Are you doing everything right in your daycare with various cleaning protocols, vaccinations, safety checks, but still dealing with illness outbreaks, stressed dogs, and frustrated clients?

Have you ever stopped to consider that the real problem might be something you can’t even see?

And what if improving your air quality could protect your dogs, your staff and save your business tens of thousands in lost revenue?

In this week’s episode of the Pet Boarding & Daycare Podcast, Dom tunes in from Boston while coaching his Dog Daycare Success Academy members, before sitting down with Annette Uda from Aerapy Animal Health for a fascinating and eye-opening conversation about something most pet business owners never think about… the air inside their building.

Annette shares the deeply personal story behind her company, how a frustrating and ultimately heartbreaking experience with her own dog led her down the path of researching indoor air quality… and how that journey has since helped thousands of facilities create safer, healthier environments. 

But before all that, Dom also dives into some thought-provoking dog news around early dog domestication, and what it really tells us about how dogs are wired… and why enrichment isn’t a luxury, but a necessity.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• The Invisible Risk in Your Facility – Why viruses, bacteria, and airborne contaminants spread faster than you think… and why cleaning surfaces alone isn’t enough.
• Air Quality vs Illness Outbreaks – How poor air circulation and airborne particles can quietly fuel kennel cough, influenza, and other costly issues.
• From Personal Tragedy to Industry Solution – The emotional origin story behind Aerapy Animal Health and how one dog’s legacy is now protecting thousands more.
• What the Research Actually Shows – The results of a three-year shelter study that reduced respiratory infections by up to 87%.
• Why “Safe and Clean” Isn’t the Same Thing – The critical difference between moving air… and actually disinfecting it.

Thanks to this weeks guest Anette Uda. Check out Aerapy Animal Health by clicking here now

 Remember, the next big Barkleigh event is the PB & D Expo West which this year is taking place in Phoenix, Arizona, and…registration is now open. To secure your place click here now

Huge thanks to this weeks amazing show sponsor, Odercide. For your complete odour management solutions go to Odercide.com

Want to work with the World Leading Pet Business Coach?  Join Dom’s Exclusive coaching program The Dog Daycare Success Academy now by clicking here

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

Episode Highlights

[00:51] – Dom opens the show from Boston and shares what he’s been coaching clients on around growth, profit, and scaling.
[01:30] – Introduction to Annette Uda and the focus on indoor air quality in pet care facilities.
[04:00] – Dog News: new research on dog domestication and the idea that dogs may have chosen humans.
[06:32] – What early dog behaviour teaches us about enrichment, purpose, and modern daycare mistakes.
[09:22] – Why boredom and lack of stimulation are behind many behavioural issues in daycare dogs.
[11:20] – Annette shares her personal story and how her dog’s health struggles led to a breakthrough.
[16:23] – What’s actually in the air: viruses, bacteria, and microscopic particles affecting dogs and humans.
[21:06] – The shelter study results: reducing respiratory infections by up to 87%.
[24:10] – Why modern buildings trap harmful airborne particles instead of removing them.
[27:00] – Droplets vs airborne transmission: what most people misunderstand about how illness spreads.
[30:14] – The difference between filtration, ionisation, and UV air disinfection.
[34:00] – Real-world case studies: outbreaks, shutdowns, and how facilities recovered.
[37:18] – Why attending industry events like the Pet Boarding & Daycare Expo can transform your business.