ife as a small business owner can be incredibly taxing. Most owners feel like they have a never-ending laundry list of worries hanging over them, and for good reason—especially in the beginning.

Every part of opening and operating a business can be demanding, and even more so in pet care. After all, pet care facility owners are responsible for the wellness and safety of living beings who can’t talk. And if that’s not enough pressure, many of these owners put their financial futures at stake…

They invest in buildings, property improvements, quality staff and countless other important expenses. Most don’t expect it to be easy at first, but they work hard and hope to develop a rewarding and successful business. Unfortunately, so many owners get worn down and become disillusioned because they haven’t reached that level yet.

f you’re anything like most pet business owners, you probably sit in one of two camps when artificial intelligence (AI) and, specifically, ChatCPT are mentioned. Your reaction will either be, “What are you talking about?” or “OMG ChatGPT has changed my life!”

The funny thing is, it’s amazing how quickly you can jump from group one to group two once you’ve learned what it is—and tried it out for yourself.

So, what is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is a remarkable AI language model developed by OpenAI. It can understand and generate human-like text in conversations. Think of it as your virtual chat companion, ready to provide assistance, answer questions and engage in meaningful discussions. ChatGPT can help pet business owners by offering insights, ideas and suggestions on various topics, such as marketing strategies, customer communication and problem-solving.

he demand for pet boarding and daycare services is at an all-time high, and pet parents are not willing to settle for the first facility they come across. Dogs and cats are no longer regarded as “just pets,” but are now considered loved members of the family.

If you’re ready to get with the times and outshine your competition, you won’t want to miss the 2023 Pet Boarding & Daycare Expo!

Taking place in Hershey, PA, November 6th-9th, the largest industry event for boarding and daycare professionals will feature more new speakers than ever before sharing information that is invaluable to all pet care businesses, no matter the size.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand, there are seminars available for every stage of pet professional, including entry-level staff.

The expo will kick off Monday afternoon with the four-hour certificate program, “Professional Pet Boarding Infectious Disease Management Certification,” which is packed with the most up-to-date information on infectious canine and feline diseases.

Monday evening we welcome everyone to attend the Keynote Address, “The Changing Face of the U.S. Pet Owner,” presented by Geoff Klapisch and Beke Lubeach of DOGTV. This duo will take you on a journey highlighting the dynamic landscape of today’s pet owner and its impact on the businesses that service them.

Seminars will continue all day Tuesday through Thursday covering a variety of topics, all specific to the boarding and daycare industry, from marketing and staffing to dog behavior and cleaning. Packages are available for the full schedule of education, or you can pick and choose which classes interest you.

A ONE-OF-A-KIND EXPERIENCE!

ary Khachatryan opened his first facility, South Park Doggie, in 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Gary knew there was a need for the services they provided—daycare, boarding, training and grooming—but what Gary didn’t know, was that he was going to embark on the adventure of a lifetime…

“When COVID hit, people stopped traveling and bringing their dogs in for normal daycare,” says Gary Khachatryan, founder and owner of South Park Doggie. “My clients told me that they, not just their dogs, missed coming to the facility and interacting with other owners and their pets. They relayed a true sadness that they could not experience being with other dog owners and have that social connection with them.”

Gary listened his clients’ wants and needs, and then had a brainstorm: “I got the idea of building the world’s first theme-park-style playcare and staycare for dogs,” Gary says. “I wanted to create a resort with an activity-filled atmosphere where learning would be fun for the dogs, and I also wanted to incorporate a way for the owners to interact and participate with their dogs.”

ontinual observation of body language during a dog’s stay in the pet care facility is a good practice to keep yourself safe, and to keep the dogs happy and healthy as you interact with and care for them. When working in activity areas, dog daycare groups, off-leash play areas, pools, training areas or with special equipment like treadmills, it’s especially important to closely observe body language of the dogs in your care. Aside from helping to keep yourself and other dogs safe, body language changes can also serve as an early warning signal of discomfort or illness.

In addition to the areas listed above, the following situations in a pet care facility can pose a safety risk and require close observation of body language as well as good handling techniques:

• Entering an enclosure with a pet that is uncomfortable in the environment or is highly excited by human contact.
• Feeding dogs that resource-guard (including picking up dishes after mealtime).
• Feeding multiple dogs in the same enclosure.
• Removing personal possessions while the dog is in the enclosure (if they resource-guard).
• Exiting an enclosure with a pet that is uncomfortable, wants to escape or has poor gate manners.

n the modern world, endless information is readily available at our fingertips. The internet has given everyone access to becoming an “expert” on any subject. Ironically, this abundance of free information only increases the need for true experts—industry leaders that not only work to stay ahead of trends, but who also take the time to assist educated consumers in deciphering between facts and fluff and building on what they’ve learned on their own.

At this moment, health and wellness—both physical and emotional—are now front and center in the minds of pet guardians. As experts, we understand these subjects are highly individualized, and we can no longer get by with a one-size-fits-all mindset regarding how we care for our animals. With unique personalities and physiologies, different dogs have different needs in all aspects of life. As a result, dog daycare and boarding facilities have adapted to the new expectations of well-researched clients. Furthermore, knowing these expectations provides an opportunity for staff to add to a client’s educational journey. This is a chance to help clients not only understand how we tailor each dog’s experience, but to also appreciate why we do it.