Your pet business, Your way

This is a behind-the-scenes look at what I've learned from running a dog-friendly holiday property for the last three years.
Having a holiday cottage has always been a dream for me and getting the keys for Sunnyside Cottage in Robin Hood's Bay in April 2023 was so exciting.
In this episode and blog post I talk about what has happened at Sunnyside over the last couple of years, the changes I've made at the cottage and the impact of that.
The last time I did a behind-the-scenes episode was in 2024 and I've learned a lot and changed lots of things at the cottage.
I talk about what's worked in terms of visibility, from going viral to working with influencers and how I've been working on developing my skills when it comes to standing out and attracting guests.
And I also share information on the people I've had supporting me, from Instagram advice to putting new windows in, because there is no way I could do this on my own.
You'll find all the links to the people and businesses I mention at the end of this post and if you're interested in staying send me a message.
Topics and timings in this episode:
0.00 – Episode introduction and what this behind‑the‑scenes look at Sunnyside Cottage will cover
1.45 – How Sunnyside connects to the “Your Pet Business Your Way” message and an introduction to the pet business planner
3.40 – What’s inside the planner: audience tracker, awareness days, diary, income trackers and “Pause and reflect” sections
5.30 – Recap of year one at Sunnyside: doubling income and testing visibility strategies on her own pet business
7.10 – The wider climate in 2026: cost of living crisis, war, rising costs and why customer experience matters more than ever
8.40 – A big refurb year: new windows, Floors for Paws, carpets, bathroom, decor, pointing, sofa, mattresses and lighting
11.45 – Money talk: spending over £25k on the refurb, other running costs and why losing only a few thousand still feels like a win
13.00 – Investing in guest experience: photography, handmade treats, branding, dog robes, bowls, welcome packs and dog‑friendly touches
15.00 – Visibility foundations: social media, blogging, awards, press coverage and choosing not to have a separate cottage website
16.10 – Awards and media: PIF Awards, Dog Friendly Awards, SBS, Yorkshire Post, Yorkshire Living, Your Dog and more coverage
18.00 – Working with influencers: Kate from Dotty4Paws, Sal from Woof Wag Walk and how repeat visits showcase updates
19.40 – Hosting The Yorkshireman, short‑form video, YouTube content and the impact of influencer collaborations
21.00 – Training investments: TikTok training with Alex McCann, why TikTok wasn’t the right fit and repurposing what she learned
22.10 – Instagram membership with Camilla at Pink Storm Social and how it has shifted her content strategy
23.10 – Reels that performed well: Blue Monday, Christmas in Robin Hood’s Bay, dog safety at Sunnyside and the power of consistency
24.40 – The Storm Chandra viral reel: what happened, why it took off and the “iceberg” of work behind one lucky post
26.20 – The hidden work: almost 30 years in journalism, major investment in learning and the reality behind visibility wins
27.20 – Tough feedback: being called “stupid” for being generous, “desperate” for being visible and why she continues anyway
28.40 – Reach vs results: 3M+ views, audience growth and still only one direct booking from Instagram
29.50 – A realistic view: why press and viral content don’t equal instant fully booked calendars (and why she keeps testing)
31.00 – The importance of support: Sam and Sian from Baytown Holiday Cottages and why they’re more than “just agents”
32.00 – Juggling a new business with grief: getting the keys to Sunnyside while caring for a dying uncle
34.10 – Crisis moments at the cottage: boiler issues, leaks, broken locks and the value of a trusted local team
36.20 – Why reliable on‑the‑ground support is crucial when the owner isn’t local or is facing big life events
37.30 – More supporters: photographers Kerry from Fur and Fable and Liz Gregg, and how their shoots elevated Sunnyside
39.00 – Brand partners: The Canine Menu, Leo Charley and Me, Send the Dog a Bone, The Dog and I and Jess’s Sunnyside illustration
41.00 – The trades team: windows, stonework, flooring, plumbing, electrics and handyman work that transformed the cottage
42.30 – Gratitude for guests: feedback, repeat bookings, social shares and what “home from home” means at Sunnyside
44.00 – Final reflections: running a dog‑friendly business in challenging times and staying focused on guest experience
45.10 – Where to find Sunnyside Cottage online, how to book and how the Pet Business Content Planner can support other pet businesses.
Further reading/listening
Lessons learned from my first year running Sunnyside Cottage
Doing visibility my way at Sunnyside Cottage
Should you buy my Pet Business Content Planner?
The rollercoaster of running your own business
The Theo Paphitis SBS award and how it can help your pet business
10 reasons to be an award winning pet business

When Wendy Thomson Melling started her cat sitting business back in 2017, it was to earn a bit of extra cash caring for creatures she loved.
She didn't expect that in just a few years she'd be able to ditch her old career as an accountant and set up a franchise business caring for cats across the country.
My Three Cats first started in Warrington, Cheshire, and now Wendy has 350 clients across Warrington, 18 sitters on the team, and FIVE franchisees already operating in Blackpool, Bury, Preston, Sidcup and Orpington and Lowton, Atherton and Leigh.
We recorded this interview in March and in just two months, Wendy had two new franchisees come and join her.
Wendy and I have known each other since the 1980s when we went to St Wildrid's Primary School in Grappenhall, and when she started My Three Cats we worked together on a press release.
That was back in 2021 and it was the fastest story published - we had the call and her story was online the same day.
We've worked together more closely for a few years now in Pets Get Visible, and watching everything she has done growing My Three Cats, then starting her Cats Deserve More and now franchising has been amazing.
In this episode Wendy talks about what it was like leaving a secure job in accountancy to standing on stage at The Cat Show Live and all she's learned.
Topics and timings in this episode:
0.20 - Episode intro and what to expect.
1.53 - Sponsor message - Pets Get Visible.
2.59 - Wendy intro.
6.13 - Starting cat sitting after her divorce in 2017 to get some extra cash to take the kids on holiday.
8.23 - How cat care has changed over the last 10 years.
10.31 - The Cats Deserve More campaign Wendy started.
15.17 - What the really fast growth has been like for Wendy.
18.35 - Wendy's experience of the franchise process.
20.35 - Behind the scenes of a franchise business.
23.15 - Taking a leap of faith with a huge stand at The Cat Show Live and talking on stage.
24.15 - Her first franchisee joining after her talk.
27.06 - What it's like working with her daughter.
29.49 - How coworking has helped Wendy focus and have a routine.
31.53 - What's worked in terms of visibility for Wendy and the importance of showing your face as a pet care brand.
33.18 - Having the confidence to pitch to the press.
34.58 - Getting comfortable on social media.
37.08 - Having a steady plan and putting the brakes on to avoid burnout.
40.16 - Going back to The Cat Show Live in September 2026.
43.12 - How to find out more about Wendy.
Links mentioned in this episode
If you’re a pet business owner looking for support, community, and confidence to put yourself out there, come and join us in Pets Get Visible at www.rachelspencer.co.uk/pets-get-visible
Find out more about The Cat Show Live on September 12th 2026 here: https://thecatshowlive.co.uk/
Want to connect with Wendy and My Three Cats
Website: www.mythreecats.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-thomson-melling-143910211/
Further listening/reading:
Katie Gwilt from the Kat Lady on running a cat business you love!
Victor Carpio on Dragons Den and creating a toothbrush for cats
Bleu Stessia’s mission to boost cat health with My Cat Grass
Claire Harris from Pets2Places on franchising and pet travel safety
How to write a press release for your pet business
Should you buy my pet business planner

Are you planning to launch a new product or service and want to get an idea of what to expect?
This episode is a behind the scenes account of launching my Pet Business Content Planner for 2026.
This is a product I created in 2025, so this year was the second year and I wanted to put this episode out to give an insight into the work involved.
I'm sharing a 'warts and all' insight into my planner launch as I think hearing how it's actually gone - the wobbles, the grit, the moments of doubt - is more helpful than a polished success story.
If you'd like to listen in to me talk very openly about the experience, this episode is for you.
Topics and timings in this episode:
0.00 – Episode introduction and what this behind-the-scenes is about.
1.40 – Why I created a planner and how planning supports my clients.
3.15 – The first planner, why I wanted it to be different and the scrappy 2025 launch.
5.40 – Developing the 2026 planner.
8.20 – The different elements of the planner this year, including the 12 'Words for when' exercises.
9.45 – Sourcing awareness days and collaborating with my designer Kate Hendry on the structure.
11.25 – PR and media coverage I secured for this year’s planner launch.
13.15 – Talks, workshops and collaborations I did with pet industry communities.
15.05 – My charity campaign for StreetVet.
17.00 – Email campaigns, sales, pricing changes and deciding to let people “choose what you pay.”
18.50 – Coping with slower sales, social media overwhelm and the role of AI.
19.10 – Remembering my dad and keeping going when things are tough.
20.40 – My Costa Coffee wobble with Maria and remembering my belief in the planner.
22.30 – Creating the Planner Club: co‑working, quarterly planning and accountability.
23.55 – Feedback from Elizabeth and how the Planner Club helps pet business owners.
24.06 – Thank yous to everyone who helped shape and support the planner.
To order a planner head here: https://rachelspencer.co.uk/shop/
Further reading/listening
Should you buy my Pet Business Content Planner
How to use the Pet Business Content Planner
How to create a Pet Business Social Media Calendar
How to create a repeatable content plan
The rollercoaster of running a business
The confidence experiment and how to be more brave
Building habits in your pet business you can stick to
Creating a plan that matches your strengths, skills, goals and values

Would you like to improve your understanding of neurodivergence?
It might be in relation to your own experience, or around how you support your clients.
Katrina Bayliss is The Neurodivergent Dog Coach and she supports pet professionals and dog people in improving the way they communicate with their dogs and one another.
Katrina has the most fascinating background, from working in nightclubs to counselling and psychology.
But it was her dog Milo and experience of anxiety that let her into the industry after discovering agility, and becoming very good at it.
She wanted to learn more about her dog, and this fascination led her to become a trainer.
Then, back in 2022, Katrina had an ADHD and later autism diagnosis herself.
It helped her put together many missing pieces of what she describes as the jigsaw of how she saw the world, her work and also how she supported people as a pet professional.
Katrina talks about her experience and why traditional dog training and business advice often don’t work for neurodivergent people.
According to a report by Skillscast, 15% of people in the UK are neurodivergent and ADHD is estimated to affect 3-4% of UK adults - around 2.6 million people.
Katrina explains how our emotional state and unmet needs impact our dogs’ behaviour, and why making services neuro-inclusive is essential if we want to help both ends of the lead.
We also discuss social media overwhelm, whether or not you might want to get involved in things like heated Crufts debates, people-pleasing, and the pressure to be polished and perfect online.
Plus how Katrina is building community through her Neuro Inclusive Dog Hub, Dog Agility Unmasked, her podcast, and new low-cost membership for neurodivergent dog pros.
Topics and timings in this episode:
0.20 - Episode introduction
1.45 - Sponsor message - Pet business content planner.
2.57 - How Katrina found herself in the pet industry.
5.44 - What Katrina did before starting her dog training business.
10.39 - What it’s like to understand both ends of the lead as a psychotherapist and a dog trainer.
14.04 - Making the connection between the clients who share the same approach as you.
16.02 - How Katrina’s diagnosis changed her work.
20.30 - What it was like communicating her new approach online.
44.03 - The kind of response she had from the dog training community.
28.33 - When the ‘aha’ moments happen with her clients.
34.38 - How the world has changed and people are looking for a more holistic approach.
39.14 - Taking care of your needs as a pet professional to build a more sustainable business.
41.40 - Deciding where you spend your time in person and online to take care of your wellbeing.
47.45 - Putting boundaries in place to protect you, your time and your energy.
52.59 - Why overworking sometimes leads to health problems as our bodies try to tell us to stop.
55.29 - Being mindful of making decisions from a need for acceptance and doing what you’re told you ’should’ do.
58.04 - Why Katrina made a community for neurodivergent pet owners and professionals.
1.00.01 - Katrina’s podcast and how that’s been received.
1.03.45 - The downsides of social media.
1.06.10 - The trust recession we’re in during the age of AI.
1.07.14 - Katrina’s new membership community for people looking for more support.
1.16.23 - Letting go of the need to be perfect.
1.17.00 - How to connect with Katrina.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Buy the Pet Business Content Planner here: https://rachelspencer.co.uk/shop/
Learn more about Katrina on her website: https://dogsanddivergentminds.com/about/
And listen to her podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/7rpgGoun9BGrtcZgoAS595
Further listening and reading:
Sasha Louise Smith on harnessing your strengths to build a business you love
Should you buy my pet business content planner?
Navigating comparisonitis as a pet pro with Kate Hoyle
Finding the right pet business community
Making a million on TikTok shop with Gemma from The Herbal Dog Co
Clayton Payne on lessons from 30 years in the pet industry
The confidence experiment and how to feel more brave
How to use the pet business content planner
How to have a pet business reset

Did you come into the New Year feeling all fired up and filled with energy about your pet business and what was going to happen in 2026?
Then, as we were flung into wars, political upheaval, economic uncertainty, did it feel like you skidded to a bit of a halt?
If you’re nodding along, that’s ok, it’s totally normal to feel like this.
There’s a lot going on in the world right now. And when you’re running your own business, all of that takes it out of you in a way a regular paycheck never would.
Consumer confidence is down and people feel less confident spending money on things that aren’t absolutely necessary.
So it can be tempting and totally natural to feel despondent and think: “What’s the point? Nobody wants to hear from me. Everything is rubbish.”
This blog and podcast episode is about picking yourself up and getting back on the bike, and doing the things you need to do to keep moving forward.
You can listen in on the player link below or read the key points as a blog post.
I also cover how my Pet Business Planner can help you. At the time of publication – 31st March 2026 – I did have some copies remaining.
You can order one here (or pre-order for 2027 if you’re listening or reading in the future. (https://rachelspencer.co.uk/product/pet-business-content-planner/)
Topics and timings in this episode:
0.20 - What to expect from this episode.
0.46 - How you can have a reset at any time of the year.
1.30 - The upheaval that’s going on in the world at the moment.
2.20 - Consumer confidence dropping during times of uncertainty.
3.24 - Reflecting on the first quarter of the year.
3.54 - How to figure out if you’ve been talking about your work enough.
5.24 - Case study - Kim from Leo, Charley and Me
6.19 - Working out who your dream customer is.
6.40 - Why you can have a reset whenever you like.
8.31 - What I’m doing to boost bookings in my cottage business.
9.18 - Why saying no is important too.
9.55 - Practical steps on how to do a reset
10.25 - Reflecting on what’s working and doing more of it.
11.30 - Working out what you want to do less of.
12.36 - Deciding on the activities that are the most valuable when it comes to how you spend your time.
14.17 - The magnifying glass of misery.
14.45 - Deciding on the important things you need to talk about and using the awareness days.
16.03 - The reason I created a planner to support you with all of the above.
17.03 - Taking what I learned as a journalist to help you come up with ideas.
18.21 - How the Words for When exercises work.
20.40 - Using the days to pitch to the press.
22.04 - Why PR is important in the world we’re in now with AI.
23.45 - How to get a copy of the planner.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Get a copy of the pet business planner: https://rachelspencer.co.uk/shop/
Download my free social media calendar: https://rachelspencer.co.uk/calendar
Read the Nielsen report on Consumer Confidence: https://nielseniq.com/global/en/news-center/2026/consumer-confidence-down-three-points-in-february/
Listen to the Kate Toon podcast on AI and digital marketing: https://therecipeforseosuccess.com/final-guest-how-marketing-and-seo-have-evolved-in-11-years-with-rand-fishkin/
Further reading/listening:
How Kim from Leo Charley and Me boosted her visibility
The confidence experiment and how to feel more brave as a pet professional
Why I am an accredited pet business coach
How to navigate stop start periods in your business
How to use the Pet Business Content Planner
Should you buy my Pet Business Content Planner