252: Biscuit, Tootsie Rolls, and a 17-Year-Old: Inside Our Pet Care Certification Event

252: Biscuit, Tootsie Rolls, and a 17-Year-Old: Inside Our Pet Care Certification Event

Author: Candace D'Agnolo of Pet Boss Nation® September 6, 2026 Duration: 25:31
What do an animatronic dog, a bag of Tootsie Rolls, and a 17-year-old FFA chapter president have in common? They are the reason Dante & Dory's Pet Emporium just pulled off one of its best pieces of community marketing yet! 🎉 Candace is joined by Dakota, the youngest member of the Dante & Dory's team, to break down the Pet Care Certification event they hosted at Discovery Depot, the local children's museum.   Tune in to hear: ✅ The four-station framework you can rinse and repeat in any community space ✅ How a toy that sat in a box for 12 years became the event's biggest marketing hook ✅ Why the least glamorous station got the biggest laugh and taught the most Plus the PETS pledge they wrote from scratch, why the certificate mattered more than anything they could have sold, and Dakota's advice to any pet business owner thinking about doing this! ABOUT DAKOTA Dakota is the youngest member of the Dante & Dory's Pet Emporium team and joined in May of her junior year, starting at the farmer's market booth before moving into the store. She is her FFA chapter president and competed on the section, state, and national soils judging teams, taking first at state and fifth in the country at Nationals in El Reno, Oklahoma. She has competed in pageants since she was six, holds several titles, and is on the high school dance team coached by PBN team member, Morgan Seabloom. Her thing is teaching younger kids, and it shows!  Transcript Show Notes - Find us on Facebook - Join our Free Pet Industry Facebook Group - Follow us on Instagram - Read our Blog

Running a local pet business is a unique blend of passion and hard-nosed strategy, and the Pet Boss® Podcast with Candace speaks directly to that reality. Hosted by Candace D'Agnolo of Pet Boss Nation®, these conversations move beyond generic advice to tackle the actual challenges faced by shop owners and service providers on Main Street. You'll hear from fellow pet supply store operators, groomers, dog daycare managers, trainers, and sitters who are navigating the same daily realities you are. The discussions blend foundational business principles with actionable secrets that are proving effective right now, all within the specific context of the animal care industry. This isn't about abstract theory; it's about what works when the bell on your door jingles and a client walks in with their pup. Each episode aims to provide honest, peer-driven insights because, as any pet professional knows, a dog business is indeed big business. Tune in for a candid look at building resilience and success from the ground up, designed specifically for the dedicated local entrepreneur in the vibrant world of pets.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Pet Boss® Podcast with Candace
Podcast Episodes
230: Global 2026 Recap & Candace's Favorite Things Awards [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:46
Candace and Morgan are back from sunny Orlando after a long week at Global Pet Expo 2026 - and this episode is packed with behind-the-scenes insights, favorite product discoveries, and Morgan's fresh first-timer perspect…
226: Q2 Is Your Biggest Marketing Opportunity: Get The Strategy Here [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:38
Be honest: when was the last time you looked at your calendar and knew exactly what you were promoting, posting, and doing in your business three months from now? Do you even know what you're doing next week? Or do you w…
225: Donation Requests: Burden or Business Strategy? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:53
How many donation requests have landed in your inbox lately? Today? This week? This month? Silent auctions, raffles, gift baskets, event sponsorships - can you donate a gift card? And if you're honest, how many of those…
224: 2,000 emails: Zero Campaigns. Here’s What I’m Doing About It [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:19
Is email marketing dead? Well, Candace sure hopes not - because she's been sitting on over 2,000 customer emails from Dante and Dory's for the last 5 months and has done absolutely nothing with them. And as a business co…
223: What Slow Sales Are Really Telling You & How to Fix It [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:00
It's cold. People are sick. Business feels quiet. Sound familiar? Candace is coming to you fresh off 10+ days sick with the flu - three of them completely in bed - and using this slower winter stretch at Dante and Dory's…