Ep. 81 – Zero Dog Daycare Drama, Booming Business Growth! How Courtney Barnes Built a Multi-Facility Pet Care Empire

Could your team run your business without you – while you’re busy opening another one?

What does “zero staff toxicity” actually look like in a daycare with over 50 employees, and how is it possible?

And how does a founder with three facilities, a gym, and a family still find the energy to chase the next big goal?

In this powerhouse episode, Dom is joined by his Elite Mastermind member Courtney Barnes, who shares the fascinating story of how she built a multi-location daycare empire, a thriving gym, and a zero-drama staff culture, all while still finding time to train, mentor, and scale. You’ll hear how Courtney grew from vet tech to daycare visionary, how she built TSA partnerships and rock-solid SOPs, and why weekly 1:1 staff check-ins transformed her team retention and morale.

You’ll also hear a bonus clip from two first-time expo attendees who tripled their rates of return before the weekend was over thanks to fearless action and some pricing guidance from Dom himself. Plus, in this week’s ‘Dog News’ story, hear why you need to be ready for the unexpected in the business world, and how you can overcome unforeseen challenges, no matter the size!

In this episode, you’ll discover:

How to Lead from Afar – The systems, staff structure, and mindset that let Courtney run three (soon to be four!) facilities without burning out.
Fire Fast, Care Deeply – Why a zero-tolerance policy on drama led to better morale, better hires, and no turnover in a year.
The Staff Passport Strategy – How Courtney turned training into a badge of honour (and turned passive employees into driven learners).
The Power of the Expo – A first-time attendee story that includes price raises, upsells, and an instant win before the event even ended.
Growth through Grit – How embracing fear and hard things has become Courtney’s secret weapon in business and in life.

Huge thanks to this week’s special guest Courtney Barnes from Paws at Play. Find out more about Courtneys amazing business by going to PawsatPlay.com

Learn more about Dom’s world famous coaching programs and how to build a premium, expert 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.comRemember, 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 previews this week’s guest and plugs the upcoming Hershey Expo — the only place to set your 2026 up for success.
[04:24] – On-location interview with Tara & Skylor: how they raised prices by $20/night (and made the sale on the spot) after only one seminar.
[06:51] – Why enrichment, training, and community were the game-changers they didn’t know they needed.
[11:51] – Dog News: The cockapoo that wasn’t — and what it teaches us about surprises, pivots, and getting help when business grows beyond what you had in mind.
[16:13] – Courtney Barnes shares how she scaled Pause at Play from a single-location daycare to a multi-facility operation and a gym empire.
[23:16] – The airport client-boost that turned a new location into a TSA-powered revenue stream.
[27:12] – From micromanager to empire builder: the turning point that forced Courtney to delegate and document everything.
[30:02] – The Staff Passport system and how continuous training changed retention overnight.
[36:00] – Building without burnout: how fitness, mindset, and loving “the hard stuff” gave Courtney her entrepreneurial edge.
[40:59] – How Enrich U helped non-creative staff become story-loving enrichment specialists.
[43:07] – Courtney’s experience in Dom’s Elite Mastermind—and how it’s keeping her sharp, focused, and scaling fast.
[45:28] – What’s next? Another facility, a growing team, and a daughter stepping into leadership. The Barnes legacy is just getting started.