In this episode of The Business of Pet Care, host Dara Forleo sits down with Eve Molzohon, founder of Dog Handler Academy and a pet care business owner with more than two decades of experience, to explore why structured staff training is essential for safer, more consistent pet care operations. Eve shares how years of running dog daycare, boarding, and training facilities and solving real operational challenges led her to develop a more systematic approach to employee education.

• (00:00:01) - Introduction to the Business of Pet Care
• (00:01:29) - Meet Eve Molzan and Her Path Into Pet Care
• (00:02:36) - Touring Facilities to Learn Best Practices
• (00:05:29) - Building Fun for Pets, Dog Handler Academy, and Possum Pets Country Club
• (00:08:22) - Standing Out in a Crowded Market
• (00:09:09) - Pivoting During COVID and Helping Local Groomers
• (00:12:01) - Key Takeaway: Training and Accountability
• (00:12:48) - Break and Show Recap
• (00:13:18) - Designing Effective Employee Training Programs
• (00:16:47) - How Long Should Training Videos Be?
• (00:17:05) - Teaching the 'Why' Behind Tasks
• (00:18:40) - Reading Dog Body Language During Training
• (00:19:46) - The Growth and Reach of Dog Handler Academy
• (00:21:11) - Culture, SOPs, and Empowering Staff
• (00:22:58) - Beyond the Haircut: Training Focused on Safety
• (00:25:01) - Where to Find Dog Handler Academy
• (00:25:45) - Break: Now Media TV Programming
• (00:26:23) - Industry Standards for Working with Animals
• (00:28:41) - Evolution of Doggy Daycare Practices
• (00:30:01) - How to Choose a Trustworthy Daycare
• (00:33:14) - What Sets Dog Handler Academy Apart
• (00:35:34) - Where to Find Eve and Break
• (00:36:11) - Break: Now Media TV Programming Continued
• (00:36:46) - The Problem with Verbal Affirmation in Training
• (00:38:52) - The Real Cost of Replacing an Employee
• (00:41:11) - Calculating Training Costs and Time
• (00:44:13) - Restaurant Analogy: Shadowing and Checklists
• (00:46:06) - Final Advice: Building a Stronger Training Culture

In this episode of The Business of Pet Care, host Dara Forleo sits down with Sasha Riess, co-founder and CEO of Pure Love and Harmony and founder of the Pure Love and Harmony Institute, to examine why modern dog grooming should go beyond coat care and consider behavior, stress, nutrition, and the human-dog relationship as interconnected parts of canine wellbeing.

• (00:00:01) - Introduction and Meeting Sasha Reese
• (00:02:07) - Sasha's Journey from Show Dog Handler to Groomer
• (00:04:52) - Industry Confusion and Its Impact on Dogs
• (00:07:11) - Losing Sight of the Dog in Business Practices
• (00:09:59) - Defining Holistic and Integrative Pet Care
• (00:12:51) - Break and Show Promo
• (00:14:01) - Building the School and Ecosystem Approach
• (00:16:24) - History of Pet Industry and School Origins
• (00:18:22) - Rebuilding Texas Soul Breed Grooming School
• (00:20:12) - Eliminating Safety Loops and Building Trust
• (00:23:36) - Gadgets, Sales, and Lack of Real Education
• (00:25:06) - Break and Show Promo
• (00:25:45) - Introducing Trauma Awareness in Pet Care
• (00:26:34) - Trauma, Workforce, and the Human-Dog Bond
• (00:31:08) - Generational Shift and Trauma-Aware Living
• (00:34:46) - Question of Profitability Teased Before Break
• (00:35:37) - Contact Info and Break
• (00:37:21) - Return and Recap Before Continuing
• (00:37:59) - Profit Follows Impact, Not the Reverse
• (00:39:40) - Industry Growth During Recession and Emotional Workforce
• (00:43:12) - The Impact Factor Framework for Businesses
• (00:46:50) - Guilt-Based Marketing and Industry Responsibility
• (00:48:37) - Closing Thoughts and Farewell

Pet surrender often begins long before an animal reaches a shelter. In this episode of The Business of Pet Care, host Dara Forleo sits down with BJ Adkins, founder of Animal Angels Foundation and author of The Shift to Prevention, to examine how early intervention can help keep pets and families together during financial, housing, medical, and behavioral challenges.

• (00:00:01) - Introduction to Animal Angels Foundation
• (00:02:01) - Why Pets Get Surrendered
• (00:04:17) - Prevention vs. Adoption Model
• (00:06:00) - Housing Barriers and Prevention Reach
• (00:08:20) - Measuring Impact Over Time
• (00:09:47) - Spay/Neuter Clinics and Expansion
• (00:11:11) - Writing Volume Two & Break
• (00:12:40) - Return from Break: Keeping Pets Home
• (00:13:29) - Personal Motivation and Early Intervention
• (00:15:54) - Connection with Dr. Rachel Geller
• (00:18:00) - Core Programs: SNIP and High Impact Clinics
• (00:21:13) - Pet Help Desk and Resource Network
• (00:22:22) - Role of Groomers in Prevention
• (00:23:40) - Shelters Still Essential - Break
• (00:25:22) - Now Media TV Break
• (00:25:55) - Building the Animal Welfare Resource Network
• (00:28:19) - Event Builder Software Feature
• (00:30:14) - Prevention Fest 2025 Planning
• (00:33:12) - Community Events and Return on Investment
• (00:34:52) - Software Use by Partner Organizations
• (00:36:23) - Landlord Partnership Program Intro
• (00:36:39) - Website and Contact Information - Break
• (00:37:58) - Now Media TV Break Return
• (00:38:39) - Landlord Partnership and Pet Resumes Explained
• (00:41:23) - Pet Resume Benefits and Meet Cotton
• (00:43:37) - First Steps for Pet Owners in Crisis
• (00:44:37) - How Others Can Help and Get Involved
• (00:47:00) - Closing Thoughts and Farewell

In this episode of The Business of Pet Care, host Dara Forleo sits down with racehorse trainer Rachel Sells of RLS Racing to reveal what it actually takes to operate a professional Thoroughbred racing stable while keeping the horse at the center of every decision.

Rachel explains that her approach to owners begins with a clear principle: she advocates for the horse first, building her business through honesty, trust, and word-of-mouth relationships.

• (00:00:01) - Introduction to the Show and Guest
• (00:01:17) - Rachel's Daily Life as a Racehorse Trainer
• (00:04:05) - Building the Business and Trust with Owners
• (00:06:36) - Rachel's Path into Horse Racing
• (00:09:24) - Favorite Racehorses and Personal Stories
• (00:11:48) - Break and Show Promo
• (00:12:50) - A Typical Training Day Explained
• (00:16:01) - Training Track, Pool, and Recovery Tools
• (00:18:12) - Reading Horses and Individualized Training
• (00:21:08) - Managing a Large Stable and Mental Load
• (00:23:37) - Break and Show Promo
• (00:24:10) - Debunking Myths About Racehorse Care
• (00:28:18) - Naming Horses and Emotional Bonds
• (00:29:07) - Industry Changes and HISA Regulations
• (00:32:26) - Breaking Into Horse Racing
• (00:36:12) - Break and Show Promo
• (00:36:43) - Difficult Conversations and Owner Expectations
• (00:39:39) - Business Pressures and Rising Costs
• (00:41:43) - Staffing, Seasons, and Life on the Circuit
• (00:46:46) - Favorite Horses and Closing Thoughts

What does it take to build a pet business that can actually grow, scale, and create lasting impact? In this episode of The Business of Pet Care, host Dara Forleo sits down with Wayne Hartley Jr., registered veterinary technologist, groomer, entrepreneur, and founder of multiple pet industry ventures, to explore why community, collaboration, education, and strong business systems are essential for the future of pet care.

In this forward-thinking episode of The Business of Pet Care, host Dara Forleo welcomes Michelle Huie, Founder and CEO of Shop.Pet, to explore how independent pet businesses can increase revenue without the costs, inventory, and complexity of traditional retail.

Michelle shares how her platform empowers groomers, trainers, veterinarians, pet sitters, daycare operators, and other pet professionals to create personalized online storefronts featuring trusted products they already recommend every day.

• (00:00:02) - The Business of Pet Care
• (00:02:42) - Where everything clicks: Shop.ai
• (00:03:55) - ShopDot CEO on Starting a Business
• (00:09:57) - Pet Business Chat: What's Missing from the System?
• (00:12:48) - The Business of Pet Care
• (00:13:38) - Why Do Pet Professionals Send Recommendations to Their Clients?
• (00:20:08) - Pet Businesses on Shop
• (00:21:57) - Shop.com: Pet Products
• (00:25:30) - Shop for Pets: The Business of Pet Care
• (00:28:14) - Pet Businesses Turn to ShopDot
• (00:32:30) - Pet Business Onboarding with an Update
• (00:37:15) - How to create a Pet Care Website with a storefront
• (00:42:32) - TikTok Shop: Benefits for Pet Businesses
• (00:47:06) - Dara on Shop for Pet Pros
• (00:48:58) - The Business of Pet Care

In this heartfelt episode of The Business of Pet Care, host Dara Forleo welcomes Kate Titus, canine mobility specialist, author, and founder of A Loyal Companion, for an in-depth conversation about one of the most important and emotional topics in pet care: helping dogs maintain mobility, independence, and quality of life after injury, illness, or aging.

In this inspiring episode of The Business of Pet Care, host Dara Forleo welcomes KJ McGlinn, President of KJ Media, founder of PurrCon, media personality, and community-building expert, for a powerful conversation about why the most successful pet businesses don't grow through promotion alone they grow by creating community, connection, and belonging.