Ep. 74 – Why Your Next Dog Daycare Hire Might Be a Robot: Inside the AI Revolution in Pet Care with Garret Tadlock

What happens when AI picks up the phone at your pet resort – and never misses a call again? Could the biggest leap in daycare efficiency come from hospital wards and HVAC vans? And why are the smartest pet care facilities ditching all-inclusive chaos for themed enrichment bundles that sell themselves? In this tech-centric episode, Dom sits down with Garret Tadlock – CEO of FetchDesk Ai – for a no-fluff conversation about how technology is reshaping the pet care landscape. Garret shares hard-won insights from 16 years in the industry, including why your software should serve as the nerve center of your business, how to know if you’re really ready to sell, and what boarding facilities can learn from gyms, hospitals, and HVAC techs. Garret also breaks down how the right tools can turn data into dollars—and what your next five years might look like if you embrace innovation now. Plus, you’ll hear a powerful testimonial from Enrich U member Kim Buchanan, who reports a 42% increase in daycare sales after switching to enrichment-based care, talk about the future of the industry! In this episode, you’ll discover: • Build It to Sell – Why the best-run pet businesses are structured like they’re always for sale (even if they’re not). • Tech That Pays for Itself – How the right software and AI can make your front desk smarter, faster, and more profitable. • Enrichment as the New Standard – Why Garret says enrichment isn’t a nice-to-have anymore – it’s essential. • Theme It and They Will Come – What’s next after Enrichment 2.0? Experience-driven themes and bundles that boost average revenue per dog. • Know Your Numbers – Why most owners don’t track the right metrics – and how AI is closing the gap. Thanks for tuning in! To learn more about Dom’s coaching programs and how to build a premium pet care business, visit: www.petbusinessmarketing.com/diamondnow  Big thanks to this week’s guest, Garret Tadlock from FetchDesk Ai, you can find out more about Garrets new service by going to www.fetchdeskai.com Remember, the next Barkleigh show is happening in Hershey in November. Be the first to find out when the tickets go on sale by registering your info at www.petboardingexpo.com Episode Highlights: [00:51] – Dom kicks off with a shoutout from sunny Menorca and previews next week’s “halftime report” episode.[04:00] – Dog News! Dom discusses a recent article on pet psychology—and how to use it in your next promo.[08:18] – Garret joins the show and shares his journey from tech sales to pet care software pioneer.[09:32] – Why expos are essential: education, connection, and finding a peer accountability partner.[13:30] – The power of software systems: how tech helps scale and sell a better pet business.[19:49] – Enrichment then vs. now—and the growing importance of themed experiences.[22:18] – Garret puts forward the case for bundled boarding packages and automated upsells.[23:09] – Inside FetchDesk AI: how AI agents are answering phones, handling bookings, and driving revenue.[28:22] – What Garret learned from hospitals, HVAC techs, and his grandfather’s care team.[36:17] – A must-hear voice note from Kim Buchanan on the revenue jump she saw after implementing the lessons learned from Enrich U.