Ep. 101 – Your 2026 Dog Daycare Success Plan! The Lessons Smart Pet Professionals Are Taking into the New Year

Do you feel fired up in January… then somehow end up repeating the same harmful patterns by March?

Are you working harder every year, but not always seeing that effort translate into momentum and profitability?

And what are the most switched-on pet business owners actually doing differently as they head into 2026?

In this New Year’s Eve episode, host Dom Hodgson reflects on the close of 2025 and opens the door on the Elite Mastermind, sharing real, unfiltered lessons from experienced pet business owners who are actively shaping what their next year looks like rather than blindly hoping it turns out better than the last. You’ll hear directly from Elite members as they talk through the biggest lessons they’re carrying into 2026, the habits and decisions they’re deliberately leaving behind, and the changes they wish they’d made sooner. 

Plus, Dom breaks down his own biggest takeaways from 2025, including why enrichment crossed the line from “add-on” to business model, how delegation finally removed him as the bottleneck, and why recurring revenue and continuity remain non-negotiable for calmer, more profitable businesses.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why Annual Goals Fall Apart – And how Elite owners use 90-day planning to keep momentum rolling.
• When Enrichment Becomes the Model – How enrichment stopped being a side offering and became the commercial engine.
• Who, Not How – Why delegation and bandwidth are the real growth unlock for overwhelmed owners.
• The Real Staffing Issue – How unclear standards and soft leadership create most people problems.
• The Power of Continuity – Why memberships, retainers, and recurring revenue reduce stress and panic selling.

Huge thanks to my Elite Mastermind members for sharing their big lessons from 2025.

Want to work with the World Leading Pet Business Coach?

Discover if you’re a good fit to work with Dom by going to www.petbusinessmarketing.com/diamondnow

Canine Labs Testing are the amazing sponsors of this episode. Go to CanineLabsTesting to find out more about their fabulous service that keeps your facility parasite free!

Remember, the next big Barkleigh event is the inaugural Pet Boarding and Daycare, Barkleigh Pet Pros Cruise in January. Go to BarkleighShows.com to book your cabin!

Grab a copy of Dom’s latest book Mission ENRICH by clicking here now

Episode Highlights

[00:51] – Dom introduces the episode on New Year’s Eve and explains why January is really just the start of another quarter.
[03:07] – Why Elite owners plan in 90-day sprints instead of relying on bulky annual resolutions.
[05:43] – When enrichment crossed the line from “add-on” to a core business model you can’t afford to be left behind on.
[07:05] – The “Who Not How” lesson that removed Dom as the bottleneck in his own business.
[09:11] – Why most staffing problems are actually leadership system problems.
[11:29] – How memberships and continuity stabilise cash flow and reduce daily stress.
[13:43] – Why investing in yourself often unlocks the next level of growth.
[18:51] – Elite members share the lessons they’re taking into 2026 — and what they’re leaving behind.
[24:13] – Confidence, pricing, delegation, and finally doing the hard things sooner rather than later.
[42:21] – Dom’s New Year sign-off and setting the tone for a stronger, more intentional 2026.

Huge thanks once again to our fantastic show sponsors Canine Lab Testing. You can learn more about their fast, reliable parasite testing solutions at: www.caninelabtesting.com