Building and keeping a stellar pet care team

Hiring great people is only half the battle. Creating an environment where they want to stay is what turns a growing pet care business into a sustainable one.

In this roundtable discussion, Nicole Gagnon of PetPocketbook is joined by recruiting expert Joe Latona, founder of Walker Scout, and Carolina Carver, founder of Tails N' Trails, to explore the biggest hiring and retention challenges facing pet care businesses today. Together, they share practical advice drawn from years of experience recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and leading successful teams.

The conversation explores today's competitive hiring landscape, why finding qualified candidates has become more difficult, and what business owners can do to stand out. Joe shares proven recruiting strategies, including writing better job posts, simplifying the application process, building a strong employer brand, and leveraging referrals to attract stronger applicants. Carolina offers a real-world perspective on how she has grown Tails N' Trails into a multi-location business by creating a supportive culture, investing in onboarding, and giving team members opportunities to grow.  

Beyond recruiting, the discussion focuses on retention and long-term success. You'll learn why onboarding shapes an employee's first impression, how recognition and professional development help reduce turnover, and why communication tools and company culture play such an important role in building a team that wants to stay. Whether you're hiring your first dog walker or leading a growing team across multiple locations, this webinar is filled with practical ideas you can put into action immediately.

In this webinar, you'll learn

• Why hiring has become more competitive for pet care businesses.
• Where to find quality candidates and improve your recruiting process.
• How to write job postings that attract stronger applicants.
• Best practices for interviewing, onboarding, and training new team members.
• Proven ways to improve employee retention through culture, communication, and recognition.
• How successful pet care businesses create opportunities for long-term team growth.

Watch the webinar

Watch the full roundtable below for practical hiring advice, real-world examples, and actionable strategies to help you build a stronger, more engaged pet care team.

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Suggested timestamps

• 2:35 – Today's hiring challenges in the pet care industry
• 10:15 – Why recruiting is more competitive than ever
• 18:30 – What makes a great pet care team member
• 30:00 – Where to find qualified candidates
• 36:30 – Writing better job posts and improving your hiring process
• 42:00 – Carolina's recruiting and working interview process
• 50:20 – Retaining employees through culture and recognition
• 55:00 – Creating a great onboarding experience
• 1:03:00 – How Tails N' Trails onboards new hires
• 1:12:20 – Why employees leave and how to improve retention
• 1:18:45 – Creating career growth opportunities

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