What Happens When Dog Walking Company Owners Get Together?

A few weeks ago, I packed my bags, hoped on an Amtrak train and headed to Boston and Cape Cod for a gathering of dog walking and pet care company owners from across the country. Eight women business owners got together for a long weekend of laughter and learning.

Julie, Elizabeth, Pam and myself - laughing and learning with each other!

The funny thing is that when people hear "dog walking company," they often picture a person with a leash and a dog or two (or four, but that's never been our thing.) And yes, at the heart of what we do, it will always be about dogs. But when you've spent decades of your life building a company, the job becomes so much more than that.

Over several days, a group of us gathered to share ideas, talk shop, and learn from one another. We took day trips into Boston to eat pastries, played board games, enjoyed some incredible meals, and even managed to fit in a whale watching excursion.

(More on the whales in a minute.)

One of the things I love most about industry gatherings like this is the willingness everyone has to share. There was no competition. No guarding secrets. Just thoughtful conversations about how to run stronger businesses, support our teams, and provide exceptional care for the dogs and families who trust us every day. (And how to take care of ourselves in the process.)

We talked about systems, communication, software, hiring, client onboarding and all of the behind-the-scenes pieces that dog owners rarely see but that help great care happen consistently.

One day, we spent hours discussing leadership. (Apparently I need to be more vulnerable. Gulp.) The longer I do this work, the more I realize that leadership is one of the most important parts of my job.

As business owners, we're responsible for setting the tone for our companies. We support employees through challenges, celebrate their wins, make difficult decisions, and create workplaces where people feel valued and supported. We guide clients through transitions, answer questions, and help solve problems. And through all of it, we try to stay grounded in the reason we started doing this work in the first place: dogs.

The dogs remain at the center of everything.

And then there were the whales.

Sunblock applied. Ready for whales.

I've always thought whale watching sounded fun, but I wasn't prepared for my actual reaction when we spotted the first one. I got a little teary. It completely caught me off guard!

There was something about seeing an animal that large move so gracefully through the water that stopped me in my tracks. They were enormous, powerful, and somehow incredibly peaceful at the same time. They hung out with our boat for almost an hour, completely trusting us. They'd dive under the boat and pop up on the other side, blow out air, and just relax. We were honored to get to "meet" Salt, the most famous humpback whale in the world. She was glorious!

To say it was magical was an understatement.

It was one of those experiences that reminds you how amazing animals really are and how lucky we are to share this little blue dot with them. (If you are ever up in Cape Cod during whale season, just go. You will not regret it.)

I came home feeling energized, grateful, and excited about what's ahead. One of the biggest takeaways from the trip was a reminder that no matter how long you've been doing something, there is always more to learn. The Monster Minders has been caring for Philadelphia dogs since 2005, and I still come away from conversations with my peers full of new ideas and fresh perspectives.

The only thing that could have made the trip better is if we rented a dog-friendly AirBnB and we all brought our dogs. (We took notes for next time.)

I'm also excited to continue those conversations this Fall when I'll be speaking on a panel at a the DogCo Summit. Opportunities like that are both humbling and rewarding. It's a chance to share what we've learned over the past 21 years while continuing to learn from others in our industry.

Most of all, this trip reminded me how fortunate I am to be part of a profession filled with thoughtful, passionate people who genuinely care about dogs. Our industry is full of people who show up every day because they believe dogs deserve great care.

I'm honored to be one of them.