bit is so crucial….People connect with people, not with the logos.’

‘I don't have a big following, but I have a very engaged audience.’

 

EPISODE RESOURCES

https://www.instagram.com/tk_virtuala/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarandeep-kaur-9472211a0/

SOCIALS

https://www.tiktok.com/@letstalkdogbusiness

https://www.youtube.com/@LetsTalkDogBusiness

https://www.caninebusinessacademy.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/caninebusinessacademycommunity/ 

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Meet Jo and Vicky! They bring a combined 25 years of expertise in the canine industry. Jo, with a background in corporate business, and Vicky, a dedicated advocate for rescue organisations, form an unstoppable team. Beyond the mic, their lives are a whirlwind – managing two successful businesses, pursuing a full-time university degree, and parenting two little ones under four. Each of their homes combined is a lively menagerie, housing five dogs and an abundance of chickens.

PODCAST DESCRIPTION

The ultimate hub for dog business enthusiasts! 

Join hosts Jo and Vicky as they unravel the entrepreneurial journey within the canine realm. This podcast delves deep into the business side of owning a dog business, spotlighting inspiring stories of individuals who've seamlessly woven their passion into a profitable lifestyle. Tune in for candid discussions on the human behaviour behind dogs, strategies to attract dream clients, and a behind-the-scenes look at Jo and Vicky's collaborative training ventures. Get ready for client interviews, tales behind the dogs, and insightful perspectives from actual dog owners on what they seek in a trainer. This is your go-to source for navigating the dynamic world where business meets the wagging tails.

Tune into this episode to learn all about, mood hoovers and life laundry. Jo & Vicky are both using these techniques to boost their drive and energy, which is enabling them to build their businesses much faster. You can do the same.

They share ways for you to surround yourself with people who build you up and support you. Positive people who understand and believe in what you want to achieve. When you feel positive, good things happen.

KEY TAKEAWAYS


If most of the conversations you have are negative, it is going to pull you down. Pay attention to who you spend time with.
Surrounding yourself with positive people who encourage you, while still holding you to account makes a huge difference.
Past experiences and the way you think about them have a massive impact on how much belief, drive, and energy you have. Fear holds you back.
Don´t be scared to be your true self. Trying to fit in with others too much is counterproductive.
Joining the right business group is an incredibly powerful way to get the support you need, transform who you are and boost your effectiveness.
Learning how to keep your vibration high enables you to succeed even when things don´t go smoothly. It boosts your resilience.

BEST MOMENTS

‘How can you possibly be the only bright shining star in a group of negative people? ´

‘My business turned over 90 grand within 10 months because of me doing that.’

‘It is very much about leaning into those support groups, finding your people, finding your tribe, finding your network.’

 

SOCIALS

https://www.tiktok.com/@letstalkdogbusiness

https://www.youtube.com/@LetsTalkDogBusiness

https://www.caninebusinessacademy.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/caninebusinessacademycommunity/ 

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Meet Jo and Vicky! They bring a combined 25 years of expertise in the canine industry. Jo, with a background in corporate business, and Vicky, a dedicated advocate for rescue organisations, form an unstoppable team. Beyond the mic, their lives are a whirlwind – managing two successful businesses, pursuing a full-time university degree, and parenting two little ones under four. Each of their homes combined is a lively menagerie, housing five dogs and an abundance of chickens.

PODCAST DESCRIPTION

The ultimate hub for dog business enthusiasts! 

Join hosts Jo and Vicky as they unravel the entrepreneurial journey within the canine realm. This podcast delves deep into the business side of owning a dog business, spotlighting inspiring stories of individuals who've seamlessly woven their passion into a profitable lifestyle. Tune in for candid discussions on the human behaviour behind dogs, strategies to attract dream clients, and a behind-the-scenes look at Jo and Vicky's collaborative training ventures. Get ready for client interviews, tales behind the dogs, and insightful perspectives from actual dog owners on what they seek in a trainer. This is your go-to source for navigating the dynamic world where business meets the wagging tails.