Do you want to grow your business…without having to cram more dogs into your facility?

Are you clear on what business you’re actually in — or are you still pricing your services like everyone else?

And what does premium positioning really look like when it’s done properly?

In this week’s episode of the Pet Boarding & Daycare Podcast, host Dom Hodgson records while aboard the Barclay Pet Pro Cruise and shares a powerful, practical interview with Kim Buchanan, owner of Fetch Dog Resort in Indianapolis and one of Dom’s Elite Mastermind members.

Kim has been in the industry for nearly 20 years, and instead of scaling her business simply by admitting as many dogs as she could into her facility, she’s built a deliberately small, premium, hospitality-led business that continues to grow by increasing value, deepening relationships with her ever-satisfied client base, and charging accordingly for her top-of-the-range services.

In this conversation, Kim walks through her journey from working in marketing into opening her own dog daycare, the hard lessons she learned along the way, and how enrichment, memberships, and customer experience have become the backbone of her growth strategy – and why it should be the same for you.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Value vs Volume – Why Kim chose to build a “high-end steakhouse” instead of a McDonald’s-style daycare.
• What Business Are You Really In? – How shifting from “dog daycare” to hospitality changes pricing, perception, and profit.
• Enrichment as a Growth Lever – How structured enrichment unlocked new revenue without adding capacity.
• Memberships That Aren’t Discounts in Disguise– How Kim rolled out tiered memberships, price increases, and higher-value services at the same time.
• Customer Appreciation That Pays Back – Why gifts, gestures, and hospitality drive loyalty far more than discounting your services.

Thanks to Kim Buchanan for sharing her inspirational story. Check out Kim’s facility by going to Fetch Dog Resort.com

Want to work with the World Leading Pet Business Coach?  Discover if you’re a good fit to work with Dom by going to www.petbusinessmarketing.com/diamondnow

Canine Labs Testing are the amazing sponsors of this episode. Go to CanineLabsTesting to find out more about their fabulous service that keeps your facility parasite free!

Remember, the next big Barkleigh event is the PB & D Expo West which this year is in Phoenix, Arizona! You can register for the event and be the first to find out when tickets go on sale by clicking here now

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

Episode Highlights:

[00:51] – Dom checks in live from the Barclay Pet Pro Cruise and sets the scene for this week’s episode.
[04:30] – Why growth in 2026 must start with clarity, if you don’t know where your business is headed you won’t go anywhere.
[06:20] – Dog news: the rescue dog story that highlights the power of scent work and giving second chances.
[09:24] – Why partnering with local rescues builds goodwill, visibility, and long-term trust with your clients.
[10:00] – Meet Kim Buchanan: nearly 20 years in business and a deliberate decision to stay small.
[16:08] – “What business are you really in?” — daycare vs hospitality vs wellness and why you need to be clear about your identity.
[18:22] – Why premium positioning protects you from competition and price wars, not to mention making things easier around the facility.
[23:29] – Customer appreciation strategies that drive loyalty without discounting.
[26:38] – How Kim managed to roll out Enrich U, memberships, and price increases all at the same time without giving her clients whiplash.
[34:00] – From integral operator to sit-back CEO: the importance of building a team that allows real growth to happen without taking up all of your precious time.