The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast With Nathan Dunleavy

Website:

https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/

Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan:

Free 5 Steps Guide for Dog Walking & Pet Sitting Businesses:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle/

Join The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle – Free Facebook Group:

Find out more about The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle+:

https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/the-pet-business-wellbeing-circle-plus/

Work With Nathan:

If you’d like a little more support beyond the podcast, there are several ways you can work with me.

I offer one-to-one business mentoring for pet professionals who want personalised support, Circle+ for ongoing group mentoring and community and a growing collection of practical digital resources.

I’m also currently developing my first online course, with more details coming soon.

👉 Find out more at:

https://www.facebook.com/CityDogExpert

Wellbeing isn’t a luxury. It’s part of the business plan.

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast is provided for general informational, educational and entertainment purposes only. The conversations, opinions and experiences shared by Nathan and his guests are not intended to replace professional medical, mental health, veterinary, legal, financial or other specialist advice.

This episode includes discussion of foster care, childhood trauma and difficult experiences involving children. Individual details are shared from Heather’s personal perspective and should not be interpreted as professional psychological or therapeutic advice.

The conversation also includes Heather’s personal professional views and experiences relating to breeding, animal health, nutrition and complementary approaches. Please seek advice from an appropriately qualified veterinary or other relevant professional before making decisions about an animal’s health or treatment.

The views expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nathan Dunleavy or The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast.

From Dog Walker to City Dog Expert: Cancer, Reinvention & 20 Years in the Dog Industry | Kimberly Freeman

Sat, 03 Oct 2026 18:50:00 +0100

Kimberly Freeman joins Nathan to reflect on 20 years in the dog industry, from dog walking and city dog training to cancer, disability, rebuilding her business and learning to give herself the same grace she gives the dogs she works with.

Content Note:

This episode includes discussion of cancer, chemotherapy, disability, chronic illness and the long-term physical and emotional effects of serious illness.

Podcast Show Notes:

What happens when the business you’ve spent years building suddenly has to change because your health does?

In this episode of The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast, Nathan is joined by Kimberly Marie Freeman, founder of City Dog Expert and City Sit Stay, for a wide-ranging conversation about 20 years in the dog industry, city dog training, business evolution, chronic illness, cancer and rebuilding.

Kimberly began her career as a dog walker while studying at university in Dundee. What started as a way to make sure her own dog Riley was properly cared for grew into the largest dog walking, pet sitting and behavioural centre on the east coast of Scotland.

From there, her journey took her to New York City, where she discovered just how little practical information existed for people trying to live well with dogs in small urban spaces.

Living in a studio apartment with dogs made her rethink traditional dog-training advice that assumed access to gardens, multiple rooms and quieter environments.

That experience ultimately led to City Dog Expert and later City Sit Stay, with Kimberly developing a particular focus on helping dogs and humans thrive in busy urban environments rather than simply cope with them.

Nathan and Kimberly also explore how she sees the human-dog relationship as a partnership rather than simply ownership, particularly when working with dogs in challenging city environments where trust, choice and connection become incredibly important.

But this episode is also about what happens when life interrupts the business plan.

Kimberly talks openly about being diagnosed with bowel cancer after a prolonged period of illness, undergoing surgery and chemotherapy and the difference between being supported during active treatment and what happened afterwards.

She describes the strange experience of suddenly being expected to return to normal when her body and mind were still dealing with the long-term effects of treatment.

For Kimberly, that meant stepping away from work, losing clients, pausing acting and eventually having to rebuild her businesses from scratch.

Now in remission, she is still navigating the impact of cancer, chronic illness and disability and learning how to work at the pace her body allows rather than constantly comparing herself with the version of herself that existed before.

One of the most powerful parts of the conversation is Kimberly’s reflection that she is trying to give herself the same grace she would give a dog learning or relearning something.

If she once had ten clients a day and now has ten in a week, that doesn’t mean she is failing.

It means this is the stage she is in now.

The conversation also explores the value of online dog training, particularly for disabled people, busy professionals, anxious dogs, separation anxiety cases and anyone unable to attend traditional in-person classes.

Kimberly argues that dog training is fundamentally about teaching the human and that good communication matters far more than physically standing next to the client or dog.

Towards the end of the episode, Kimberly reflects on what she has learned after more than two decades in the industry.

Her message to newer dog professionals?

Keep learning.

Be comfortable saying you don’t know.

Refer clients when something sits outside your expertise.

Stay curious.

And don’t forget to have fun with the dogs in front of you.

Because the science keeps evolving, our understanding keeps changing and no dog or human fits neatly into one formula.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ How Kimberly went from university student to running a large dog walking and pet care business.

✅ Why her own dog Riley became the catalyst for her career in the dog industry.

✅ How moving to New York City changed the way Kimberly thought about dog training.

✅ Why traditional training advice often fails people living in small urban spaces.

✅ How City Dog Expert and City Sit Stay developed.

✅ The differences between training dogs in cities and more rural environments.

✅ Why Kimberly prefers to think about the human-dog relationship as a partnership.

✅ Why trust and choice matter so much for dogs navigating busy urban spaces.

✅ How rescue dogs and small breeds became such an important part of Kimberly’s life.

✅ How COVID accelerated the move towards online dog training.

✅ Why online training can improve accessibility for disabled people and busy dog guardians.

✅ Why training the human matters just as much as training the dog.

✅ How a cancer diagnosis affected Kimberly’s health, business and identity.

✅ Why finishing cancer treatment does not necessarily mean recovery is finished.

✅ What it was like to lose clients and step away from a business she had spent years building.

✅ How Kimberly is rebuilding her work in real time.

✅ Why giving yourself grace can be just as important as giving it to the dogs you work with.

✅ How community support helped Kimberly during serious illness.

✅ Why lifelong learning matters for every dog professional.

✅ Why being able to say “I don’t know” can be a professional strength.

✅ Why fun, connection and curiosity still matter after 20 years in the industry.

Key Takeaways:

Most pet-business journeys are not linear.
A personal dog can completely change the direction of a career.
Dog training designed for urban environments may need a very different approach from traditional countryside-based advice.
Small spaces do not automatically mean dogs cannot thrive.
Trust and relationship matter just as much as obedience.
Dogs should be treated as individuals rather than machines expected to perform perfectly.
Online training can make dog services more accessible to clients who may otherwise be excluded.
A trainer’s role is often to teach the human how to understand and support their dog.
Serious illness can change a business overnight.
Completing cancer treatment does not necessarily mean someone is immediately able to return to their previous level of work.
Business rebuilding can be emotionally difficult when you remember what you were previously capable of.
Giving yourself grace can be an important part of returning to work after illness.
Community matters. The people Kimberly had supported through her dog work later supported her when she needed help herself.
You do not need to know everything to be a good dog professional.
Referring a client to someone with more appropriate expertise can be a sign of professionalism rather than failure.
Learning should never stop.
And after everything else, the work should still contain some joy.

Find Kimberly Freeman:

City Dog Expert – Facebook:

London Pomeranians – Facebook Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/337160267613843

City Dog Expert – Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/citydogexpert/?hl=en

City Sit Stay – Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/citysitstay/?hl=en

City Sit Stay:

http://www.city-sit-stay.com/

Connect With Nathan:

Email:

Website:

https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/

Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan:

Free 5 Steps Guide for Dog Walking & Pet Sitting Businesses:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle/

Join The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle – Free Facebook Group:

Podcast Disclaimer:

This episode includes Kimberly’s personal experience of cancer, chemotherapy, disability, chronic illness and recovery. Her experience should not be taken as medical advice or as representative of every person’s experience of cancer or treatment.

If you are concerned about your physical or mental health, or anything discussed in this episode raises concerns for you, please seek guidance from an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

The views expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nathan Dunleavy or The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast.

Rebuilding After Trauma: Mental Health, Purpose & My Anxious Dog with Matt Jones

Sat, 26 Sep 2026 16:25:00 +0100

After a life-changing cycling accident, Matt Jones had to rebuild almost every part of his life and in this deeply personal conversation, he shares what trauma, chronic pain, mental health, purpose and My Anxious Dog have taught him along the way.

Content note:

This episode includes discussion of serious injury, bereavement, chronic pain, mental health difficulties, suicidal thoughts, assisted dying and prescription medication withdrawal. Please listen with care and seek appropriate professional support if anything discussed raises concerns for you.

Podcast Show Notes:

What happens when the life you knew changes in a matter of seconds?

In this episode of The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast, Nathan is joined by Matt Jones from My Anxious Dog for an incredibly open conversation about trauma, mental wellbeing, identity, marriage, purpose and rebuilding a life that looks very different from the one you expected.

Before 2019, Matt was a company director, passionate about fitness and cycling and working alongside his wife Sarah in their family business. Then, on 16th June 2019, an ordinary group cycle ride ended in a catastrophic collision that left Matt with extensive injuries, including damage to the nerves supplying his left arm.

Matt spent weeks in a coma and later had to adapt to life with a paralysed arm, which was eventually amputated. Alongside the physical trauma came grief, chronic pain, changes to his identity and the mental impact of having his whole life altered without warning.

In this conversation, Matt talks honestly about some of the thoughts he carried long before the accident too - dyslexia, feeling “not good enough”, imposter syndrome and the negative voice in his head that continually questioned his worth. One of the most powerful lessons he learned through psychological support was the simple reminder:

Thoughts aren’t facts.

Matt also speaks about losing his father shortly after the accident, the guilt he carried because he had planned to be with him and why therapy and talking openly became such an important part of his recovery.

The episode explores the reality of chronic nerve pain, medication, mental health struggles and the different things Matt has personally found helpful along the way, including therapy, meditation, breath-work, movement, cold-water practice, friends and family.

Importantly, Matt is clear that his experience is his own.

This is not a story about pretending everything became easy.

There are still good days and bad days.

There are still moments when Matt wants everyone to leave him alone.

There are still times when Sarah recognises before he does that he needs support.

And that honesty is a huge part of this conversation.

Matt also talks about the pressure people can place on disabled people to be “inspirational”. His response is refreshingly simple: he sees himself as someone getting on with his life, taking small steps and trying to make the most of where he is now.

While Matt was recovering, Sarah increasingly poured her energy into My Anxious Dog. The business and the Dogs in Yellow movement became an important focus for both of them and as Matt gradually became able to do more, processing orders and helping behind the scenes gave him something he had been missing:

a sense of purpose.

They discuss the impact of their dog Bella, the development of Yellow Space Zones, the community that has grown around My Anxious Dog and how much pride Matt feels watching Sarah build something that helps anxious and reactive dogs and the people who love them.

The conversation also touches on Matt and Sarah’s move to Herefordshire following their appearance on Escape to the Country and how creating a new home has become another part of rebuilding their lives.

Towards the end of the episode, Matt shares perhaps the biggest lesson he has taken from everything he has been through:

Acceptance.

Not liking what happened.

Not pretending it was okay.

But accepting the reality of where he was, adapting and beginning again from there.

This is an episode about resilience, but not the polished kind.

It’s about support, setbacks, humour, love, pain, purpose and putting one foot in front of the other when you don’t yet know exactly where the path is taking you.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Who Matt was before the accident that changed his life in 2019.

✅ What happened during the cycling accident and the extent of his injuries.

✅ How trauma changed Matt’s priorities and his view of what really matters.

✅ Why “thoughts aren’t facts” became such an important lesson for him.

✅ How dyslexia, self-doubt and imposter syndrome affected Matt long before his accident.

✅ Why family, friends and professional support became essential parts of recovery.

✅ How the death of Matt’s father affected him emotionally.

✅ The hidden impact of chronic nerve pain after losing an arm.

✅ Why physical recovery and mental recovery do not always happen at the same pace.

✅ Matt’s personal experiences of therapy, meditation, breathwork and cold-water practice.

✅ Why being described as “inspirational” can feel complicated.

✅ How Matt thinks about setbacks, detours and taking small steps forward.

✅ The role Sarah has played throughout Matt’s recovery.

✅ How My Anxious Dog became a focus for both Matt and Sarah after the accident.

✅ Why taking responsibility for orders and practical tasks helped Matt regain a sense of purpose.

✅ How Bella inspired My Anxious Dog and the Dogs in Yellow movement.

✅ The story behind the Yellow Space Zones.

✅ Why community and kindness have become so important to Matt.

✅ How their move to Herefordshire represents another new chapter.

✅ Why acceptance, rather than denial, has been central to rebuilding his life.

Key Takeaways:

A life-changing event can alter your priorities very quickly.
Mental wellbeing can be affected by far more than the visible consequences of trauma.
Feeling something strongly does not automatically make that thought true.
Asking for professional support can be an important part of recovery.
Grief, trauma and chronic pain do not follow a neat timeline.
Support networks matter, even when our instinct is sometimes to push people away.
The person beside someone experiencing trauma may be carrying their own enormous emotional load too.
Purpose can return through very small, practical things.
Business can sometimes become part of rebuilding identity rather than simply generating income.
Matt does not describe recovery as a straight line; there have been progress, setbacks and detours.
Being disabled does not create an obligation to be positive or “inspirational” all the time.
My Anxious Dog became something that Matt and Sarah could build together during a period of enormous change.
Dogs can provide routine, connection and purpose during difficult periods.
Acceptance does not mean approving of what happened. For Matt, it meant recognising reality so he could begin adapting to it.
Good days can still exist alongside very difficult ones.

Find Matt, Sarah & My Anxious Dog -

My Anxious Dog:

https://myanxiousdog.co.uk/

Connect With Nathan:

Email:

Website:

https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/

Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan:

Free 5 Steps Guide for Dog Walking & Pet Sitting Businesses:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle/

Join The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle — Free Facebook Group:

🌿 The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle+ Is Currently Open:

If this conversation has reminded you how important it is to have people around you when business or life feels difficult, The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle+ is currently open for new members.

Circle+ is my ongoing mentoring and wellbeing community for pet professionals who want to build sustainable businesses while keeping the person behind the business firmly in the picture.

It’s a space to bring:

Decisions
Boundaries
Business challenges
Ideas
Wins
Wobbles
And the things you simply need somewhere safe to talk through

There’s no pressure to keep up with everything. You don’t need to read every post, watch every replay or attend every session.

Dip in and out depending on what you need.

Circle+ is open until midnight on Sunday 27th September 2026, after which the doors will close again.

👉 Find out more and join Circle+:

https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/the-pet-business-wellbeing-circle-plus/

As Circle+ member Alicia put it:

“Come on in. The water’s warm.” 💙

Podcast Disclaimer:

This episode includes Matt’s personal experiences of serious injury, chronic pain, mental health support, prescribed medication, medication withdrawal, cold-water exposure, breath-work and other approaches he has personally explored. These experiences should not be taken as medical advice or a recommendation to start, stop or change any medication, treatment or health practice.

If you are concerned about your physical or mental health, are experiencing suicidal thoughts, or anything discussed in this episode raises concerns for you, please seek support from an appropriately qualified healthcare professional or emergency/crisis service in your country.

The views expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nathan Dunleavy or The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast.

“I Hate Online Groups… But I Love This One!” | Alicia’s Circle+ Member Experience

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 22:25:00 +0100

Alicia, a dog professional based in San Francisco, shares why she joined Circle+ despite disliking online groups and how its supportive community, manageable format and helpful events changed her mind.

Podcast Show Notes:

What if an online community could offer genuine support without adding more noise, pressure or overwhelm to your day?

In this short bonus episode of The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast, Nathan Dunleavy chats with Alicia, a dog professional based in San Francisco and a member of The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle+.

Alicia first met Nathan at the Emotional Wellbeing Conference in Torquay, UK. After discovering his business mentoring work, she began working with him one-to-one before deciding to join Circle+.

But she admits she had reservations.

Her previous experiences of online groups had left her feeling frustrated by judgement, unhelpful responses and conversations that often created more confusion than clarity. She was also unsure whether a community outside Facebook would suit her.

After taking part in the Pet Pro Reset Experience, Alicia decided to give Circle+ a try.

Now, approaching her third month as a member, she shares what she has appreciated about the experience so far.

For Alicia, one of the biggest differences is how manageable the membership feels. She can check in once a week without feeling overwhelmed, but she can also post when something happens in her business and receive a response.

She talks about the supportive atmosphere, the opportunity to bounce ideas around without judgement and the value she has found in the membership events.

Despite living in San Francisco, eight hours behind the UK at the time of recording, Alicia also explains how she has been able to make the membership work around her schedule.

Her invitation to anyone considering joining?

“Come on in, the water’s warm.” 💙

This is Alicia’s personal experience of Circle+ and an opportunity to hear directly from someone who was initially unsure whether another online community was what she needed.

🌿 Join The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle+

Circle+ is Nathan’s group mentoring and wellbeing membership for pet professionals who want support in building a sustainable business, without feeling they have to navigate everything alone.

Inside, you’ll find two live sessions each month, guest experts, practical resources, session replays and PDF summaries, Ask Nathan support and a private community away from Facebook.

There’s no expectation to attend everything or keep up with every resource. Take what you need and engage in a way that works for you.

Circle+ is currently open for new members until midnight on Sunday 27th September 2026.

👉 Find out more and join Circle+:

https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/the-pet-business-wellbeing-circle-plus/

Connect with Nathan:

https://linktr.ee/pawprints_and_presence

Email: hello@nathandunleavy.com

Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan: https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/

Free 5 Steps Guide for Dog Walking and Pet Sitting Businesses: https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/5-steps/

Join The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle - Free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle/

What you’ll learn in this episode:

✅ Why Alicia was initially reluctant to join another online group.

✅ How meeting Nathan at a conference led to one-to-one mentoring and later, Circle+.

✅ Why she decided to join after taking part in the Pet Pro Reset Experience.

✅ What she appreciates about having a community away from Facebook.

✅ How Circle+ fits into her schedule without feeling overwhelming.

✅ Why being able to post a question and receive a response matters to her.

✅ What she thinks of the community atmosphere and the opportunity to bounce ideas around.

✅ How she has found the membership events helpful.

✅ What it has been like participating from San Francisco, eight hours behind the UK at the time of recording.

✅ What Alicia would say to another pet professional who is unsure about joining.

Key takeaways:

- Alicia joined Circle+ despite having had frustrating experiences in other online groups.

- She appreciates being able to check in at her own pace rather than feeling she must constantly keep up.

- A community away from Facebook has meant less noise for Alicia, rather than the inconvenience she initially expected.

- Being able to ask questions and exchange ideas without feeling judged is an important part of her experience.

- Alicia has found the membership events helpful and looks forward to attending them.

- Although she lives in a different time zone, she has found ways to make Circle+ work for her.

- Her testimonial is a reminder that a supportive community can feel manageable rather than becoming another demand on your time.

Podcast disclaimer:

Alicia’s comments reflect her own personal experience of Circle+ and should not be taken as a guarantee that every member will have the same experience or outcomes.

Any business-related information shared should be considered general guidance rather than advice specific to your individual circumstances.

Overwhelmed as a Dog Professional? Permission to Pause, Mindfulness & Self-Compassion with Biggi Junge

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 10:35:00 +0100

What if you gave yourself permission to slow down? Biggi Junge joins Nathan to share how one remarkable dog changed her life, her approach to dog training and her understanding of self-compassion - before guiding listeners through a moment of mindful reflection.

Podcast Show Notes:

What if you didn’t need to do more, achieve more or become somebody different? What if, just for a moment, you gave yourself permission to pause?

In this episode of The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast, Nathan welcomes Biggi Junge, a certified dog trainer, Behaviour Adjustment Training instructor, meditation teacher and founder of Pawprints & Presence, based in Germany.

Biggi’s work brings together dog training, mindfulness and coaching. But the journey that led her there was far from straightforward.

Before entering the dog industry, Biggi trained as a nurse, studied sports science and English and worked in rehabilitation. She shares how years of working hard eventually led to burnout and how, during a period away from work, she began reconsidering what she wanted her life to look like.

Dogs were at the top of her list.

First came Nana, her German Shepherd. Then came Charlie, a Spanish sighthound mix whose reactivity, separation-related difficulties and intense responses to the world challenged almost everything Biggi thought she knew about dogs.

After years of trying to change Charlie’s behaviour, Biggi experienced a turning point during a walk in the Bavarian Alps. She began to recognise that, although she could not control everything around them, she could explore her own expectations and emotional responses.

That shift gradually changed their relationship. Rather than striving for a perfectly behaved dog, Biggi began focusing on acceptance, compassion and finding a way for them to live together.

Nathan and Biggi also talk openly about Charlie’s death, the profound grief that followed and the importance of seeking support when life becomes difficult. Biggi explains how her experiences, alongside the encouragement of a professional community, helped her reshape her business and develop Pawprints & Presence for an international audience.

And there’s something a little different in this episode.

At around the halfway point, Biggi guides listeners through a gentle mindfulness exercise centred on permission.

It is an invitation to slow down, do things your own way, put down the weight of comparison and consider what permission you might want to offer yourself.

There is no requirement to get anything right or feel a particular way. You can simply listen and take what feels useful.

The conversation closes with Biggi’s reminder that even one small pause can give us space to notice what we are feeling before deciding what to do next.

Whether you are a dog trainer, dog walker, pet sitter or another pet professional who feels constantly under pressure to keep up, this episode offers an invitation to consider a different pace.

A note about the guided exercise: Please listen in a safe setting where you can give the exercise your attention. If you are driving, cycling or handling a dog in a situation that requires your full attention, save the guided section for another time. You are welcome to keep your eyes open, adapt the invitations or stop at any point.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

✅ How Biggi’s journey through nursing, sports science and rehabilitation shaped her approach to working with dogs and people.

✅ Why a period of burnout prompted Biggi to reconsider her working life and make space for a dog.

✅ How Nana and Charlie each influenced her journey into the dog industry.

✅ Why trying to change Charlie’s behaviour eventually led Biggi to examine her own expectations and emotional responses.

✅ How acceptance changed the way Biggi and Charlie lived together.

✅ Why being a dog trainer can bring additional pressure when your own dog struggles.

✅ How mindfulness, breathing and grounding became part of Biggi’s everyday life with Charlie.

✅ Why self-compassion matters when things do not go to plan.

✅ How Biggi’s earlier careers developed her communication skills and understanding of people.

✅ How Charlie’s death affected Biggi personally and professionally.

✅ Why seeking support became an important part of her journey through grief.

✅ How Biggi reshaped her business and began connecting with an international audience.

✅ What Pawprints & Presence brings together from her personal and professional experiences.

✅ How to take part in a guided mindfulness exercise centred on permission.

✅ Why your business does not need to follow somebody else’s timeline.

✅ How comparison can affect the way you see yourself and your progress.

✅ Why taking a single breath before responding can create space for a more considered decision.

Key takeaways:

- Sometimes the dog who challenges us most also changes the way we understand ourselves.

- Acceptance does not require us to stop caring about a dog’s wellbeing or managing difficult situations.

- We cannot control every environment, encounter or outcome, but we can explore how we respond to them.

- Dog professionals can place considerable pressure on themselves when their own dogs experience difficulties.

- Compassion for our dogs and compassion for ourselves can be part of the same relationship.

- Mindfulness does not have to mean sitting still for long periods. It can begin with noticing one breath, your feet on the ground or what is happening around you.

- Grief can affect every part of life, including how we feel about our work. Seeking support is an important option when we need it.

- The skills we develop in previous careers can become valuable parts of the businesses we build later.

- Your business does not have to look like somebody else’s business and your progress does not need to follow their timeline.

- You can give yourself permission to rest, make mistakes, change direction, be a beginner and enjoy what you do.

- You do not have to make every decision immediately. Sometimes one breath is enough to create a little space.

Links and resources:

Connect with Biggi Junge - Pawprints & Presence

Explore Biggi’s work and find her social media channels through her Linktree:

Biggi will also be joining Nathan as a guest speaker inside The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle+ in October, exploring the theme What’s Mindfulness Got to Do with It?

Connect with Nathan:

Email: hello@nathandunleavy.com

Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan: https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/

Free 5 Steps Guide for Dog Walking and Pet Sitting Businesses: https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/5-steps/

Join The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle — Free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle/

The Free Pet Pro Reset Experience Is Back! 🌿

From Sunday 20th September 2026

7pm UK time

The Pet Pro Reset Experience returns from this Sunday and this time we’ll be coming together across four consecutive evenings for a shorter, more focused experience.

We’ll explore overwhelm, boundaries, capacity, switching off and creating a pet business that feels more sustainable.

There’ll be space to reflect, practical prompts to take away and absolutely no pressure to have everything figured out.

Whether this is your first Reset or you’re joining us again, you’re very welcome. Come as you are and take what you need.

https://dogsanddivergentminds.com/

Podcast disclaimer:

If you are concerned about your physical or mental health, your animal’s health or wellbeing, or anything discussed in an episode raises concerns for you, please seek guidance from an appropriately qualified professional. The guided exercise is optional and is not a substitute for individual mental health care. Any business-related information shared should be considered general guidance rather than advice specific to your individual circumstances.

The views expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nathan Dunleavy or The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast.

The Dark Side of Dog Agility: Neurodivergence, Perfectionism & Connection with Katrina Bayliss

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 23:10:00 +0100

Katrina Bayliss returns to explore the story behind The Dark Side of Dog Agility and what neurodivergence, pressure, perfectionism and connection can teach us about both ends of the lead.

Podcast Show Notes:

In this episode of The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast, Nathan welcomes back his good friend and colleague Katrina Bayliss, The Neurodivergent Dog Coach, to talk about her new book:

The Dark Side of Dog Agility: Navigating Neurodivergence in a Sport Rooted in Success

But as Katrina explains, this is not simply a book about dog agility.

Agility provides the backdrop for a much wider conversation about neurodivergence, belonging, pressure, performance, perfectionism, emotional safety, connection and what success really means. Katrina wrote the book partly because her next book would not make sense without this chapter of her story, but also because so many people had told her that she was putting words to experiences they had felt but struggled to articulate themselves.

Katrina also explains why the book has deliberately been designed to feel accessible rather than overwhelming. Instead of presenting another prescriptive dog-training textbook telling readers what they “should” do, she uses her own lived experience and reflective prompts to invite readers to consider their own experiences.

Nathan and Katrina explore the pressures that can exist within dog sports and the wider dog industry, including the temptation to measure success through results, grades, rosettes or comparison with others. Katrina challenges the idea that performance should sit at the centre of the experience and argues that connection between the human and dog needs to remain at the heart of it.

They also discuss Katrina’s late diagnosis of autism and ADHD, how it helped her make sense of many earlier experiences within the dog world and why adapting environments for the human at the other end of the lead matters just as much as adapting them for the dog. Katrina talks about masking, feeling isolated, searching for acceptance and why neurodivergence cannot be reduced to a simple tick-box list of adjustments.

The conversation also explores emotional safety within training spaces, why some people quietly disappear rather than say that an environment is not working for them and how education and professional development could become more neuro-inclusive.

Katrina reflects on the journey from her first book, Milo: The Dog That Gave Me It All, into this second book and gives a glimpse of what book three may explore: moving beyond identifying the problems towards asking what we can actually do differently.

Towards the end of the episode, Katrina shares the message she most hopes readers carry with them: kindness, understanding and connection. She wants people to be kinder to themselves, kinder to others and kinder to the dogs alongside them, while creating environments where people feel seen, safe and supported.

Katrina also talks about the Neuro-Inclusive Dog Professional Network (NIDPN), a community bringing neurodivergent and neurotypical dog professionals and guardians together to better understand lived experiences and make dog-industry services more inclusive.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why The Dark Side of Dog Agility is about much more than agility.

✅ How Katrina’s late autism and ADHD diagnosis changed the direction of the book.

✅ Why pressure, performance and perfectionism can affect both human and dog.

✅ The difference between compliance and genuine connection.

✅ Why competition itself is not necessarily the problem.

✅ How comparison can change the reason we participate in dog sport in the first place.

✅ Why success means different things to different people.

✅ How neurodivergence can add another layer to performance pressure.

✅ Why some people mask or copy others in training environments rather than ask for what they need.

✅ Why emotional safety matters for the human at the other end of the lead.

✅ How inaccessible learning environments can incorrectly make people appear disengaged or unmotivated.

✅ Why neuro-inclusive changes can often improve experiences for everybody, not only neurodivergent people.

✅ How Katrina’s first, second and forthcoming third books form different chapters of the same wider story.

✅ Why lived experience can sometimes connect with readers more powerfully than prescriptive advice.

✅ How kindness, awareness, understanding and connection underpin Katrina’s work.

✅ What the Neuro-Inclusive Dog Professional Network is aiming to change within the dog industry.

Key Takeaways:

Dog agility provides the setting for Katrina’s book, but its themes extend far beyond dog sport.
Performance and competition are not inherently negative, but problems can arise when results become more important than the partnership.
A dog may technically perform successfully without necessarily being genuinely connected to the person alongside them.
Humans bring their own emotions, expectations, nervous systems and pressures into training environments.
Neurodivergent people can experience additional layers of perfectionism, masking, social difficulty and fear of judgement.
Being given a diagnosis can bring clarity, but it can also begin a longer process of understanding yourself.
Neurodivergence is individual; there is no universal set of adjustments that will suit everyone.
A training environment can be physically safe while still feeling emotionally unsafe.
People who do not feel safe or understood may quietly leave rather than tell you what went wrong.
Accessible and neuro-inclusive teaching can benefit neurotypical clients too.
Dog professionals are often very good at adapting for the animal but less practiced at adapting for the human.
Success should not automatically be defined by rosettes, grades, qualifications or comparison with somebody else.
Connection deserves to remain central whether you are a dog guardian, competitor, trainer or pet professional.
Katrina’s aim is not to prescribe a single “right” way but to use lived experience to encourage reflection.
The underlying message of the book is one of kindness, understanding and connection.

Find Out More About Katrina Bayliss:

Dogs & Divergent Minds

The Neurodivergent Dog Coach – Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/theneurodivergentdogcoach

Katrina Bayliss – Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/katrinabayliss5

Neurodivergent Dog Hub – Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/neurodoghub

Neuro-Inclusive Dog Professional Network

https://dogsanddivergentminds.com/nidpn/

Katrina shares that her book is available in paperback and Kindle format, with her Dogs & Divergent Minds website acting as the main hub for her work.

Amazon Link: https://amzn.eu/d/0czE235l

Connect With Nathan:

Email:

Website:

https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/

Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan:

Free 5 Steps Guide:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle/

Join The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle - Free Facebook Group:

The Free Pet Pro Reset Experience Is Back:

The Pet Pro Reset Experience returns on Sunday 20th September at 7pm UK time and this time it has been condensed into four consecutive evenings for a shorter, more focused experience.

Across the four days, Nathan will explore some of the things that can make running a pet business feel heavy, including:

Overwhelm
Boundaries
Capacity
Switching off
Creating a business that feels more sustainable

It is completely free to join, and if you have taken part before, you are very welcome to come back again. Sometimes the same reflection can land very differently depending on where you currently are in your business.

There will be space to reflect, practical prompts to take away and absolutely no pressure to have everything figured out.

👉 Register free here:

https://www.facebook.com/K9TrailTime

Podcast Disclaimer:

If you are concerned about your physical or mental health, your animal’s health or wellbeing, or anything discussed in an episode raises concerns for you, please seek guidance from an appropriately qualified professional. Any business-related information shared should be considered general guidance rather than advice specific to your individual circumstances.

The views expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nathan Dunleavy or The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast.

Juggling Multiple Pet Businesses Without Losing Your Why | Emily Thomas on Canicross, Change & Letting Go

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 16:55:00 +0100

Emily Thomas joins Nathan to talk about juggling multiple pet businesses, stepping away from what no longer fits, Canicross, online visibility and staying focused on your bigger why.

Episode Description:

How do you know which parts of your pet business deserve your time and energy and which ones it might finally be time to let go of?

In this episode of The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast, Nathan is joined by Emily Thomas, founder of K9 Trail Time, co-founder of Canicross Coach, creator of Active Dog Academy, former canine hydrotherapy business owner and veterinary physiotherapy student.

Emily’s business journey began almost accidentally after discovering Canicross with her reactive Husky-Collie cross. What started as wanting access to better-fitting, more colourful Canicross equipment eventually grew into a retail business that allowed Emily to leave her office job and work full time within the dog industry.

Nathan and Emily explore what it is really like to juggle multiple businesses, why Emily stepped away from a hydrotherapy business after six years and how creating space for what matters most has become increasingly important as her work has evolved. Emily explains that she reached a point where she needed to let go of some things in order to make room for the areas she genuinely wanted to focus on.

They also discuss Canicross, canine conditioning and longevity, social media consistency, lifelong learning, and the unexpected direction Emily’s career has taken from simply selling harnesses to teaching, coaching and studying veterinary physiotherapy.

The conversation also becomes deeply personal as Emily shares a difficult experience of online criticism following a television appearance. She talks honestly about how one professional opportunity led to weeks of negativity online, the effect it had on her confidence and wellbeing and why she became much more cautious about PR and visibility afterwards.

Ultimately, this is a conversation about knowing your bigger vision, recognising when something has become a “side quest” and giving yourself permission to move things on when they no longer take you towards where you want to go.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ How Emily’s reactive rescue dog led her to discover Canicross.

✅ How wanting better Canicross equipment became the foundation of K9 Trail Time.

✅ What gave Emily the confidence to leave employment and take her business full time.

✅ Why understanding harness fitting, biomechanics and canine movement became central to her work.

✅ How her own dog’s spondylosis led Emily into hydrotherapy and canine conditioning.

✅ Why Emily eventually stepped away from her hydrotherapy business after six years.

✅ How letting go of one successful business created space for other priorities.

✅ What it is really like to juggle several pet businesses and projects simultaneously.

✅ Why K9 Trail Time remains Emily’s core business.

✅ What Canicross actually involves and why it is much more than simply running with your dog.

✅ How shared activities can strengthen the relationship between dogs and their guardians.

✅ Why reactive dogs may benefit from Canicross, but still need careful consideration around group environments.

✅ The importance of canine conditioning, warming up and supporting dogs throughout their lives.

✅ How Emily discovered that teaching and coaching had become an unexpected part of her career.

✅ Why all of Emily’s different businesses are connected by a common purpose.

✅ The realities of maintaining visibility and consistency on social media.

✅ How one negative comment can outweigh hundreds of positive interactions emotionally.

✅ What Emily learned from a very difficult experience with PR and online criticism.

✅ Why public visibility can have a genuine impact on the wellbeing of business owners.

✅ How to recognise when something is becoming a distracting “side quest”.

✅ Why returning to your ultimate vision can help you decide what stays and what goes.

Key Takeaways:

Your business may begin with a very simple idea and grow into something you never originally imagined.
Personal experiences with your own dogs can shape both your professional direction and your wider purpose.
Businesses do not need to last forever to have been successful.
Stepping away from something can create space for work that better reflects your current goals.
Juggling multiple ventures requires regular decisions about where your time and energy are best spent.
A common purpose can connect seemingly different services and businesses.
Canicross is not simply about exercise. Done appropriately, it can provide physical activity, mental stimulation and a shared working relationship between dog and guardian.
Education and continued learning can naturally change the direction of a career.
Visibility is part of running many modern businesses, but it can also come with a significant emotional cost.
One negative response can have far more emotional weight than dozens of positive ones.
Online criticism affects real human beings behind business accounts.
Disagreement does not require public shaming or hostility.
Sometimes education, curiosity and conversation are more effective than attacking somebody for getting something wrong.
A business activity can be enjoyable and successful while still no longer contributing to your larger vision.
Asking “Is this actually moving me towards what I want?” can be a powerful filter.
Letting go can be difficult, but keeping every opportunity indefinitely can make it harder to progress.

Emily describes her former TriDog event as something she loved but eventually recognised as a “side quest” because it was no longer moving her towards her bigger aim of helping dogs and their people remain active for as long as possible.

Find Out More About Emily Thomas:

K9 Trail Time

Website:

www.k9trailtime.com

Facebook:

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/k9trailtime/

Canicross Coach

Website:

https://canicrosscoach.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/CanicrossCoachUK

Canicross for Fun and Fitness Book

https://www.k9trailtime.com/shop/active-accessories/canicross-for-fun-and-fitness-book/

Connect with Nathan:

Email:

Website:

https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/

Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan:

Free 5 Steps Guide:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle/

Join The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle – Free Facebook Group:

The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle+ Is Open Again - Briefly:

Following Nathan’s recent free webinar, Why Pet Pro Wellbeing Is Essential for a Sustainable Business, the doors to The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle+ have reopened for a short additional window.

Circle+ is open until midnight on Monday 24th August 2026.

Circle+ is Nathan’s group mentoring and wellbeing membership for pet professionals who want somewhere to explore the realities of running a business without having to pretend everything is always wonderful.

Membership includes:

Two live group mentoring sessions each month
Business and wellbeing support
Guest experts
Core training and resources
Replays and PDF summaries
The Ask Nathan space for additional support
A private community hosted away from Facebook on Heartbeat

There is no pressure to attend everything, complete everything or constantly participate. Members can take what they need when they need it.

👉 Find out more or join before midnight Monday:

https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/the-pet-business-wellbeing-circle-plus/

Emily’s own reflections around letting go of things that no longer serve the bigger goal fit particularly beautifully with the kind of conversations Nathan explores inside Circle+.

Podcast Disclaimer:

If you are concerned about your physical or mental health, your animal’s health or wellbeing, or anything discussed in an episode raises concerns for you, please seek guidance from an appropriately qualified professional. Any business-related information shared should be considered general guidance rather than advice specific to your individual circumstances.

The views expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nathan Dunleavy or The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast.

Force-Free Dog Training, Imposter Syndrome & Staying in Business When You Want to Give Up | Becky Walker

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 15:05:00 +0100

Force-free dog trainer Becky Walker joins Nathan to talk about building B Pawsitive, staying true to her ethics, battling imposter syndrome and finding reasons to keep going when business feels hard.

Episode Description:

What keeps you going when running your dog business feels hard?

In this episode of The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast, Nathan is joined by Becky Walker, founder of B Pawsitive, a force-free positive reinforcement dog trainer and advanced canine behaviour specialist based in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Becky shares how she moved from the corporate world and estate agency into dog training, why her own dogs helped shape the direction of her career and how B Pawsitive was born during the pandemic.

Nathan and Becky talk openly about the realities of running a pet business, including building a client base, relying on word of mouth, being taken seriously as a dog professional, continuing professional development, imposter syndrome and those moments when giving up and returning to a “proper job” can feel tempting.

A major part of the conversation explores Becky’s commitment to force-free, positive reinforcement training. She explains why animal welfare, trust and the guardian-dog relationship sit at the heart of her work, particularly in an area where aversive training methods remain visible.

Becky also shares her involvement in the Pet Professional Guild behaviour teams pilot scheme, which aims to connect ethical, force-free professionals and create stronger local support and referral networks.

This is an honest, warm conversation about staying true to your values, continuing to learn, finding support in an often lonely industry and remembering why you started when business feels difficult.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ How Becky moved from corporate life and estate agency into dog training and behaviour.

✅ How her dogs Poppy and Brody influenced her journey into the industry.

✅ How B Pawsitive was launched during the pandemic.

✅ Why Becky chose one-to-one dog training rather than focusing on group classes.

✅ How word of mouth helped Becky build her client base.

✅ Why dog walking and dog training involve far more responsibility than many people realise.

✅ How Becky stays committed to force-free, positive reinforcement training.

✅ Why animal welfare and the guardian-dog relationship are central to her work.

✅ How Becky handles working in an area where aversive approaches remain visible.

✅ Why there is rarely a genuine “quick fix” when working with dog behaviour.

✅ The importance of ongoing CPD and keeping up with evolving research.

✅ Why dog professionals can easily fall into “shiny course syndrome”.

✅ What the Pet Professional Guild behaviour teams pilot scheme involves.

✅ Why professional support and trusted referral networks matter in a sometimes lonely industry.

✅ How imposter syndrome shows up even for experienced dog professionals.

✅ Why Becky still sometimes considers giving up despite loving what she does.

✅ How seeing other professionals succeed can become inspiration rather than comparison.

✅ Why making a difference to even one dog and guardian can be enough reason to keep going.

Key Takeaways:

Your previous career does not have to define the rest of your working life.
Personal experience with your own dogs can become a powerful catalyst for professional development.
You do not have to copy what other trainers offer locally. Building a business around the work you genuinely want to do can become a strength.
Word of mouth remains one of the most powerful ways to grow a service-based pet business.
Dog walking and dog training are skilled, responsible professions, even if outsiders sometimes underestimate what is involved.
Being clear about your ethics helps attract clients who are aligned with your approach.
Force-free training is about more than individual techniques. For Becky, it is about protecting trust, welfare and the relationship between dog and guardian.
Behaviour change usually requires time, patience and understanding rather than promises of instant results.
Continuing professional development matters because knowledge and research continue to evolve.
You do not need to know everything yourself. A trusted network of ethical professionals can offer referrals, perspective and support.
Running a pet business can be rewarding and still be incredibly difficult.
Imposter syndrome does not automatically mean you are in the wrong profession.
Comparing yourself with somebody else’s success can either undermine you or inspire you. Becky consciously tries to choose the latter.
There may be days when employment, predictable income and paid holiday look very tempting.
Staying in business sometimes comes back to remembering the impact you can make.

One of Becky’s most powerful reflections is that even if she makes a difference to one person and one dog, that can be enough to remind her why she continues.

Show Notes:

In this episode of The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast, Nathan Dunleavy is joined by Becky Walker, founder of B Pawsitive, a force-free positive reinforcement dog trainer and advanced canine behaviour specialist based in Grantham, Lincolnshire.

Becky’s route into dog training was not a straight line.

After working with horses, moving into retail and later spending years in estate agency and corporate environments, health issues and a desire to do something more meaningful eventually led her towards the dog world.

Her late dog Poppy had struggled with reactivity, although Becky did not understand it in those terms at the time. Later, after welcoming Border Collie Brody into her life, Becky began attending training classes and subsequently spent around two and a half years shadowing another trainer.

When the pandemic affected her employment, Becky accessed a business support scheme, developed a business plan and B Pawsitive was born.

In the episode, Nathan and Becky explore:

Moving from corporate employment into dog training
Starting a pet business during the pandemic
Building a client base
Word-of-mouth marketing
One-to-one training versus classes
Working with reactive and nervous dogs
The responsibility involved in professional dog walking
Force-free positive reinforcement training
Ethics and animal welfare
The attraction of quick-fix dog training
Continuing professional development
Imposter syndrome
Professional support networks
The Pet Professional Guild
The PPG behaviour teams pilot scheme
Feeling lonely as a solo pet professional
Moments when giving up can feel tempting
Why remembering your impact can help you continue

Force-Free Training and Staying True to Your Values

Becky is very clear about the type of trainer she wants to be.

Animal welfare sits above everything else in her work, followed closely by the wellbeing of the guardian. She wants clients to feel supported rather than judged and believes dog training should build trust rather than fear.

Becky discusses the challenge of working in an area where aversive approaches remain visible and why she believes pet guardians should research the professionals they choose to work with.

She also talks about the pressure created by a culture of quick fixes and why she is upfront with clients that there is no magic wand when working through many training and behaviour challenges.

The Pet Professional Guild Behaviour Teams Pilot

Becky is also involved in the Pet Professional Guild behaviour teams pilot scheme.

She explains how the scheme aims to connect force-free ethical professionals locally, providing a network for referrals, collaboration, case discussions and professional support.

For Becky, one of its biggest benefits is knowing that when she refers a client to somebody else, their ethical standards are aligned.

When Running Your Business Feels Too Hard

The conversation also becomes very honest about the emotional reality of self-employment.

Becky admits there are regular moments when the security of a salaried job, paid holidays and predictable income can sound appealing.

But she also knows why she stays.

She values the freedom of working for herself, the difference she can make and the knowledge that every ethical dog professional who remains in the industry gives guardians another responsible option.

Her message to another struggling dog professional is to keep learning, surround yourself with supportive people and remember the good you are capable of doing.

Find Out More About Becky Walker & B Pawsitive:

Website:

https://www.bpawsitive.co.uk/

B Pawsitive Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/bpawsitivedogs

Becky’s Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/becky.walker.9887

Connect With Nathan:

Email:

Website:

https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/

Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan

If your pet business feels overwhelming and you need some space to pause and reassess:

Free 5 Steps Guide

Five practical steps towards launching and developing your dog walking or pet sitting business:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle

Join The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle

Nathan’s free Facebook community for supportive conversations around both business and personal wellbeing:

Free Webinar: Why Pet Pro Wellbeing Is Essential for a Sustainable Business

Nathan is hosting his first free webinar this Thursday, 20th August 2026 at 7pm UK time:

Why Pet Pro Wellbeing Is Essential for a Sustainable Business

Wellbeing is not something separate from running your business. It influences your decisions, boundaries, workload, relationships with clients and ultimately how sustainable your business feels.

If you have been feeling overwhelmed, stretched too thin, constantly “on”, or you simply know something needs to change but are not sure where to start, this free webinar has been created for you.

If you cannot attend live, register anyway, as the replay will be sent out afterwards. Nathan will also be sharing more about The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle+, including a possible short opportunity to join following the webinar.

👉 Register free here:

https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/webinar-registration/

Podcast Disclaimer:

If you are concerned about your physical or mental health, or anything discussed in an episode raises concerns for you, please seek support and guidance from an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. Any business-related information shared should also be considered general guidance rather than advice specific to your individual circumstances.

The views expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nathan Dunleavy or The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast.

Pivoting Your Pet Business Without Feeling Like a Failure | Amanda VanTassel on Growth, Change & Business Evolution

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 18:40:00 +0100

Amanda VanTassel joins Nathan to explore why pivoting your pet business is not failure, how to recognise when something no longer fits and how to confidently step into your next chapter.

Episode Description:

What if changing direction in your pet business is not a sign that something has gone wrong, but evidence that you are paying attention to what you need next?

In this episode of The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast, Nathan is joined once again by his friend and colleague Amanda Van Tassel, founder of No Hassle Dog Training in Canada.

Amanda shares how her own career has evolved from the energy industry into dog training, mentoring other pet professionals, creating online offers and developing plans for an enrichment-style private dog park. Along the way, she has learned that a pivot does not have to mean quitting, failing or throwing away everything that came before.

Nathan and Amanda explore the difference between consciously changing direction and simply giving up, how to recognise when something no longer fits, why transferable skills matter more than we often realise and what happens when a business grows beyond the version you originally imagined.

They also discuss burnout, people pleasing, self-doubt, the pressure of wondering what others might think and the importance of giving your emotions time to catch up when logically you know the next step is right.

Amanda also shares how she adapted her online summit when the original format no longer made sense, ultimately creating an event that was half the size and half the workload, yet achieved almost the same audience and sales.

This is a warm, honest conversation about business evolution, trusting yourself and remembering that every previous chapter gives you skills you can carry into the next.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ How to recognise when a career, service or business model no longer feels right.

✅ Why changing direction does not automatically mean you have failed.

✅ The difference between quitting and consciously choosing your next chapter.

✅ How transferable skills from previous careers can strengthen your pet business.

✅ Why your previous experience is never wasted when your business evolves.

✅ How burnout and stagnation can sometimes signal that something needs to change.

✅ Why investing time or money into an idea does not mean you have to hold onto it forever.

✅ How to deal with the fear that other people may judge your business decisions.

✅ Why values can provide an anchor when people pleasing and self-doubt appear.

✅ How Amanda turned a potentially disappointing change to her online summit into a more sustainable and successful format.

✅ Why sometimes your logical brain knows you are ready before your emotions do.

✅ How to give yourself time and grace when making a significant business change.

✅ What happens when your business evolves far beyond your original vision.

✅ Why creating new income streams can help make a pet business more sustainable.

✅ How to assess the skills and knowledge you already have before making your next move.

Key Takeaways:

A pivot is not automatically a failure. It can be a natural part of business growth.
Regularly asking yourself what you genuinely want next can reveal when your goals have changed.
You do not leave your previous experience behind when you change direction.
Customer service, communication, presentation, leadership and business skills can transfer between completely different industries.
Burnout, stagnation or losing enthusiasm may be signs worth paying attention to.
There is a difference between abandoning something impulsively and making a considered decision to evolve.
Sunk time, money and effort should not become the only reason you continue with something that no longer fits.
Not everyone will understand your choices, but your business needs to reflect your values rather than somebody else’s expectations.
A smaller or simpler version of an offer can sometimes be more sustainable without producing significantly smaller results.
You do not need to wait until fear disappears before taking action.
Sometimes your emotions simply need time to catch up with the decision your logical brain has already made.
Your business may eventually become something completely different from what you imagined when you began.
Sustainability often requires evolution rather than rigidly holding onto the original plan.
When self-doubt appears, reviewing your existing skills, knowledge and experience can make the next step feel far less intimidating.

Amanda sums this up beautifully towards the end of the conversation by encouraging listeners to take stock of everything they already know and consider how those skills can support the next venture rather than assuming they are beginning again from zero.

Show Notes:

In this episode of The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast, Nathan Dunleavy welcomes back his friend and colleague Amanda Van Tassel from No Hassle Dog Training in Canada.

Amanda’s career has already included several different chapters, from working in the energy industry to becoming a dog trainer, online business owner, mentor to new dog professionals and now developing plans for an enrichment-style private dog park.

Together, Nathan and Amanda explore one central question:

How can we pivot without treating the change like a failure?

Amanda shares how she first began asking herself what she wanted to be “when she grew up”, despite already being well established in her corporate career. When the answer eventually changed, she realised she needed to pay attention to it.

Nathan also reflects on his own forced pivot during the pandemic, when dog walking suddenly stopped and he invested in retraining, including separation anxiety work, which eventually led to the creation of Nathan’s Paw Training.

The conversation explores:

Changing career paths
Transferable skills
Business burnout
Knowing when something no longer fits
Sunk costs and emotional attachment to offers
People pleasing and fear of judgement
Reframing perceived failure
Evolving services
Creating more sustainable income
Making decisions before you feel completely ready
Letting your business become something different from what you originally imagined

Connect with Amanda Van Tassel:

No Hassle Dog Training

Website:

https://nohassledogtraining.ca/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/nohassledogtraining

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/nohassledogtraining

Amanda’s personal Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/amanda.vantassel.7

Pathways to Pet Care

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/pathways_to_pet_care/

Connect with Nathan:

Email:

Website:

https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/

Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan:

A practical resource for pet professionals who feel overwhelmed and need some space to pause, reflect and decide what needs to change:

Free 5 Steps Guide:

Five practical steps towards launching and building a successful dog walking or pet sitting business:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle

Join The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle:

Nathan’s free Facebook community for pet professionals who want supportive conversations around both business and personal wellbeing:

Free Webinar: Why Pet Pro Wellbeing Is Essential for a Sustainable Business

Nathan is hosting his first free webinar on:

Thursday 20th August 2026 at 7pm UK time

Why Pet Pro Wellbeing Is Essential for a Sustainable Business

During the webinar, Nathan will explore why wellbeing is not something separate from running a successful business. It influences the way we make decisions, set boundaries, manage workloads, work with clients and ultimately how sustainable our businesses feel.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, stretched too thin, constantly “on”, or perhaps you simply know something needs to change but are not sure where to begin, this webinar has been created with you in mind.

Nathan will also be sharing more about The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle+, with the possibility of a short opportunity to join following the webinar, ahead of its planned wider reopening later in the year.

The webinar is completely free.

https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/webinar-registration/

Disclaimer:

The views expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nathan Dunleavy or The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast.

Overwhelmed in Your Pet Business? 6 Practical Ways to Create More Space in Your Week

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 14:50:00 +0100

After reaching the limits of his own capacity, Nathan shares six practical ways pet professionals can understand overwhelm and create more space in their working week.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ How to recognise your personal early warning signs of overwhelm.

✅ Why overwhelm rarely appears without physical, emotional or practical clues.

✅ How to separate what is genuinely urgent from what merely feels urgent.

✅ Why postponing or changing a plan does not make you unreliable.

✅ How to stop treating overwhelm as a personal or professional failure.

✅ Why asking “What is making this difficult?” can be more helpful than asking “Why can’t I cope?”

✅ How protecting unscheduled time can make your business more resilient.

✅ Why an empty hour in your diary is not necessarily an available hour.

✅ How choosing three weekly priorities can reduce distraction and pressure.

✅ Why your wellbeing should be treated as a genuine business priority.

✅ How creating a pause before saying yes can strengthen your boundaries.

✅ Why rest and self-care are important parts of business self-leadership.

Key Takeaways:

Overwhelm is often information that something needs to change.
Exhaustion, irritability, forgetfulness and difficulty making decisions can all be early warning signs.
Not everything that feels urgent genuinely needs your attention today.
Changing a plan based on your available capacity is responsible, not unreliable.
Feeling overwhelmed does not mean you are bad at running a business.
Protecting blank space in your diary gives unexpected events somewhere to go.
Capacity is a valuable business resource.
Three meaningful weekly priorities are often more useful than an unrealistic list of 15.
A useful weekly structure may include one client priority, one business priority and one wellbeing priority.
Saying “Let me check my diary and come back to you” creates space for a more considered decision.
Resting before reaching complete burnout supports both you and the quality of your work.
Creating space does not always mean permanently doing less. It can mean responding appropriately to the season, week or day you are currently experiencing.

Show Notes:

In this short solo episode of The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast, Nathan Dunleavy shares six practical tips for pet professionals who are feeling overwhelmed and struggling to create enough space in their working week.

After several demanding days pet sitting 26 dogs, including three litters of puppies, Nathan realised that pushing through with a planned guest recording would not serve him, his guest or the quality of the episode.

Instead, the recording was postponed, Nathan rested and he created this shorter episode around the energy he genuinely had available.

The episode draws on August’s theme inside The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle+, which is Creating Space.

Nathan shares three tips for understanding overwhelm:

Notice your early warning signs.
Separate genuine urgency from what merely feels urgent.
Stop treating overwhelm as a personal failing.

He then shares three practical ways to create more space in your week:

Protect some unscheduled time.
Choose your priorities before the week begins.
Create a pause before automatically saying yes.

This is a gentle but practical reminder that rest is not laziness, your energy is a business resource and one small change can begin to reduce the pressure.

Free Webinar: Why Pet Pro Wellbeing Is Essential for a Sustainable Business

Nathan is hosting his first free webinar later this month:

Why Pet Pro Wellbeing Is Essential for a Sustainable Business

The webinar will explore why wellbeing is not separate from business success and how it affects your:

Decisions
Boundaries
Relationships
Capacity
Confidence
Ability to continue for the long term

More details will be shared shortly.

https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/webinar-registration/

Nathan also hints during the episode that The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle+ may reopen for a very short period alongside the webinar, earlier than its planned full reopening towards the end of September.

Connect with Nathan:

Email:

hello@nathandunleavy.com

Website:

https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/

Download the Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan:

A practical resource to help pet professionals step back, reflect and create a calmer plan when everything feels too much:

Download the Free 5 Steps Guide:

Discover five practical steps towards building a successful and sustainable dog walking or pet sitting business:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle/

Join The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle:

Nathan’s free Facebook community for pet professionals who want supportive conversations around business and personal wellbeing:

20 Years in Dog Training: Canine Fitness, Chronic Illness and What a Trick Duck Taught Joe Nutkins

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 21:05:00 +0100

Joe Nutkins shares what 20 years in dog training, living with chronic illness and teaching everything from hamsters to a trick duck have taught her about animals, business and wellbeing.

Episode Description:

What can training dogs, hamsters, chickens and even a trick-performing duck teach us about running a pet business?

In this episode of The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast, Nathan is joined by Joe Nutkins, a Kennel Club Accredited Instructor and Certified Professional Canine Fitness Trainer who has worked professionally with dogs for more than 20 years.

Jo shares how her fascination with animal training began with a childhood hamster named Nibbles, before an unexpected opportunity led her from magazine design into dog training and eventually, running her own business.

Together, Nathan and Joe explore the realities of working in a pet business while also learning how to run it, particularly alongside ADHD, depression, fibromyalgia, ME and chronic pain. Joe explains how her own experiences have deepened her ability to notice possible pain and discomfort in dogs, helping guardians better understand the subtle ways animals adapt and compensate.

They also discuss canine fitness and conditioning, preventative support for dogs of every age, advocating for animals when something does not feel right and the importance of collaboration between trainers, therapists, guardians and veterinary professionals.

And then there is Echo: Joe’s much-loved house duck, who learned dozens of tricks, appeared on Britain’s Got Talent and became the world’s first officially titled trick duck.

This is a warm, funny and insightful conversation about patience, adaptability, animal wellbeing and building a long-lasting pet business around the life and health of the person behind it.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ How Joe moved from magazine design into professional dog training.

✅ What it is really like to realise you have not only become a dog trainer, but a business owner too.

✅ How ADHD, chronic illness and memory difficulties can affect the everyday administration of running a pet business.

✅ Why Joe believes her own experience of chronic pain helps her recognise possible discomfort in dogs.

✅ What canine fitness and conditioning involves and why it can benefit puppies, adult dogs and seniors.

✅ Why preventative strengthening can help dogs remain mobile and active for longer.

✅ How dogs can adapt to pain without crying, limping or stopping their usual activities.

✅ Why pet guardians may need to gather evidence, ask questions and seek another opinion when something does not feel right.

✅ What working with different animal species has taught Joe about communication and training.

✅ How Echo became a house duck, learned dozens of tricks and appeared on Britain’s Got Talent.

✅ Why patience, slowing down and noticing animal body language can improve the way we work and live.

✅ How Joe has sustained a pet business for more than 20 years while continuing to adapt around her health and changing circumstances.

Key Takeaways:

Many pet professionals begin because they love working with animals, only later realising how much is involved in running a business.
Working in the business and working on the business require very different skills.
A business must be flexible enough to accommodate the health and needs of the person running it.
Lived experience of pain can create a deeper awareness of the subtle ways dogs compensate for discomfort.
Dogs do not always display pain in obvious ways, so small changes in movement, posture or behaviour matter.
Canine fitness and conditioning are not only for older or injured dogs.
Preventative support may help dogs build strength, maintain mobility and recover more effectively.
Exercises seen online may not be suitable for every dog and can cause harm when performed incorrectly.
Guardians know their dogs well and should feel able to ask questions, document changes and request further support.
The principles of kind, reward-based training can apply across many different animal species.
Progress is often created through patience, observation and working at the individual animal’s pace.
Animals can teach us when to pause, breathe and reconsider how we are approaching a situation.

Joe describes one particularly memorable moment when her dog Taylor responded to her rushing and frustration with an unmistakable stress signal. It prompted her to stop, calm herself and recognise the impact her own emotional state was having on him.

Show Notes:

About This Episode:

Nathan Dunleavy is joined by Joe Nutkins from Dog Training for Essex and Suffolk for a conversation about her 20-year journey as a dog trainer and pet business owner.

Joe is a Kennel Club Accredited Instructor and Certified Professional Canine Fitness Trainer. She works with dogs and guardians both in person and online, offering training, canine conditioning, tricks, hoopers and other activities.

In this episode, Joe shares how she unexpectedly found herself running a business, how she manages her work alongside ADHD and multiple chronic health conditions, and why her lived experience has strengthened her understanding of animals experiencing pain.

Joe also introduces us to Echo, her much-loved trick duck, whose training journey eventually led to formal trick titles, television appearances and an attempted Guinness World Record.

Connect with Joe Nutkins:

Dog Training for Essex and Suffolk

Website:

https://dogtrainingessex-suffolk.co.uk/

Business Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/dogtrainingforessexandsuffolk

Personal Facebook profile:

https://www.facebook.com/joe.nutkins1

Connect with Nathan:

Email:

Website:

https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/

Download the Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan:

A gentle, practical resource to help overwhelmed pet professionals pause, reflect and decide what they need next:

Download the Free 5 Steps Guide:

Discover five practical steps towards building a successful and sustainable dog walking business:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle/

Join The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle:

Join Nathan’s free Facebook community for supportive conversations around business and personal wellbeing:

The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle+ Is Now Open:

The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle+, Nathan’s new group mentoring membership for pet professionals, is now open for founding members.

Circle+ has been created as a calmer and more supportive place for pet professionals to step away from the noise, receive ongoing guidance and build businesses that feel more sustainable.

Inside Circle+, members receive:

🌿 Two live group mentoring sessions each month, with one focused on business and one on wellbeing

🌿 A private community hosted away from Facebook

🌿 Guest expert sessions

🌿 Monthly themes

🌿 A growing resource library

🌿 Session recordings and replays

🌿 Ongoing support from Nathan and the community

Membership is currently available at the founding price of £27 per month, or £270 annually, which provides two months free and includes additional annual-member bonuses.

Founding membership closes at midnight on Monday 27 July 2026. The founding price and bonuses will no longer be available after this deadline.

Find out more and join Circle+ here:

https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/the-pet-business-wellbeing-circle-plus/

From Reactive Dog to Thriving Dog Training Business: How Bert Changed Mark Skelly's Life Forever

Sat, 18 Jul 2026 13:35:00 +0100

A heartfelt conversation about the dog that changed everything, building trust over obedience and creating a pet business that supports both dogs and humans.

Episode Description:

What if the dog that challenged you the most became the reason you found your purpose?

In this inspiring episode of The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast, Nathan is joined by Mark Skelly, founder of Skellywags Dog Training in Kent.

Mark shares the story of how his dogs, Bert and Lily, transformed not only his understanding of dogs, but the direction of his entire career. Together they explore the importance of relationship over obedience, why connection always comes before training, the realities of running a modern dog training business, the pressures of social media and how putting wellbeing first benefits both dogs and their guardians.

If you're a dog trainer, behaviourist, dog walker or pet professional looking to build a more ethical, sustainable business, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom, humour and heartfelt reflections.

What You'll Learn In This Episode:

✅ Why Bert's reactivity completely changed the direction of Mark's career.

✅ How focusing on connection before obedience transforms dog training.

✅ Why scent work has become one of Mark's favourite tools for building confidence.

✅ The importance of adapting your training around the individual dog, not a rigid curriculum.

✅ How social media comparison can affect the wellbeing of pet professionals.

✅ Why community matters more than algorithms.

✅ How positive reinforcement extends beyond dogs to the people we work with.

✅ The realities of building a sustainable dog training business.

✅ What writing a book taught Mark about confidence and imposter syndrome.

✅ Why our own dogs are often our greatest teachers.

Key Takeaways:

Relationship always comes before training.
Every dog deserves to be understood, not simply "fixed."
Wellbeing is just as important for the guardian as it is for the dog.
Social media should never define your worth as a professional.
Community and collaboration help businesses thrive.
Ethical dog training starts with empathy.
Adaptability is one of the greatest strengths a pet professional can develop.
Your business should reflect your values, not industry pressure.
Learning never stops.
Sometimes the dog that challenges you the most changes your life for the better.

Show Notes:

Guest: Mark Skelly – Skellywags Dog Training

🌐 Website:

https://skellywagsdogtraining.co.uk/

📘 Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063029839972

📸 Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/skellywags_dog_training_/

Resources from Nathan:

📧 Email:

🌐 Website:

https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/

🌿 Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan:

📘 Free 5 Steps Guide:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle

💙 Join The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle:

🌿 Register for the Pet Pro Reset Experience:

https://bio.site/YooperPaws

Building a Dog Training Business with a Disability: Service Dogs, Community & Positive Reinforcement With Penny Beeman

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 18:20:00 +0100

A powerful conversation about resilience, service dogs, positive reinforcement and why no pet professional should build their business alone.

Episode Description:

What happens when life throws unexpected challenges your way, but your passion for helping dogs never fades?

In this heartfelt episode of The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast, Nathan is joined by Penny Beeman, founder of Yooper Paws of Love in Michigan, USA.

Penny shares the remarkable story behind her journey from helping rescue dogs and reactive German Shepherds to becoming a behaviour specialist, service dog trainer and business owner living with chronic illness.

Together they explore the realities of running a pet business whilst managing a disability, how service dogs can transform independence, why community matters more than competition and why positive reinforcement remains at the heart of everything Penny does.

Whether you're a dog trainer, behaviourist, walker, pet sitter or simply someone who loves learning about dogs and the people behind the businesses, this episode is full of practical wisdom, honesty and encouragement.

What You'll Learn In This Episode:

✅ How Penny's rescue German Shepherd completely changed the direction of her career.

✅ The difference between service dogs, therapy dogs, emotional support animals and agency dogs.

✅ How living with chronic illness shaped Penny's business journey.

✅ The practical ways a service dog can support someone with invisible disabilities.

✅ Why community is one of the biggest predictors of long-term business success.

✅ How Penny built a thriving force-free training business in a rural area.

✅ Why she chose positive reinforcement after previously using traditional training methods.

✅ How to balance ethical dog training with meeting owners where they currently are.

✅ The importance of finding mentors and supportive professional networks.

✅ Why the dogs we work with often become our greatest teachers.

Key Takeaways:

Community is one of the greatest investments any pet professional can make.
Disabilities don't have to end your business journey. The right support can make all the difference.
Service dogs provide life-changing independence through carefully trained tasks.
Positive reinforcement isn't simply a training method. It's a philosophy built on trust.
Every reactive dog has a story worth understanding.
Meeting owners with compassion creates lasting change.
Running a business looks different for everyone and that's okay.
Your own dogs often become your greatest teachers.
Progress comes from curiosity, not judgement.
Sustainable businesses are built with support, not isolation.

Show Notes:

Guest - Penny Beeman:

🌐 Website: https://www.crazy2calm.net

🌐 Bio & Links:

📘 Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/YooperPaws

https://www.facebook.com/YooperPawsOfLove

Resources from Nathan:

📧 Email:

🌐 Website:

https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/

🌿 Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan:

📘 Free 5 Steps Guide:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle

🌿 Join The Pet Biz Wellbeing Circle:

🌿 Register for the Pet Pro Reset Experience:

https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/

From Corporate Banking to Pet Business Mentor: Nathan Dunleavy’s Journey to Building a Sustainable Pet Business

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 16:30:00 +0100

From corporate banking to dog walking, mentoring and wellbeing advocacy - Nathan shares the story behind the businesses, lessons and experiences that shaped his journey.

Episode Description:

In this special solo episode of The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast, Nathan Dunleavy shares the story behind his journey from corporate and business banking to building multiple pet businesses and launching The Pet Business Wellbeing Mentor.

Nathan opens up about the highs, the challenges and the pivotal moments that shaped his career from buying his first property at 18 and working in corporate banking, to starting a dog walking business from scratch, navigating the uncertainty of the pandemic and creating a wellbeing-focused mentoring business for pet professionals.

This honest and personal episode explores why wellbeing matters in business, the realities of running a pet business and why seeking support isn't a sign of weakness - it's a strategy for sustainable success.

Nathan also shares details about the brand-new Pet Pro Reset Experience and the launch of The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle Plus.

Whether you're a dog walker, trainer, groomer, pet sitter or another pet professional, this episode will remind you that you don't have to do it all alone.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

✅ How Nathan transitioned from a career in corporate and business banking into the pet industry

✅ Why dog walking became the foundation for multiple successful businesses

✅ The lessons Nathan learned from running two businesses simultaneously

✅ How the pandemic transformed Nathan's business direction

✅ Why specialising in separation anxiety became such an important part of his work

✅ The inspiration behind The Dog Walking Business Mentor

✅ Why pet professionals need more support with business wellbeing

✅ How The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle was created

✅ What to expect from the new Pet Business Wellbeing Circle Plus membership

✅ Why asking for support can help you build a more sustainable business

Key Takeaways:

Your career path doesn't have to follow a traditional route.
Every experience you have can contribute to your future success.
Dog walking is a highly skilled and often under-appreciated profession.
Business growth isn't always about doing more - sometimes it's about simplifying.
Burnout isn't a badge of honour.
Boundaries are essential for long-term success.
Mentorship can accelerate growth and reduce overwhelm.
Building community helps combat the isolation many pet professionals experience.
Sustainable businesses are built around wellbeing, not sacrifice.
You don't have to figure everything out on your own.

Show Notes & Resources:

📧 Email: hello@nathandunleavy.com

🌐 Website: https://nathandunleavy.com/

📥 Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan:

🐾 Free 5 Steps Guide:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle/

🌿 Join The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle - Free Facebook Group:

✨ Register for the FREE Pet Pro Reset Experience:

https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/

Inside The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle Plus: Support for Overwhelmed Pet Pros with Nathan Dunleavy & Amanda VanTassel

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 19:45:00 +0100

A heartfelt conversation about burnout, boundaries, business support and why pet professionals deserve safe spaces too.

Episode Description:

What happens when passionate pet professionals start running on empty?

In this special “podcast takeover” episode of The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast, returning guest Amanda VanTassel from No Hassle Dog Training flips the microphone around and interviews Nathan Dunleavy about the launch of his brand new membership community - The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle Plus.

Together, they dive into the realities of burnout, overwhelm, imposter syndrome, boundaries, compassion fatigue and the emotional weight many pet professionals quietly carry behind the scenes.

Nathan shares his own personal journey with anxiety, burnout and chronic health struggles, alongside the inspiration behind creating a wellbeing-focused mentoring membership designed specifically for pet professionals who want support without pressure.

This honest, relaxed conversation explores why running a pet business should support your life - not consume it.

Whether you're a dog trainer, dog walker, behaviourist, groomer, vet professional or pet business owner feeling overwhelmed, exhausted or isolated… this episode is your reminder that you're not alone.

What You’ll Learn In This Episode:

✅ What inspired Nathan to create The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle Plus

✅ Why so many pet professionals struggle with overwhelm and burnout

✅ The hidden emotional toll of running a pet business

✅ How business mentoring differs from traditional business coaching

✅ Why wellbeing and business support should go hand in hand

✅ The importance of boundaries, rest and taking proper time off

✅ Why imposter syndrome is so common in the pet industry

✅ How community and collaboration can reduce isolation

✅ The role reflection prompts, mentoring and accountability can play in business growth

✅ Why “running a business should support your life, not consume it”

Key Takeaways:

Pet professionals often love the animal work but struggle with the business side.
Burnout, compassion fatigue and overwhelm are incredibly common in the industry.
Asking for support is not failure - it’s a strength.
Sustainable businesses require boundaries and rest.
Group mentoring can provide connection, accountability and reassurance.
Many pet professionals feel isolated behind the scenes.
Community over competition creates safer, healthier industries.
Wellbeing is not separate from business success - it supports it.

🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES:

🌐 Website: https://nathandunleavy.com/

🐾 Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan:

📘 Free “5 Steps” Guide:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle

💬 Join The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle (Free Facebook Community):

📧 Email Nathan:

https://nohassledogtraining.ca/

📌 Amanda Van Tassel / No Hassle Dog Training:

https://www.facebook.com/nohassledogtraining/

https://www.facebook.com/amanda.vantassel.7

The Vet Says Rest: Dog Enrichment, Recovery & Why Dogs Don’t Need Walks Every Day with Laura Carter IMDT

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:45:00 +0100

A powerful conversation about enrichment, recovery, realistic expectations and why dogs don’t measure happiness in miles walked.

Episode Description:

What happens when the vet suddenly says your dog needs strict rest?

For many dog guardians, it can feel overwhelming, isolating and honestly… a little terrifying.

In this episode of The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast, Nathan chats with dog trainer and author Laura Carter IMDT about her book The Vet Says Rest, the emotional realities of caring for dogs on restricted exercise and why enrichment, connection and slowing down matter more than many people realise.

Laura shares how working with injured dogs inspired her to write the book, why “just give them a Kong” often isn’t enough and how enrichment can support not only dogs recovering from surgery or injury but also reactive dogs, older dogs, overwhelmed dogs and even exhausted pet professionals.

The conversation also explores Laura’s 20-year journey in the dog industry, moving from Kent to Scotland, creating the Wags Without Walks membership, the evolution of ethical dog training and why teaching dogs to do nothing might actually be one of the most important skills of all.

This is a thoughtful, reassuring episode packed with practical advice and compassionate insight for both dog guardians and pet professionals.

What You’ll Learn In This Episode:

✅ Why strict rest and crate rest can be emotionally challenging for both dogs and guardians

✅ How enrichment can support dogs recovering from injury, surgery, or illness

✅ Why walks aren’t always the best outlet for every dog

✅ The hidden stress many dog guardians experience when their dog suddenly can’t exercise normally

✅ How Laura’s book The Vet Says Rest was inspired by real rehabilitation cases

✅ Why relationship and connection matter more than perfect obedience

✅ How dog training has evolved over the past 20 years

✅ The importance of choice, agency, sniffing and natural behaviours

✅ Why teaching dogs to relax is just as important as keeping them busy

✅ Laura’s journey from in-person dog training to creating an online membership community

✅ The realities of building a dog business, writing a book and adapting over time

Key Takeaways:

Dogs don’t necessarily need long walks every single day
Enrichment and brain games can be more beneficial than physical exercise alone
Rest and recovery can place huge emotional pressure on caregivers
Ethical dog training has shifted massively towards relationship-based approaches
Sniffing, choice and natural behaviours are vital for wellbeing
Sometimes “doing nothing” is a skill dogs need help learning
Online memberships can help dog professionals support clients in new ways
Dogs value quality time and connection more than mileage walked
Less can genuinely be more for many dogs

Show Notes

Nathan Dunleavy:

📧 hello@nathandunleavy.com

🌐 Nathan Dunleavy Website

📥 Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan:

Pet Pro Rescue Plan

📥 Free Dog Walking Business Resource:

5 Steps Freebie

💬 Join The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle:

The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle Facebook Group

Laura Carter IMDT:

🌐 Laura Carter Canines

🌐 Wags Without Walks

📘 Laura Carter Canines Facebook Page

From Grief to Growth: Building a Purpose-Driven Pet Business with Claire Harris of Pets2Places

Fri, 29 May 2026 13:05:00 +0100

A powerful conversation about grief, resilience, community and building a meaningful pet business that genuinely changes lives.

Episode Description:

In this powerful and deeply honest episode of The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast, Nathan Dunleavy is joined by Claire Harris, founder of Pets2Places - the UK’s first pet taxi franchise.

Claire shares the raw reality behind the business: losing her husband suddenly, navigating grief whilst raising three children, experiencing burnout and bullying within a franchise system and rebuilding her life from the ground up through purpose, pets and community connection.

Together, Nathan and Claire explore the emotional realities of running a business, why human connection matters more than ever, the hidden loneliness many pet professionals face and how difficult experiences can shape who we become.

They also dive into the world of pet transport safety, franchising ethically, protecting your energy in business and why success is rarely as “overnight” as social media makes it seem.

This episode is honest, emotional, inspiring and packed with valuable insight for dog walkers, trainers, pet sitters, groomers and anyone building a pet business with heart.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ How Claire rebuilt her life and business after sudden personal tragedy

✅ Why human connection is one of the most overlooked parts of the pet industry

✅ The emotional realities of running a business whilst navigating grief and trauma

✅ What it really takes to build a successful franchise model ethically

✅ Why comparison and “competition” in business can become a distraction

✅ The importance of staying authentic and building a business aligned with your values

✅ Why older generations still have so much wisdom to offer pet professionals

✅ The hidden dangers of unsafe pet transport and why education matters

✅ How Pets2Places is working to improve pet travel safety across the UK

✅ Why difficult lessons often become the foundations of future success

Key Takeaways:

Success rarely happens overnight - most businesses are built quietly over years.
Human connection and community are becoming more valuable than ever.
You don’t need to copy others to succeed in business.
Your lived experiences can become your greatest strength.
Ethical franchising should focus on support, not pressure.
Protecting your wellbeing is essential when building a business.
Safe pet transport is a much bigger issue than many realise.
Authenticity and kindness are powerful business tools.
Hard seasons do not define your future.
You are your business’s “secret sauce.”

Links & Resources:

🌐 Nathan Dunleavy

https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/

📩 Email Nathan

hello@nathandunleavy.com

📘 Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan

🐾 Free Dog Walking Business Resource

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle

🌿 Join The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle

🚕 Pets2Places

https://pets2places.co.uk/

🚕 Pets2Places Franchise

https://pets2placesfranchise.co.uk/

📘 Claire Harris LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-harris-80780512a/

📱 Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pets2placesltd/

Muzzled and Misunderstood: Breaking the Stigma Around Muzzle Dogs with Diane from Dogs in Focus Photography

Fri, 22 May 2026 17:05:00 +0100

A compassionate conversation about muzzle stigma, reactive dogs, responsible guardianship and the love behind every muzzle-trained dog.

Episode Description:

In this powerful and heartfelt episode of The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast, Nathan Dunleavy is joined by dog photographer and author Diane from Dogs in Focus Photography to talk about her beautiful book Muzzled and Misunderstood: A Love Letter to My Muzzled Dog.

Together, they explore the realities of living with and loving a muzzle-trained dog, the stigma many guardians face and why muzzles can actually be a compassionate, responsible tool - not something to fear.

Diane shares the story of her own dog DeeDee, how her journey inspired The Muzzle Project and why photographing muzzle dogs became a mission to educate, empower and change perceptions.

This conversation is honest, emotional, insightful and packed with important reminders for dog guardians and pet professionals alike.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why muzzle training can actually improve a dog’s freedom and quality of life

✅ The real reasons dogs may wear muzzles - beyond aggression or bite history

✅ How Diane’s dog DeeDee inspired The Muzzle Project and her book

✅ Why education and understanding are so important in reducing muzzle stigma

✅ How responsible dog guardians often face judgement from the public

✅ The importance of well-fitted muzzles and positive muzzle training

✅ How photography and storytelling can help change perceptions around dogs

✅ What it was like creating a passion project alongside running a pet business

✅ Why “muzzle dogs are not bad dogs” is such an important message

✅ How pet professionals can better support guardians of reactive or challenging dogs

Key Takeaways:

Muzzles are management tools, not punishments
Muzzle-trained dogs can still play, pant, eat, drink and enjoy life
Responsible guardianship should be celebrated, not judged
Many dogs wear muzzles for reasons unrelated to aggression
Reactive and sensitive dogs deserve compassion and understanding
Photography and storytelling can be powerful educational tools
Passion projects can create huge personal and professional growth
There is still a significant need for public education around dog behaviour and muzzles

👇 Diane’s Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dogsinfocusphotography/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_muzzle_project/

Website & Book: https://www.dogsinfocusphotography.com/muzzled-and-misunderstood/

👇 Nathan’s Links:

Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan: https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/

Free 5 Steps Guide: https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/5-steps/

Free Facebook Group: The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle/

One Paw at a Time: Dog Rehabilitation, Trauma & Recovery After a Freak Accident with Jo Sellers

Fri, 15 May 2026 12:20:00 +0100

When Jo Sellers’ dog Reba suffered a devastating freak accident, their lives changed overnight and this episode explores the raw, real journey of trauma, rehabilitation, resilience and love.

Episode Description:

In this emotional episode of The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast, I’m joined by Jo Sellers, dog trainer, separation anxiety specialist and author of One Paw at a Time.

Jo shares the story of her beloved dog Reba, who suffered a serious spinal injury after a freak accident in the garden and the long rehabilitation journey that followed.

We talk about the reality of caring for a dog after trauma, the emotional and financial impact on the person behind the business and why Jo chose to write such an honest, raw account of their experience.

This episode is a powerful reminder that behind every pet professional is a human being navigating life, love, grief, difficult decisions and deep care.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Jo’s journey from dog walking to separation anxiety specialist

✅ How Reba’s separation anxiety shaped Jo’s career

✅ What happened during Reba’s freak accident

✅ The emotional reality of emergency veterinary care

✅ What rehabilitation after spinal trauma can really involve

✅ How caring for Reba affected Jo’s business and wellbeing

✅ Why Jo wrote One Paw at a Time

✅ The importance of support, honesty and not feeling alone

✅ Why dog guardians need to understand separation anxiety

Key Takeaways:

Freak accidents can change everything in a moment.
Rehabilitation is often far more demanding than people realise.
Pet professionals are still human beings with trauma, grief and limits.
Financial pressure, emotional strain and business disruption can all collide during a crisis.
Jo’s story is a reminder that difficult decisions are deeply personal.
You are not alone if you are supporting a dog through a hard chapter.
Separation anxiety can be hidden and guardians should check how their dogs cope alone.

Find Jo Sellers:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pippinpets

Website: https://www.pippinpetsdogtraining.co.uk/

Find Nathan:

Email: hello@nathandunleavy.com

Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan: https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/

5 Steps Freebie: https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/5-steps/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle/

Dog Training, Writing & Scent Detection: Melissa McCue-McGrath on Misadventures, Burnout & Invasive Species Detection

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 18:55:00 +0100

Melissa McCue-McGrath joins me to talk dog training stories, writing a book, compassion fatigue and the incredible world of invasive species detection dogs.

Episode Description:

In this episode, I’m joined by international guest Melissa McCue-McGrath - dog trainer, behaviour consultant, author and all-round brilliant human.

We chat about her new book, Misadventures of the World’s Okayest Dog Trainer, the real behind-the-scenes stories of working with dogs and humans, compassion fatigue, writing as a pet professional and her fascinating work with dogs detecting invasive species.

This is a warm, funny, honest and deeply insightful conversation about dog training, wellbeing and the unexpected places this work can take us.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ The story behind Melissa’s book Misadventures of the World’s Okayest Dog Trainer

✅ Why dog training is often as much about humans as it is about dogs

✅ How the dog training industry has changed over the years

✅ Why compassion fatigue can creep in before we realise it

✅ How writing can become a powerful reflective tool for pet professionals

✅ Why pet pros may have a book, blog or story inside them

✅ What invasive species detection work involves

✅ How pet dogs can be trained to help detect spotted lanternfly

✅ Why scent work can change how guardians see their dogs

✅ The importance of trusting your gut in animal welfare and training

Key Takeaways:

Dog training involves real-life moments no textbook can fully prepare you for.
Stories from the industry can help newer pet professionals feel less alone.
Compassion fatigue often becomes visible only once we step back.
Writing can be therapeutic, reflective and useful for others.
Pet dogs are capable of incredible scent detection work.
Behaviour cases can still thrive when given meaningful, confidence-building jobs.
The dog industry is changing and there are more supportive resources than ever.
If something feels wrong in training or welfare, it is okay to question it.

Show Notes Links:

Host: Nathan Dunleavy

Email: hello@nathandunleavy.com

https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/

Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan:

5 Steps to Start Your Dog Walking Business:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle/

The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle:

Guest: Melissa McCue-McGrath

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mcmccue

Website: https://melissamccuemcgrath.com/

Buy Melissa’s book in the UK:

https://5mbooks.com/product/misadventures-of-the-worlds-okayest-dog-trainer

For the US and elsewhere, search Amazon for:

Misadventures of the World’s Okayest Dog Trainer

Season 2 Begins: What’s Coming Up for Pet Professionals on The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast with Nathan Dunleavy

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 09:15:00 +0100

Season 2 is here - with inspiring guests, honest business journeys, wellbeing conversations and support for pet professionals who want to grow sustainably.

Episode Description:

Season 2 is officially here and there’s a lot to be excited about.

In this opening episode, Nathan shares what’s ahead for the next chapter of The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast, including a fantastic line-up of guests from across the pet industry, returning favourites from Season 1 and a deeper focus on the person behind the pet business.

This season will explore real journeys, honest challenges, business growth, wellbeing, resilience and the stories that shape the people behind the brands.

Nathan also shares exciting behind-the-scenes updates on the upcoming Pet Business Wellbeing Circle+ membership, his sponsorship of the Canine Principles Inside Out Symposium and why Season 2 could be the most meaningful yet.

If you run a dog walking, training, grooming, pet sitting or pet care business - this season is for you.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ What’s coming up in Season 2 of the podcast

✅ The exciting guest line-up already confirmed

✅ Why this season will focus more on the person behind the business

✅ How real business journeys can inspire other pet professionals

✅ Why wellbeing remains central to the podcast mission

✅ Nathan’s plans for a solo episode sharing his own business story

✅ What The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle+ membership will offer

✅ Why community, support and growth without pressure matters

✅ Details about sponsoring the Canine Principles Inside Out Symposium

✅ How you can support the podcast through follows, shares and reviews

Key Takeaways:

Season 2 will go deeper into the stories behind pet businesses.
Hearing real journeys can reduce isolation and inspire action.
Sustainable business growth must include wellbeing.
Community support matters more than many realise.
Nathan is expanding support through Circle+ group mentoring.
The podcast continues to champion honest, human conversations.
Exciting collaborations and guest experts are on the way.
The pet industry needs spaces where people feel seen and supported.

Show Notes Links:

Host: Nathan Dunleavy

📧 Email: hello@nathandunleavy.com

🌐 Website: https://nathandunleavy.com/

🆓 Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan:

https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/

🆓 5 Steps to Start Your Dog Walking Business:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle

💬 Free Facebook Community – The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle:

Season 1 Finale: Lessons from The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast - Burnout, Boundaries & Building a Sustainable Pet Business

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:20:00 +0100

Season 1 of the Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast comes to a close with a reflection on the powerful conversations, lessons and guest stories that shaped the journey.

Episode Description:

This special episode marks the end of Season 1 of The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast.

In this solo episode, Nathan reflects on the journey so far, the incredible guest experts who have joined the podcast and the powerful conversations we’ve had about the realities of running a pet business.

From burnout and boundaries to imposter syndrome, ADHD, parenting while running a business, outsourcing support and the importance of community - Season 1 has been packed with honest discussions about what it really takes to build a sustainable pet business.

Nathan also shares some of the biggest lessons from the season and opens the door for Season 2, inviting new guests from across the pet and animal industry to come on the show and share their stories, expertise and journeys.

Because behind every pet business… there’s a person with a story.

If you’re a dog walker, trainer, groomer, sitter, behaviourist, vet professional, pet product business owner or educator - your voice and experience could inspire others in the industry.

Season 1 started the conversation.

Season 2 will continue it.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why the Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast was created and the mission behind it

✅ The key wellbeing challenges pet professionals face when running a business

✅ Highlights from Season 1 and the incredible guest experts who shared their stories

✅ Why burnout, boundaries and sustainability are essential conversations in the pet industry

✅ The importance of community, collaboration and support networks for pet professionals

✅ Lessons learned from guests about building a business that supports your life

✅ Why success looks different for every pet business owner

✅ How personal stories and journeys can inspire other people in the industry

✅ How you can become a guest on Season 2 of the podcast

Key Takeaways:

• Running a pet business can be incredibly rewarding, but it also comes with real challenges that deserve open conversations.

• Burnout, overwhelm and boundaries are common experiences for pet professionals.

• Community and collaboration matter more than competition in the pet industry.

• Sustainable businesses are built intentionally, with wellbeing at the centre.

• There is no single “right way” to build a successful pet business.

• Sharing personal journeys and experiences can inspire and support others in the industry.

• The podcast exists because of the community that surrounds it.

• Season 2 will continue the conversations and bring even more voices into the discussion.

Show Notes & Links:

Host - Nathan Dunleavy:

📧 Email:

🌐 Website:

https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/

🆓 Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan:

🆓 Free Guide: 5 Steps to Start Your Dog Walking Business:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle

💬 Join the Free Community

The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle

Balancing Pet Business & Parenthood: How Shelina Duke (The Poodle Trainer) Built a Sustainable Life as a Poodle Trainer & Full-Time Guardian

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 11:25:00 +0100

A powerful, heart-led conversation about running a pet business, becoming a full-time guardian overnight and building a life that supports both your wellbeing and your family.

Episode Description:

In this deeply moving and uplifting episode, I’m joined by Shelina Duke (Shelina -the Poodle Trainer) award-winning dog trainer, online poodle specialist, mentor and full-time guardian to her young niece after the sudden loss of her sister.

Shelina shares her extraordinary journey from Head of Primary in a SEN school to full-time dog trainer, business owner, multi-award winner… and mum–auntie overnight.

We talk about grief, resilience, boundaries, time freedom, guilt-free parenting, online training, community support and how to build a pet business that actually fits your life, especially when life takes a turn you never saw coming.

Whether you're a dog trainer, walker, sitter or pet care professional navigating overwhelm, family demands, chronic health issues, life transitions or the sheer emotional load of being a pet pro - this episode will speak to you on a very human level.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ How Shelina’s life changed in a single day and how she rebuilt it with compassion and courage

✅ Why teaching prepared her unexpectedly well for dog training (and adults!)

✅ How she moved her business fully online and achieved worldwide success

✅ The routines and boundaries that allow her to be fully present for her niece and her clients

✅ How to navigate mum guilt, business guilt and people-pleasing as a pet professional

✅ The role of community and client support during grief and difficult seasons

✅ Why “building a business that fits your life” is a wellbeing tool

✅ How pet pros can create services that allow more freedom and less burnout

Key Takeaways:

Building a business around your life, not the other way around is possible and powerful
You do not have to work every hour or sacrifice your wellbeing to be successful
Children, dogs and adults all learn best when they feel safe, supported and seen
Online dog training can be more effective and sustainable than in-person work
Community matters: clients can become an unexpected source of emotional support
Grief, parenting and running a business can coexist but only with boundaries
You can start with one present moment a day to reduce guilt
You’re not a unicorn; sustainable business is possible for everyday pet pros too

Show Notes & Links:

Work with Nathan:

📩 Email: hello@nathandunleavy.com

🌐 Website: https://nathandunleavy.com/

Free Resources:

🆘 Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan - https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/

🐾 “5 Steps to a Successful Dog Walking Business” - https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/5-steps/

Community:

💬 The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle (Free FB group):

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle

Connect with Shelina:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shelina.duke

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelinapoodletrainer/

Website: https://www.withtheflo.co.uk/training-your-poodle/

Poodle Friends FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/434932511664042

Running a Pet Business With ADHD & Chronic Pain: Sustainable Success on Your Hard Days (with Amanda VanTassel)

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:20:00 +0100

If you’re neurodivergent, disabled, or living with chronic health challenges, this episode is your reminder that sustainability is success and you’re not “behind.”

Episode description:

What happens when you’re running a pet business… but your brain is battling ADHD, your body is battling chronic pain and your energy levels change day to day?

In this episode, I’m joined by my first international guest, Amanda VanTassel (Canada) — dog trainer, mentor, and soon-to-be private dog park owner for a real, honest conversation about what “hard days” actually look like behind the scenes.

We talk ADHD (including late diagnosis and the grief/relief that can come with it), chronic pain, brain fog, overwhelm, boundaries, automation, VAs… and how to build a business that works with your reality, not against it. This is a compassionate, practical listen for any dog pro who wants success without sacrificing themselves to get it.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

✅ What “bad days” can look like when you’re managing ADHD + chronic pain

✅ How Amanda keeps her business moving without pushing herself into burnout

✅ Why late ADHD diagnosis can bring both relief and grief

✅ The difference between ambition and sustainability (and why you don’t have to choose)

✅ Practical ways to reduce pressure: boundaries, simplification, automation + support

✅ Why comparison is fuel for burnout and how to step out of it

✅ Small, realistic changes you can make this week to protect your wellbeing

Key takeaways:

Sustainable business isn’t about doing less it’s about doing what’s doable consistently
Brain fog days need “tiny admin wins,” not big creative projects
Automation and a VA (even just 1–2 hours/week) can change everything
Pain and stress often link together your body keeps the score
Boundaries protect your future self (and your clients will adjust)
Stop comparing your behind-the-scenes to someone else’s highlight reel
One small change a week is how sustainable businesses are built

Show notes links -

Nathan:

Email: hello@nathandunleavy.com

https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/

Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan: https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/

Free “5 Steps” guide: https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/5-steps/

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle/

Amanda VanTassel (No Hassle Dog Training) –

Website: https://nohassledogtraining.ca/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nohassledogtraining

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nohassledogtraining/

The Benefits of Being Your Own Boss: Why Running a Pet Business Is So Rewarding

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 21:55:00 +0100

A gentle uplifting episode reminding pet pros why running your own business is meaningful, empowering and one of the most rewarding decisions you’ll ever make.

Running a pet business isn’t just long days, emotional work and endless admin - it’s also joyful, empowering and full of freedom. In this solo episode, Nathan flips the script and explores the benefits of being your own boss: flexibility, purpose, autonomy, authenticity and the deep sense of pride that comes from building something meaningful from scratch.

If you’ve been caught in the overwhelm lately, this episode is your warm reminder of everything that makes your pet business worth it.

Show notes Links:

📩 Email: hello@nathandunleavy.com

🌐 Website: https://nathandunleavy.com/

🧡 Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan: https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/

🐾 Free 5-Steps Guide for Dog Walkers: https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/5-steps/

💬 Join the Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle

What You’ll Learn:

✔️ The real-life freedom that comes from running your own pet business

✔️ Why autonomy is a wellbeing tool all on its own

✔️ How meaningful animal work enriches your life (not just your clients’)

✔️ The joy of choosing your clients, services and schedule

✔️ Why authenticity matters and how self-employment lets you be you

✔️ The creative freedom that comes with being your own boss

✔️ How pride and purpose can keep you going on the hardest days

✔️ Why remembering your why is essential for long-term wellbeing

Key Takeaways:

Being your own boss gives you genuine freedom - not the social-media version.
You can design a week that works around your life, energy and needs.
Pet pros do deeply meaningful work that many people never get in a traditional job.
You get to choose the clients you work with and the services that light you up.
Authenticity becomes a strength, not something to hide.
Creativity thrives without corporate constraints.
Pride in building something from scratch is powerful and grounding.
Yes, it’s hard work but the joy, purpose and autonomy make it worth it.

The Default Diary Method: How Dog Pros Can Build Work-Life Balance Without Burning Out (with Helen Motteram)

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:16:00 +0100

If your diary feels chaotic and your evenings are disappearing into admin and messages, this episode will help you create a calmer, more sustainable week (starting with one simple shift).

Episode description:

Work-life balance can feel like a mythical creature when you’re a dog pro - especially when clients want evenings, messages come in from every direction and “admin” somehow becomes a second job.

In this episode, I’m joined by Helen Motteram (Pet Professional Network) - famously known as the Queen of the Default Diary to talk about how dog professionals can create structure, calmer weeks and more breathing room without sacrificing income or feeling guilty for taking time off.

We chat about why pet pros overwork, how boundaries get accidentally trained (yep, clients can learn bad habits too!), why your personal appointments should be as non-negotiable as client bookings and how a Default Diary can bring you back to a business you actually enjoy being in.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

✅ Why work-life balance is so hard for dog pros and what’s really happening behind the scenes

✅ What a Default Diary is (and why Helen swears by it)

✅ How to treat personal appointments like non-negotiable client bookings

✅ How to stop your business expanding into every evening and weekend

✅ Why having one main communication channel saves your sanity

✅ How boundaries accidentally get “trained” (and how to reset them gently)

✅ How to plan proper time off without losing bookings or momentum

✅ A small, compassionate first step to calm your diary this week

Key takeaways:

Work-life balance isn’t a luxury - it’s how you stay healthy, consistent and able to support your clients well
A Default Diary gives you a realistic structure for work, admin, rest and life (and can be seasonal)
If you cancel on yourself regularly, your business will eventually force a break (usually the hard way)
Boundaries need consistency - one late-night reply can become the new expectation
Clients can adjust to your availability, especially when you communicate clearly and early
Time off works best when it’s planned in advance and protected like any other booking
A calmer week often starts with one small “swap” - not a total overhaul

Show notes / links:

Connect with Nathan:

Email: hello@nathandunleavy.com
Website: https://nathandunleavy.com/
Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan: https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/
TDWBM freebie (5 Steps): https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/5-steps/
Free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle/

Connect with Helen Motteram:

Personal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teade22/
Pet Professional Network (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/petpronetwork/
Website: https://www.helenmotteram.com/
Pet Pro Network website: https://www.petpronetwork.com/

Letting Go Without Guilt: Why Outsourcing Helps Pet Pros Avoid Burnout with Dawn Melbourne (Wild Paw Admin Services)

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 16:13:00 +0100

If you’ve ever clung to a task long past the point of burnout, this episode will help you understand why and how outsourcing can finally give you your time back.

Episode Description:

In this episode, I’m joined once again by the brilliant Dawn Melbourne from Wild Paw Admin Services - a VA who specialises in supporting pet and animal professionals behind the scenes.

We dive into the emotional and practical reality of outsourcing as a pet pro…

Why it’s so hard to let go (even when you know a task is draining you), what actually changes when you hand things over and how the right VA can completely transform your clarity, energy and wellbeing.

From admin overwhelm to MailerLite meltdowns, we talk honestly about control, trust and the moment you realise: you don’t have to do everything alone.

Whether you’re a dog walker, trainer, groomer, sitter, or behaviourist running on empty - this episode will gently show you how small steps can create big breathing room in your business.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why letting go of tasks feels so emotionally hard for pet pros

✅ How trust plays a huge role in outsourcing (and how to build it safely)

✅ The difference between £10 tasks and £100 tasks and why it matters

✅ How a VA can give you back clarity, headspace and business momentum

✅ What Dawn actually supports pet pros with behind the scenes

✅ How SOPs (standard operating procedures) make outsourcing easier

✅ The signs you might be ready to get help - even if you’re resisting it

✅ Why starting with one small task can be the most powerful first step

✅ How outsourcing protects your wellbeing and prevents burnout

Key Takeaways:

Outsourcing is rarely about ability - it’s about trust, control and emotional safety for business owners.
Pet pros often underestimate how much headspace admin tasks are stealing.
Letting go of even ONE task can create a shift in clarity, confidence and wellbeing.
You don’t need to outsource everything at once - start small and build trust gradually.
A good VA meets you where you are and supports your goals, not a generic template.
Systems (like SOPs) reduce stress and help you feel more confident delegating.
Outsourcing frees you to focus on what actually grows your business and what brings you joy.
Investing in support is an investment in your long-term sustainability, not a cost.

Show Notes Links:

Host: Nathan Dunleavy -

📧 Email: hello@nathandunleavy.com

🌐 Website: https://nathandunleavy.com/

🆓 Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan: https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/

🆓 “5 Steps to Start Your Dog Walking Business”: https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/5-steps/

💬 Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle

Guest: Dawn Melbourne (Wild Paw Admin Services) -

🌐 Website: www.wildpawadminservices.co.uk

📧 Email: dawn@wildpawadminservices.co.uk

📸 Instagram: @wildpawadminservices

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wildpawadminservices/

Why Pet Pros Need a Support Network: Community, Visibility & Sustainable Growth with Dawn Melbourne

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 15:18:00 +0100

If running your pet business feels lonely or heavy at times, this episode shows you how the right support network can completely transform your wellbeing and your confidence.

Episode Description:

Running a pet business can feel lonely - even when you love what you do. In this episode, I’m joined by Dawn Melbourne, Pet Pro VA and founder of Unleashed Networking, to explore why a strong support network is essential for your wellbeing and your business.

We talk about practical ways to stop doing everything alone, how to find the right people in your corner and why community is one of the most underestimated tools for growth in the pet industry. If you’ve ever felt isolated, overwhelmed, or unsure where to turn next, this is your permission slip to build support around you - your business will thank you for it.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why so many pet pros feel isolated (and why it’s not your fault)

✅ The difference a supportive community makes to business confidence and wellbeing

✅ Dawn’s journey into the pet industry and how she built a business that fits her

✅ What makes Unleashed Networking unique and why it works

✅ How to find your people in the industry (and build genuine relationships)

✅ Why referrals happen naturally when your network trusts you

✅ The role of consistency in attracting opportunities on platforms like LinkedIn

✅ Small, gentle first steps to expand your support network without overwhelm

✅ How to stay connected even if you’re shy, introverted or nervous to show up

Key Takeaways:

You don’t have to build or run your business alone - support is a strength, not a weakness.
Networking isn’t about selling; it’s about genuine connection and shared understanding.
Pet pros often feel isolated - especially dog walkers, groomers and solo trainers so having peers makes a meaningful difference.
Online or in-person, community creates resilience, confidence and sustainable business growth.
Consistency matters more than quantity when it comes to showing up online.
Building relationships leads to natural referrals, collaborations and new opportunities.
The “right” networking format is the one that feels safe and accessible for you.

Show Notes Links:

Host: Nathan Dunleavy -

📧 Email: hello@nathandunleavy.com

🌐 Website: https://nathandunleavy.com/

📘 Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan: https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/

🐾 Free “5 Steps to Start Your Dog Walking Business”: https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/5-steps/

💬 Free FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle

Guest: Dawn Melbourne -

🌐 Wild Paw Admin Services: www.wildpawadminservices.co.uk

📧 dawn@wildpawadminservices.co.uk

📸 Instagram: @wildpawadminservices

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wildpawadminservices/

Unleashed Networking (Pet Pro Networking Group) -

🌐 www.unleashednetworking.co.uk

📸 Instagram: @unleashednetworking

🎟️ Free first session code: FIRSTEVENT

Neurodivergent Dog Pros: Work With Your Brain (Not Against It) - Burnout, Overwhelm & Inclusive Services with Katrina Bayliss

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 11:47:00 +0100

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, misunderstood, or like you’re failing at “how business is meant to be done”, this episode is a big exhale and a practical way forward.

Episode description:

What if you’re not “doing business wrong”… you’re just trying to run a pet business in a way that was never designed for your brain? In this episode, I’m joined by Katrina Bayliss (The Neurodivergent Dog Coach) to explore the realities of neurodivergence in the dog industry - from burnout, overwhelm and rejection sensitivity, to practical ways dog trainers and pet pros can work more sustainably.

We also dig into how the dog world can unintentionally exclude neurodivergent clients and professionals and the small, meaningful changes that can make services feel safer, more accessible and more inclusive for everyone.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

✅ Why more pet pros are identifying as neurodivergent (and why it’s not a “trend”)

✅ Katrina’s story: from anxiety and Milo to building a neurodivergent-friendly business

✅ The hidden ways the dog industry can unintentionally exclude neurodivergent people

✅ How burnout can force reflection and why that matters for neurodivergent pros

✅ What “support that fixes the person, not the problem” looks like (and why it’s harmful)

✅ Practical tweaks dog trainers can make to be more neuro-inclusive in sessions

✅ Why “quietly opting out” is common and how to prevent clients feeling like they failed

✅ The link between perfectionism, criticism sensitivity and nervous system overload

✅ A powerful reminder: it’s not about capacity - it’s about capability

✅ Permission to work differently, rest differently and build a business that fits you

Key takeaways:

Neurodivergence has always been here - what’s changed is awareness, language and safer conversations.
Many dog training environments increase overload (noise, transitions, cognitive load), even when nobody means harm.
Neurodivergent clients often won’t ask for adjustments - they’ll internalise shame and quietly disengage.
Inclusion isn’t about “special treatment” - it’s about giving information and support in ways that help people succeed.
You don’t need to copy neurotypical business advice to be successful - you’re allowed to build differently.
Sustainable success often comes from doing less, with more intention and nervous-system safety.

Show notes links:

Contact Nathan: hello@nathandunleavy.com

Website: https://nathandunleavy.com/

Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan: https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/

Free “5 Steps” guide: https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/5-steps/

Free FB Group (The Pet Business Wellbeing Circle): https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle/

Katrina’s website: https://dogsanddivergentminds.com/

Katrina’s Free FB group (NeuroDog Hub): https://www.facebook.com/groups/neurodoghub/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theneurodivergentdogcoach/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.neurodivergent.dog.coach/

Boundaries Without Guilt: Managing Overwhelm, Burnout & Client Expectations (with Dr Holly Tett)

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 20:55:00 +0100

If boundaries feel like a buzzword, you know you need but struggle to live by, this episode will help you set kinder, clearer limits without the guilt.

Boundaries get talked about a lot in the pet industry… but actually putting them into practice? That’s where many dog pros get stuck.

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Holly Tett (clinical psychologist, dog behaviourist and dog business coach) to unpack what boundaries really mean in a pet business - from the “boring-but-essential” foundations like expectations and T&Cs, to the emotional side like people-pleasing, guilt and decision fatigue.

We chat about why boundaries aren’t walls (or bad customer service!), how to set expectations kindly, what to do when you break your own boundary and a powerful “feel the feeling” technique Holly shares for when business emotions hit hard.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

✅ What “boundaries” actually look like in a pet business (beyond switching your phone off)

✅ Why dog pros struggle with boundaries - even when we know we need them

✅ How to set client expectations kindly (so you don’t end up resentful later)

✅ The role of T&Cs and “loud and proud” policies in protecting your time and energy

✅ Why decision fatigue is real and how it impacts your confidence and capacity

✅ What to do when you reply “off the clock” and accidentally reset expectations

✅ A simple 5-minute technique for handling big emotions without bottling them up

✅ Practical boundary tools: separate work phone, scheduling links, blocking apps and more

Key takeaways:

Boundaries aren’t barriers - they’re support structures that protect you and your clients.
If you don’t set expectations, clients will fill in the blanks… and it can get messy fast.
Clear policies don’t reduce your service - they help you deliver it sustainably.
If you break a boundary, name it as an exception so it doesn’t become the new normal.
Running a business involves constant unknowns; boundaries reduce overwhelm by creating structure.
Feeling emotions isn’t a weakness - giving them space can stop them building into burnout.

Show notes links:

Contact Nathan:

Email: hello@nathandunleavy.com
Website: https://nathandunleavy.com/

Free resources:

Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan: https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/
Free “5 Steps” checklist (Dog Walking Business Mentor): https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/5-steps/
Free Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle/

Dr Holly Tett links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kindnessisessentialnotoptional/
Website: https://pawsupdogs.com/
Email: info@pawsupdogs.com/
Freebie workshop (100% off with code CALM): https://www.pawsupdogs.com/managingoverwhelmfordogpros/

Emotional Wellbeing for Pet Pros: Boundaries, Burnout & The “Unbounded Empathy” Trap (with Andrew Hale)

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 14:40:00 +0100

A real, grounded conversation for pet pros who feel emotionally worn down and want to keep doing this work without losing themselves in the process.

Episode description:

Pet professionals don’t burn out because they “care too much”… they burn out because the work is emotionally demanding and the boundaries often get blurry.

In this episode, I’m joined by Andrew Hale (dog behaviourist, former human therapist and creator of Your Safe Space) to explore what emotional wellbeing really means for pet pros and why it’s the missing piece in sustainable business growth.

We talk about unbounded empathy, the pressure to “save” clients and animals, why boundaries protect your business (and your nervous system) and how self-care isn’t selfish - it’s strategy.

You’ll also hear why vets, vet nurses and clinical professionals are under enormous strain and what small culture shifts can make a huge difference.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

✅ What “emotional wellbeing” actually means for pet professionals (beyond the mental health buzzwords)

✅ Why pet pros are especially vulnerable to emotional exhaustion behind the scenes

✅ The difference between caring, carrying, supporting and saving - and why it matters

✅ What unbounded empathy looks like (and how it quietly fuels burnout)

✅ The two key boundaries most pet pros need: client boundaries and work-life boundaries

✅ Why you can’t build a sustainable business without self-care and self-compassion

✅ How imposter syndrome can be linked to lack of structure, outcomes pressure and “Bob brain”

✅ Why the veterinary world is in a wellbeing crisis and what practices can influence internally

✅ Why reaching out for help is strength (and how mentoring/therapy can be part of your toolkit)

Key takeaways:

Emotional wellbeing starts with awareness: noticing what you feel, what you need and what you’re carrying.
Pet pros often enter the industry from a deeply caring place but without boundaries that care can become costly.
If your self-worth rises and falls with outcomes or client approval, you’ll burn out faster.
Boundaries aren’t harsh - they’re protective and they make your support sustainable.
Self-care is not indulgent; it’s a business strategy and a wellbeing requirement.
Support systems matter: mentoring, therapy, peer community - you’re not meant to do this alone.

January Overwhelm for Pet Pros: Gentle Habits, Intentions & a Calm Start to 2026

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 13:30:00 +0100

Feeling overwhelmed by January? This gentle solo episode helps pet pros slow down, set intentions over goals and begin 2026 with calm, clarity and care.

January can bring quiet pressure to reset everything - goals, plans, productivity. In this gentle solo episode, Nathan Dunleavy shares a calmer approach to the new year, focusing on intentions, habits, rest and wellbeing. You’ll hear simple, practical ways to reduce overwhelm, plus what’s coming up on the podcast and how to access free support for pet professionals.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why intentions and habits can feel more supportive than goals

✅ Simple ways to reduce January overwhelm without pressure

✅ How to create steadiness in the quieter, darker weeks of winter

✅ Why “less” can be more when it comes to wellbeing

✅ How to step away from your business without guilt

✅ Free wellbeing support available for pet professionals

✅ What’s coming up next on the podcast and in Nathan’s work

Key Takeaways:

January doesn’t need a full-year plan - just enough support for right now
One small, consistent habit can be more powerful than big goals
Reducing commitments can be a form of self-care
Rest is productive, even when it doesn’t look like it
You don’t need to rush, reset everything, or have it all figured out
Wellbeing is something you build into your business - not add on later

Links for Show Notes:

Email: hello@nathandunleavy.com
Website: https://nathandunleavy.com/
Free Pet Pro Rescue Plan: https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/pet-pro-rescue-plan/
Free Dog Walking Business Checklist: https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/5-steps/
Pet Business Wellbeing Circle (Free Facebook Group):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbusinesswellbeingcircle/

Year-End Reset for Pet Pros: Wellbeing, Free Resources & What’s Coming in 2026

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 17:35:00 +0100

A short end-of-year check-in where Nathan shares 2026 plans, free support resources and a gentle reminder to rest rather than sprint into the new year.

In this bite-sized solo episode of The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast, Nathan pops on for a year-end check-in, sharing what’s coming in 2026 and how he’ll be supporting pet professionals through talks, webinars and ongoing wellbeing resources.

He walks you through his upcoming speaking schedule with organisations including Kids Around Dogs, Pet Professional Network, the International Institute of Canine Ethics & Canine Principles, plus a sneak peek at his free 2026 Pet Pro wellbeing webinar. Nathan also reminds you about two free resources: the Pet Pro Rescue Plan and his 5 Steps to a Successful Dog Walking Business checklist.

If you’re feeling the end-of-year wobble and pressure to “plan harder, do more”, this gentle episode invites you to pause, breathe and enter the new year with a little more compassion for yourself.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ How Nathan will be supporting pet professionals in 2026 through webinars, conferences and member sessions

✅ Why wellbeing and mental health will stay at the heart of his speaking and mentoring work

✅ Where you can hear Nathan speak in person and online throughout the year

✅ How the Pet Pro Rescue Plan can help you step away from your business without burning out

✅ How the 5 Steps to a Successful Dog Walking Business checklist supports new and growing dog walkers

✅ Why you don’t need a “perfect” plan before January and how to build in genuine downtime over Christmas

Key Takeaways:

· 2026 is set to be a big year for pet pro wellbeing, with Nathan speaking for KAD, PPN, IICE and Sponsoring the Canine Principles conference.

· Nathan will be hosting a free webinar: “Why Pet Pro Wellbeing Is Essential for a Sustainable Business” in 2026, focused on burnout prevention and sustainable growth.

· The Pet Pro Rescue Plan offers a simple before–during–after structure to help you plan time off, truly rest and return without panic.

· Dog walkers (or soon-to-be dog walkers) can also grab the 5 Steps checklist to feel more confident about starting or refining their walking business.

· As the year ends, it’s okay to pause, reflect and rest instead of pushing yourself to overhaul everything all at once.

· Your wellbeing isn’t a “nice to have”; it’s the foundation of a business you actually enjoy being in.

Show Notes & Links:

Connect with Nathan

📧 Email: hello@nathandunleavy.com

🌐 Website & speaker info: https://nathandunleavy.com/

Free Wellbeing Resource for Pet Pros:

🧡 Pet Pro Rescue Plan (free guide):

Free Resource for Dog Walkers:

🐾 5 Steps to a Successful Dog Walking Business (free checklist):