Are you still running your daycare like a giant dog mosh pit while clients are demanding something more personalised?

Have you noticed more dogs struggling in traditional group play more stress, more overstimulation, more behavioural issues?

And what if the future of daycare isn’t “more dogs” but better experiences for the right dogs?

In this week’s episode of the Pet Boarding & Daycare Podcast, Dom sits down with Mandy Ekins from Manners Matter Training & Dog Daycare to unpack one of the biggest shifts happening in the pet care industry right now: the move away from chaotic, warehouse-style daycare and toward structured enrichment experiences that actually improve dogs’ lives.

Mandy shares her fascinating journey from posting dog training ads on Craigslist to building one of the few remaining independently owned daycare businesses in her area, complete with enrichment programmes, day training, trick training, scent work, and customised canine experiences.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why Traditional Daycare Is Breaking Down – The hidden problems with “warehouse-style” daycare and why more owners are looking for something different.
• The Trick Training Upsell That Changed Everything – How a simple “Trick of the Month” idea became the gateway to a full enrichment-based business model.
• How to Transition Clients into Enrichment – Mandy explains how she repositioned her services without losing her entire client base.
• The Psychology Behind Better Buy-In – Why framing enrichment as an “exclusive beta programme” dramatically increased client adoption.
• Why Smaller Groups Often Work Better – How reducing dog numbers actually improved the experience for dogs, staff, and owners.
• The Emotional Impact of Great Daycare – Real stories of senior dogs, health discoveries, and how daycare can genuinely improve quality of life.

Thanks to this weeks awesome guest Mandy Eakins! Check out Mandy’s facility and services here 

Remember, the next PB & D Expo is taking place in Phoenix, Arizona on May 25^th-28^th. That is just two weeks away. To grab a ticket and secure your place click here now

Huge thanks to this week’s amazing show sponsors, Kuranda and Run Loyal!

Built for dogs who destroy everything else, Kuranda beds are chew-proof, raised, and ridiculously durable.They keep dogs cool, comfortable, and off the hard floor — which is why kennels swear by them. Check out Kurandahere

Want better a better scheduling and booking app customized to your branding? Check out runloyal.com

Want to work with the World Leading Pet Business Coach?  Add your name to the waitlist for 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

[01:52] – Dom previews the upcoming Phoenix Expo and why events like this can accelerate business growth.
[06:00] – Dog News: the husky who escaped the vet… to make a run for daycare instead.
[07:15] – Why daycare should be positioned as enrichment, not just “dog babysitting.”
[08:20] – Disney’s Animal Kingdom enrichment ideas and how daycares can steal them.
[11:37] – Mandy joins the show and shares how she went from Craigslist trainer to daycare owner.
[14:12] – Working alongside a veterinary behaviourist and building a different kind of daycare.
[17:47] – Why Mandy intentionally reduced dog numbers inside the facility in order to offer a better service for both her and the dogs.
[18:22] – The early origins of enrichment: Mandy’s “Trick of the Month.”
[22:19] – Why some clients resisted change… and why its important to accept that you can’t please everybody all the time.
[24:27] – The “exclusive beta programme” strategy that helped clients embrace enrichment.
[36:15] – Competing against nearby franchises without becoming “cheap daycare.”
[37:36] – Mandy opens up about the future of the business and the possibility of selling.