Ep. 79: Scouts Honor Leadership Lessons: How to Build a Dream Team That Runs and Grows Your Dog Daycare Without You

Do you have rock-solid systems and procedures in place so if you step back from the day to day things continue to grow?

Could your team keep things running if you were suddenly out for weeks – or even months?

And how do you deal with an overflow of eager clients you feel you just can’t say no to?

In Part Two of this powerhouse interview, Dom is joined again by Allison Jacobs of Scouts Honor Pet Retreat. Allison opens up about the recent health crisis that forced her out of the business – and shares lessons on firing staff that don’t fit (even the experienced ones), why she ditched the “cool boss” persona, and how her managers now run enrichment, staffing, and ops better than she ever could on her own.

You’ll hear how Allison broke through mental roadblocks, fixed a pricing model that was draining profits, and built a leadership team that didn’t just survive without her, but thrived in her absence.

Plus, in this week’s dog news Dom shares a story about puppies and stingrays, and why socialisation is still one of the most powerful – but overlooked – ways to position your daycare.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

Built for the Storm – How Allison prepared her business to run without her – then watched it grow while she recovered.
The “Cool Boss” Trap – Why trying to be liked can wreck your culture, and how tough conversations saved her leadership team.
From Burnout to Buy-In – How clear systems and weekly meetings changed how her managers lead (and how her staff shows up).
Socialisation Reboot – Why a story about puppies at the aquarium proves your facility can be so much more than playtime.
Fix the Thing You’re Avoiding – Dom’s no-nonsense reminder that the scariest issues usually hold the biggest growth.

Huge thanks to this week’s awesome guest Allison. You can find out more about what Allison, Kristen and Henry are doing at Scouts Honor by going to www.scoutshonorpetretreat.com

Learn more about Dom’s coaching programs and how to build a premium pet care business, visit: www.petbusinessmarketing.com/diamondnow

The July/August issue of the Pet Boarding and Daycare Magazine is ‘HOT’ off the press. Grab your copy or view the digital version by going to www.petboardinganddaycare.com

Remember, the next Pet Boarding and Daycare Expo is happening in Hershey in November and registration is OPEN! Secure your place at the biggest ‘must-attend’ pet boarding and daycare expo of the year by going to www.petboardingexpo.com

Episode Highlights:

[00:51] – Dom checks in from Wisconsin, previews the Hershey Expo, and recaps last week’s Part One with Allison Jacobs.
[04:30] – Dog News: Why guide dog puppies meet sharks and stingrays—and what it teaches us about structured socialisation.
[09:42] – Allison recalls how she first connected with Dom and what changed after implementing his pricing and marketing strategies.
[14:24] – Dealing with demand: how Scouts Honor used pricing and memberships to manage overflow enrichment bookings.
[16:11] – Why breaking industry “norms” (like multi-dog discounts) helped them turn the corner on profit.
[18:11] – Allison opens up about being hospitalised—and how the business kept growing while she was out of action.
[22:12] – How leadership training, accountability, and meeting rhythms helped Allison build a team she could trust.
[26:18] – Lessons from letting the wrong staff slide—and what it took to stop being the “cool boss” and become a real leader.
[31:56] – Three good things: Allison’s favouite weekly leadership ritual and why it changed everything.
[35:13] – What’s next for Scouts Honor—including SOPs, growth goals, and the push to tighten operations for expansion.