Let's Talk Dog Business

DESCRIPTION Dog trainers are struggling – for many it is because they have drifted into running a business that hasn´t kept pace with how the market has changed. In this episode, Jo & Vicky talk directly to force-free trainers who are struggling to fill classes and feel pressured to drop their prices while quietly sensing “something has shifted” in the industry but are not quite sure how. They reveal what’s actually changed, why joining the race to the bottom won’t work, and how to build bespoke, high-value programmes that are genuinely useful for modern, time-poor owners as well as profitable and sustainable for you. Listen in to move beyond the 90s class model and  start thinking like a future-focused, industry-aware, dog pro. We've got a brand-new business health check for you - it´ll show you exactly where your business is working really fucking well, and where you are haemorrhaging time, money, and energy - all in the time it takes to make a cuppa. Just click the link to take our business health check quiz -https://quiz.caninebusinessacademy.com/health-check  KEY TAKEAWAYS Dog training is stuck in 1990 – trainers are still selling one‑offs, 3 pack sessions, and group classes that don’t fit how people live now and do not incorporate the latest training science. The more educated the public becomes about dogs, the more they’ll question why you’re still selling outdated, cookie‑cutter services.  Owners want a dog that listens, settles in public, ignores distractions, and can relax under the pub table, not one that is good at fancy exercises. The question isn’t “Is there demand?” it is “Do I offer a good ROI of time and money for today´s owners?” There is plenty of demand including for puppy classes. Racing to the bottom on price is a fear reaction, not a strategy.  In a world of YT and ChatGPT, ad hoc, low‑ticket sessions are easy to replace; high‑touch, outcome‑focused programmes and real human support are not. Group classes force you to deliver one plan to eight different dog–human teams - key problems go unaddressed and some owners feel unseen. Having a niche won´t limit you. Being “the scent work guy” makes you stand out. Stop mass marketing, target a specific need instead. Back yourself - design offers you love delivering. It makes it easier for clients to trust you, commit, and get results.  BEST MOMENTS “We need to change … from these archaic, old-fashioned models that have been going since the 90s. It´s 2026.” “People listening to this are getting one or two people in a puppy class, where you'd normally fill it with eight people.” “There is such a great opportunity this year, to really market yourself to the minority and start moving away from mass marketing.” “Everyone seems to be on a race to the bottom … I can't compete with £10 session.” “We really have to start connecting on that human level again.” “Be playful, be creative with your offers.” IIMPORTANT LINKS https://www.tiktok.com/@letstalkdogbusiness https://www.youtube.com/@LetsTalkDogBusiness Website www.caninebusinessacademy.com Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/caninebusinessacademycommunity Let´s Talk Dog Business Strategy Book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lets-Talk-Dog-Business-Strategy/dp/1068791705 Email: [email protected] ABOUT THE HOSTS We’re Jo Moorcroft and Vicky Davies. Force-free dog trainers, business strategists, and co-founders of Canine Business Academy. Collectively, we’ve been dog training for nearly three decades, built a six-figure dog training business, and grown CBA into a multi–six-figure global brand, all while raising kids, a university degree and life life'ing. Featured on BBC, FOX and NBC, and authors of Let’s Talk Dog Business Strategy. Giving a shit is the strategy. Getting shit done is the method. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

DESCRIPTION Running a dog business is about so much more than training dogs - it’s about working with people who are busy, overwhelmed, and often unsure of where to start. Today, Jo & Vicky are joined by clinical animal behaviourist Lisa Sinnott, who specialises in reactivity, aggression, and, crucially, helping humans change alongside their dogs.  Lisa shares how to move beyond 15-page reports, cut the jargon, and make your training plans genuinely doable for real-life clients. You’ll hear how to simplify the way you communicate, use motivational interviewing to build true buy-in, and support owners in a way that fits their actual lives—not the ideal ones in your head. We've got a brand-new business health check for you - it´ll show you exactly where your business is working really fucking well, and where you are haemorrhaging time, money, and energy - all in the time it takes to make a cuppa. Just click the link to take our business health check quiz -https://quiz.caninebusinessacademy.com/health-check  KEY TAKEAWAYS You can’t change dogs without changing humans first.  Your job isn’t to brain-dump everything you know; it’s to give the right amount of information at the right time in the right format for that person.  The more you understand people’s limits, motivations, and real lives, the more your training actually sticks.  Break behaviour change into one priority at a time and accept “good enough” progress. Co-create the plan with owners. Ask them what’s realistic, check how willing and confident they feel, and shape the steps around their actual life and their dog´s needs. Clients don’t fail because they don’t care; they fail because the plan doesn’t fit their life. Design for time-poor, overwhelmed humans, not fantasy clients. Jargon and labels can trigger shame, defensiveness, or confusion. Plain language, concrete behaviour descriptions, and good analogies build understanding and trust.  Simple tools e.g. traffic light logs, WhatsApp check-ins, and one clear “start here” box in a report makes progress visible and keeps clients motivated even on bad days. When clients feel safe, respected, and not judged, they’ll tell you the truth. Honesty leads to change in both human and dog behaviour. BEST MOMENTS “Start off with the biggest priority, then, gradually snowballing and doing other things from there is the way to go.” “If change is motivated by discomfort, it doesn't stick, whereas change can be fostered by empathy and understanding and seeing things from different people's perspectives.” “It's our responsibility to meet people where they are and then bring them up to our knowledge.” “If they make you feel rubbish or defensive you won't listen well. I don´t listen well to people that make me feel like crap.” “Roll with the resistance.” EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.stpawstrainingacademy.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/people/St-Paws-Training-Academy https://www.tiktok.com/@stpawstraining SOCIALS AND IMPORTANT LINKS https://www.tiktok.com/@letstalkdogbusiness https://www.youtube.com/@LetsTalkDogBusiness www.caninebusinessacademy.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/caninebusinessacademycommunity Let´s Talk Dog Business Strategy Book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lets-Talk-Dog-Business-Strategy/dp/1068791705 Email: [email protected] ABOUT THE HOSTS We’re Jo Moorcroft and Vicky Davies. Force-free dog trainers, business strategists and co-founders of Canine Business Academy. Collectively, we’ve been dog training for nearly three decades, built a six-figure dog training business, and grown CBA into a multi–six-figure global brand, all while raising kids, a university degree and life life'ing. Featured on BBC, FOX and NBC, and authors of Let’s Talk Dog Business Strategy. Giving a shit is the strategy. Getting shit done is the method. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

DESCRIPTION Are you stuck on the pricing hamster wheel in your dog business – running classes, squeezing in 1:1s, but still not paying yourself properly? Today, Jo & Vicky take a more in-depth look at how much a dog trainer should charge. They unpack why asking “What are other trainers charging?” is the wrong starting point, how to work out what you need to take home, and what it really means when your current prices demand you to take on 40+ new clients a month just to survive.  You will further hone how you assess what you charge and understand why high-ticket 1:1 services can be a smarter first-phase strategy than low-ticket classes.  We've got a brand-new business health check for you - it´ll show you exactly where your business is working really fucking well, and where you are haemorrhaging time, money and energy - all in the time it takes to make a cuppa. Just click the link to take our business health check quiz -https://quiz.caninebusinessacademy.com/health-check  KEY TAKEAWAYS Knowing “how much dog trainers charge” is useless. What you charge needs to start from what you personally need to take home. Look at your current services, pick the one that sells best and figure out how many of those you need to sell per month. When you do the maths and realise you need 40+ new clients a month, you know your business model is not viable. Your capacity isn’t just about "hours in the diary” – it’s childcare, dogs, clubs, energy levels, and when you actually work best. Your pricing has to reflect your real life, not a fantasy schedule. The idea “clients will only come at evenings and weekends” is wrong. Jo & Vicky explain how to identify and actively attract people who can train during the day. Classes that don’t fill, or super‑cheap sessions e.g. £3 drop‑ins, create a lose–lose situation. They drain your time and energy, slash what client´s think your time is worth and rarely deliver good results so you put clients off rather than tempting them to book more.  High‑ticket, 1:1 offers make it easier to hit your income goals with fewer clients. You provide far better support, protect your time and avoid burnout.  Life will keep changing - kids, health, travel, regulations, overheads – so don´t lock yourself into an inflexible model that only works for one perfect season of your life.  BEST MOMENTS “Rather than what should I charge? They ask, what do people charge? So, I can copy.” “Think to yourself, Is that realistic. How much of you does that take up? Time wise, energy wise?” “We've got to be offering something that is going to be getting people a good result.” “Sometimes life happens to you as well, and your time gets taken away. So, things have to adapt.” SOCIALS AND IMPORTANT LINKS https://www.tiktok.com/@letstalkdogbusiness https://www.youtube.com/@LetsTalkDogBusiness www.caninebusinessacademy.com Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/caninebusinessacademycommunity Let´s Talk Dog Business Strategy Book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lets-Talk-Dog-Business-Strategy/dp/1068791705 Email: [email protected] ABOUT THE HOSTS We’re Jo Moorcroft and Vicky Davies. Force-free dog trainers, business strategists, and co-founders of Canine Business Academy. Collectively, we’ve been dog training for nearly three decades, built a six-figure dog training business, and grown CBA into a multi–six-figure global brand, all while raising kids, a university degree and life life'ing. Featured on BBC, FOX and NBC, and authors of Let’s Talk Dog Business Strategy. Giving a shit is the strategy. Getting shit done is the method. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

DESCRIPTION Are you struggling to turn your loyal followers into actual paying clients, or wondering if all that time on social media is really worth it for your dog business? Today, Jo and Vicky are joined by Tori Mistik, founder of Wear Wag Repeat, canine enrichment expert, and long-time petpreneur. Tori shares how she grew a niche dog brand over 13 years, why a small but loyal audience beats viral views, and how email marketing can quietly become the most powerful part of your digital strategy. This episode is about the wisdom (or foolishness) of shifting your niche, offering low-ticket memberships vs high-ticket offers, and building genuine trust by being more you. We've got a brand-new business health check for you - it´ll show you exactly where your business is working really fucking well, and where you are haemorrhaging time, money and energy - all in the time it takes to make a cuppa. Just click the link to take our business health check quiz -https://quiz.caninebusinessacademy.com/health-check  KEY TAKEAWAYS A small, loyal audience that trusts you outperforms a big, distracted audience.  Consistent, story-led emails enable you to make genuine connections and sell more than any social media platform. To feed the algorithms you need to be clear e.g. on Instagram you have to actually use some captions that say “I am a dog trainer specialising in (your niche)". Being general gets you lost in the crowd, being specific gets you in front of people who want what you offer. Every pivot or niche shift needs fresh proof, stories, and reassurance. Even your most loyal followers and buyers need to be convinced all over again that your new offer or direction is for them. Viral views and follower counts are vanity metrics unless they lead to real relationships, enquiries, or sales.  For most dog businesses, it’s smarter to start with a focused, high-touch, high-ticket offer, then add lower-ticket products later.  The internet is Times Square: to be seen, you need clarity, consistency, and a simple message repeated everywhere.  True enrichment – for dogs and for business – is built from small, intentional actions repeated over time, not one flashy shortcut.  BEST MOMENTS "I'll think how would I write this subject line if I was sending it to my sister Addie? How would I write this email so that it's not coming across as a sales and marketing email." "You don't necessarily need a larger audience. You really want to focus on creating a more loyal audience." "I've never been able to follow a content calendar... I latch on to those moments of momentum and schedule stuff ahead." "It's actually harder to sell anything low ticket than it is high ticket." GUEST RESOURCES http://toriknowsdogs.com https://wearwagrepeat.com https://www.youtube.com/@ToriMistick 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 Let´s Talk Dog Business Strategy Book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lets-Talk-Dog-Business-Strategy/dp/1068791705 Email: [email protected] ABOUT THE HOSTS We’re Jo Moorcroft and Vicky Davies. Force-free dog trainers, business strategists, and co-founders of Canine Business Academy. Collectively, we’ve been dog training for nearly three decades, built a six-figure dog training business, and grown CBA into a multi–six-figure global brand, all while raising kids, a university degree and life life'ing. Featured on BBC, FOX and NBC, and authors of Let’s Talk Dog Business Strategy. Giving a shit is the strategy. Getting shit done is the method. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

DESCRIPTION Are you collecting courses, certificates, and dog training books like a CPD junkie? Taking course after course without any real purpose behind what you are learning? In this episode, Jo & Vicky unpack the vital role CPD (Continuous Professional Development) plays in the dog training world. They explore how easy it is to slide into learning for learning’s sake, fuel imposter syndrome, and drift away from your original purpose – and how to flip CPD into something intentional and aligned with your niche, your clients and the business you actually want to run. KEY TAKEAWAYS CPD should support your strategy, not constantly rewrite it – choose learning that moves you toward the business you actually want to run.  Ask yourself why am I studying this, what am I going to do with this knowledge. Don´t do a course, then shoehorn that service into your business to justify the course. Purposeful, well-chosen CPD deepens your impact; endless courses without a plan just fuel overwhelm and self-doubt. Both formal education and firsthand experience matter – it’s how you blend and apply them that grows your confidence and your business. Your niche and offers are allowed to evolve; testing, pivoting, and dropping what doesn’t fit is part of building a sustainable dog business. Loving learning for its own sake is valid, as long as you’re honest with yourself and don’t force every new idea you pick up into your services. BEST MOMENTS “Knowledge is definitely power, but knowledge can be a curse as well .” “I am a massive CPD junkie. I f**ing love doing all of the dog knowledge courses.” “The skill is having the ability to do both - be aware of what you want your education skill level to be and knowing how you want to utilise that in your business.” “Don't overwhelm yourself by doing too much for the sake of doing it and getting FOMO around, not going to these events.” 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 Let´s Talk Dog Business Strategy Book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lets-Talk-Dog-Business-Strategy/dp/1068791705 Email: [email protected] Quiz: https://quiz.caninebusinessacademy.com/health-check ABOUT THE HOSTS We’re Jo Moorcroft and Vicky Davies. Force-free dog trainers, business strategists, and co-founders of Canine Business Academy. Collectively, we’ve been dog training for nearly three decades, built a six-figure dog training business, and grown CBA into a multi–six-figure global brand, all while raising kids, a university degree and life life'ing. Featured on BBC, FOX and NBC, and authors of Let’s Talk Dog Business Strategy. Giving a shit is the strategy. Getting shit done is the method. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/