I am writing this blog from Lewisville, Texas. This weekend, I attended the Texas Pet Sitters Conference. I had a wonderful time, met pet sitters from around the country, even one from Canada, and learned a great deal. From social media to dog behavior and bite prevention, the Texas Pet Sitters Conference gave me much to think about and explore upon my return home. Following are some of the highlights of my experience attending the 2024 Texas Pet Sitters Conference.
Attending the 2024 Texas Pet Sitters Conference: Speaker Line-up
This year, the Texas Pet Sitters Association set out to find a wide variety of speakers that would cover unique yet relevant topics. They invited social media expert Tanner the Planter, a bookkeeper, and a veterinarian specializing in acupuncture and behavior to this year’s conference, among others.
Some of my favorite peakers included Kate McQuillan, who is one of the top pet sitting industry mentors and coaches in the world. She runs Pet Sitters Ireland and has helped hundreds of professional pet sitters grow and scale their businesses. During her two presentations, Kate gave us practical advice on how to leverage online marketing to spread the word about what we do. As someone who wishes that more pet parents understood the benefits of in-home pet sitting, dog walking and dog hiking, I was thrilled to pick up skills to more effectively share our story.
Attending the 2024 Texas Pet Sitters Conference: Networking
In addition to the information, education, and insights, attendees had the opportunity to connect with other professionals. As professional pet sitters and dog walkers, we often work independently. With minimal human interaction, the job can get lonely. While we love our furry, feathered and scaled companions, it’s always nice to engage with professionals that share similar interests and outlooks.
Having attended this conference last year, I was able to reconnect with some of my industry friends. I also got to make new ones. The weekend allowed opportunities for us to discuss challenges, celebrate successes, and brainstorm improvements. Hiring is always a hot topic at these conferences as is employee training, empowerment, and retention. At Shoreline Happy Paws we prioritize our team’s happiness and strive to be at the forefront of employment trends and changes.
Attending the 2024 Texas Pet Sitters Conference: Sponsors & Donors
The Texas Pet Sitters Conference is sponsored by some of the most known names in the pet sitting industry including our software provider, Time to Pet. Seeing the sponsors is a great way to check in. Sponsors help cover the costs of the event, keeping the registration fee at one of the lowest rates in the pet industry.
Our Master of Ceremonies, Isabel Alvarez Arata of Covered in Pet Hair, invited industry friends to donate giveaways for the conference. Giveaways included books, online courses, and more. I won an ebook on separation anxiety by the topic’s foremost expert, Malena de Martini. Additionally, I was lucky to win a gift card from Pet Sitters International and a year’s membership renewal from the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters. Both organizations attended as event sponsors.
Attending the 2024 Texas Pet Sitters Conference: Representing Shoreline Happy Paws
As the proud Founder of Shoreline Happy Paws, it’s important for me to represent my business. By attending the Texas Pet Sitters Conference, I brought a different perspective to the conversation. I also gleaned insights about how we perform in comparison to similarly sized businesses in other markets.
Finally, meeting with other professional pet sitters and dog walkers in person has many benefits for me as an entrepreneur and business owner. It allows me to mentor lesser experienced professionals. Our industry is a tight-knit group, especially at these conferences. The benefits of attending are most definitely worth the investment; they always pay off in our operation standards, service levels, and client satisfaction rates.
If you are new to Shoreline Happy Paws and would like to discuss your pet care needs, please create an account. We will be in touch to further discuss your needs and set you, your family, and your pet(s) up for success. Existing clients may book dog walking, dog hiking, or pet sitting services by logging in to your client profile.
Shoreline Happy Paws serves the following areas of the Connecticut Shoreline:
- Old Saybrook
- Essex, Ivoryton & Centerbrook
- Deep River
- Chester
- Westbrook
- Clinton
- Old Lyme
- East Lyme
- Niantic
Certain Parts and Certain Service Hours in:
- Lyme and Madison
- Waterford, New London, Groton
- Uncasville, Gales Ferry, Mystic, Noank
