SPEAKER_00 0:00

It's hard to build trust in that digital space. It's still important, obviously, but getting out and being able to demonstrate your knowledge and your expertise and maybe kind of volunteering a little bit. Um, just getting out in the community and putting yourself in spaces with people.

SPEAKER_02 0:21

All right, everybody. Welcome to another episode of Connections That Matter. Uh, my name is Andrew Johnson. I'm your host, and I love having conversations with Northern Colorado's best networkers. Today I have two guests, Scott and Holly from Barkbuster crew, coming to check us out. Welcome.

SPEAKER_04 0:39

Thanks for having us. Yeah, thanks a lot. Appreciate it.

SPEAKER_02 0:42

Well, uh, you guys have been a part of my community for a while. I've seen um the way that you guys have grown as a networker and um you guys have a really cool business. So if somebody hasn't heard of Barkbusters or met you yet, tell us a little bit about what you do.

SPEAKER_04 0:58

Well, what we do at Barkbusters is we come into your home and we work with you kind of where you're at with your dog. So we've seen everything from dogs that are so aggressive that we have to work with the client behind a door. Oh wow. And um to clients who uh have a new puppy, you know, they're a blank slate and they want to just get things started off on the right foot.

SPEAKER_01 1:19

So it's it's different, right?

SPEAKER_02 1:22

You take the home from uh the adoption if you go get it from a shelter, um, and it's so cute, and then all of a sudden it starts to act up or chew on stuff, and you're like, what did I sign up for? Yeah. Um how how much on the like are people at their wits' end when they call you? Are they embarrassed by their dog? Or is it just like wanting part of a normal part of um adopting a new pet?

SPEAKER_04 1:46

It's the whole spectrum. Um, a a lot of people are kind of at their um kind of last straw. They've tried other training. Their their dog is has done something, maybe bit a neighbor or something in their calling, essentially in a panic. Um, and so you know, those those people obviously are on a higher vibration of like, I need help. Um and then we also have people who, you know, they just got a puppy. I I just talked to someone yesterday who she's like, I don't know what I've done. Like you're saying, she's in over her head and she's I said, How long have you had the puppy? And she said, two days.

SPEAKER_03 2:21

Oh wow.

SPEAKER_04 2:21

So um I joke that um puppies aren't for the faint of heart because you know, there's there's a lot to learn about getting a puppy on the right track.

SPEAKER_00 2:29

So yeah, it's it's very emotional. It's a very emotional process. You know, people are just, you know, again, like she said, they're just not really sure what to do. And often that's part of the problem with the dog. The dog's looking for guidance and they just don't understand what we're doing, you know, whether we're using treats or you know, any kind of form of training, it's all about breakdown in the communication. Without a clear communication, clear guidance, these dogs are just like confused. It's not that they're bad dogs, they just don't understand what we're trying to convey. So often results in bad behaviors. Um and then essentially we kind of come in and start to get the dog clear that communication up so the dogs and the humans kind of understand each other, then they can begin to trust each other and then ultimately live their best lives together. But it's it's really often just a breakdown in the communication, and uh what we do is kind of teach natural canine communication. You know, we don't use treats or shot collars, sure, pong collars, anything like that. And I think a lot of people appreciate that.

SPEAKER_02 3:25

Well, I imagine like dogs like human are they're different, right? I might have been able to have a previous pet uh and it was a a certain way, and then we adopt a new way, and I would think the same thing would happen, but they're just they're different. Or like you guys were talking about is a pet could be a specific way in a house, and then let's say we move, and all of a sudden maybe there's a a pet in this new place across the street. Now your your pet is showing up differently. So how do you how do you uh adapt pet to pet, person to person?

SPEAKER_04 3:56

We do get a lot of clients who a lot of the lesson is, well, my last dog, you know, and and so we really have to tell people like you really have to meet your dog, like I said, where where it's at, because all dogs are different, all people are different, all homes are different. And so um we we really come in and work with you where you're at with your dog in your home, and all situations are different, you know. Some people are are going between households or their kids are going between households, or you know, they got a new dog, or they're gonna have a baby, or all these different things that cause dogs to to kind of act out in certain ways. And so what we do is we come in and kind of assess what's happening and help them one, sometimes just manage the environment, but also how to work with the dog in a way that the dog feels safe and secure in the home and in the change in the environment, which which essentially for an instinctual creature is disrupting the pack hierarchy.

SPEAKER_00 4:51

So yeah, and a lot of dogs within the same household will do different with the different people in the household. You know, it's kind of interesting that they pick up on our energy. Like Holly and I dealt with that with our own dog, you know, just the dog was very different when one of us was there, and then when the other one would come home, you know, another rescue situation uh can present a lot of challenges, and uh it's just it's just you know, kind of having to unwrap that.

SPEAKER_02 5:15

Well, let's get into your origin story because I think that's pretty cool because from what I understand, you were a client first and it worked so well. Now you guys um bought the Northern Colorado franchise. So share that journey from um hiring bark busters to owning a barkbusters.

SPEAKER_04 5:31

So uh I was living in Steamboat Springs at the time, and I had a rescue dog off the streets of Oklahoma, and she was an absolutely incredible dog, and also had very severe separation anxiety, so I literally couldn't leave my home. Um and Scott was actually living in Maryland at the time and he was visiting, and we couldn't really do anything because we couldn't go anywhere. And he said, Well, I've got a buddy down in Denver who uh he's been training dogs for 20 years, and you know, maybe he can help you. And so, long story short, is I did barkbusters with him and and was able to help Ziri deal with this separation anxiety, and I in turn was able to leave my house and live a life because it really had become I couldn't leave the home. I she would hurt herself or be destructive in a way that you know would would you know I'd come home and trim was off the off the doorway or holes in the drywall and whatnot. And that would stress me out.

SPEAKER_00 6:27

And so it was tough to see. Like I was up there visiting, and I got is literally as soon as Holly would leave the door, she was panicking at the door, doing her screen and drool drooling. Um you know, Holly had even told me before I met her she broke out through a screen door or screen window just to get to her. Um and uh yeah, it's you can imagine how stressful that is, not only for the human, but what about the dog? Right.

SPEAKER_04 6:48

You know, it's actually so we implemented the Barkbusters methodology, and at the time, um this person was buying another territory with another Holly, and I joked that you're you picked the wrong holly. And so he he called us a year later and he said, you know, were you serious about that? And we jumped right on board and moved down to northern Colorado and bought the Northern Colorado territory, and it's been it's just been awesome.

SPEAKER_02 7:13

So well, I think that's cool. Like when you're networking and seeing people who are really passionate about what they do. But for you guys, it's like a success story. Uh like Holly, you mentioned that hey, let me go live a normal life. Uh and and now you guys are the solution to that for other people. But um, what what solutions does dog training provide? You're like leaving the house, feeling safe, like share a little bit more about the solutions that occur after you work with the family.

SPEAKER_00 7:42

Well, I would say confidence and calmness with your dog. Um, you know, obviously when people are calling us, they are emotional and they're stressed. And again, that again, like I said earlier, that feeds into the dog's energy. And uh all of our clients love their dogs.

unknown 7:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:55

Um, and they just don't know what to do. So again, once we once we step in there and kind of get in there and do that for them, they just feel calm and confident. And it kind of snowballs both for the human and the dog as you build and kind of compound those little wins. And as you do that, it's just like it's really a great way to develop the great bond and relationship. It's really about relationships. It's really true.

SPEAKER_02 8:17

For sure. Well, how has uh how has your business grown? Any tips as you're scaling a pet business in northern Colorado? I I I assume Colorado is very pet friendly. I see people at the breweries or at the restaurants, Home Depot and Lowe's. You know, pets can go a lot of places that maybe they can't go other parts of the United States. But how have you helped people in northern Colorado as you've grown and scaled your business?

SPEAKER_04 8:43

Um I think that for us, growing our business has has been kind of an interesting journey because uh Barkbusters is actually a worldwide training company. And so we operate on six, you know, in six countries. And um, so we sort of relied on our our global network in the beginning and did a lot of um, we relied heavily on digital marketing.

SPEAKER_00 9:09

Kind of cruise.

SPEAKER_02 9:10

People who are Googling, how do I train my dog? Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 9:14

And and then at some point we we thought, you know, this doesn't make sense to us. I mean, I lived in Steamboat, which was a really small community, and and I wanted that for us for our business. And um, and actually Scott had had just arbitrarily reached out to um Ann with Puppy's Pet Care.

SPEAKER_02 9:32

Oh yeah, shout out to Ann, right?

SPEAKER_04 9:33

Yeah, we like had coffee with her and um and just hit it off with her, and she connected us, she had a great t-shirt on. And so we asked, Oh, where'd you get your t-shirt? And she hooked us up with Sandy with Colorado Promotional Supplies. And and then um she invited us to one of your big networking events. And at that networking event, I was like, this is it. Like, this is how we're gonna become connected to our our communities. Because for us moving down from Steamboat, it was like, how do we how do we be involved in all these different, you know, because we we cover um Fort Collins, Bertha, Loveland, Timnas, Severance, and all of those are little communities, you know. And so for us, trying to get involved in all those communities was a little a little overwhelming. Um, and so we've been so blessed to get hooked up with you. Um, and I and I see that as what's really gonna grow our business ultimately, um, kind of like the snowball effect um with with just being partners with people, you know. And so we're excited about that.

SPEAKER_02 10:37

It's cool to see how it how fast it can happen. Do you're like, hey, I met somebody and then they gave me a great referral for this, and um building relationships with those people. And it's interesting, as a pet business, sometimes I would imagine you're focusing on the dogs, and hey, here's the growth that this dog has gone from like where they started to where they are now. But um the business side is a people business, it's the owners making sure they're satisfied, uh, getting referrals from other pet businesses. Um, so what tips would you have for um maybe other people that are in the animal service industry to focus on the people, the things that you do to manage the people that have led to some of your success?

SPEAKER_00 11:16

Well, I would say kind of just getting out in front of people, like you know, we've kind of embraced, and Holly's always been kind of pushing me on it, um, you know, again, feeling uncomfortable sometimes getting out in front of people, but vet clinics have been really good for us. And um, you know, even though it's uncomfortable, every time we've gone out and actually engaged with them, it's definitely led to some more leads and some business. Um, and kind of capitalizing on that with you know, joining this group. Referrals are obviously the strongest way to kind of build a client base and um, you know, spread that word through a trusted partner. Um, but you know, going back to the whole digital marketing, it's hard to build trust in that digital space. It's still important, obviously. But getting out and being able to demonstrate your knowledge and your expertise and maybe kind of volunteering a little bit, um, just getting out in the community and putting yourself in spaces with people.

SPEAKER_02 12:09

Very cool. Let's talk about networking because you guys show up as a as a pair or do dynamic duo, uh, you know, which I think gives you some strategic advantages to co as a as a duo. But how has networking been um as a couple?

SPEAKER_04 12:25

I know we we get a little harassed by some people. They're like, you can't sit together. You need to. So um, you know, maybe you'll see more of that where we'll we'll branch out and I'll make him sit over there and I'll make myself sit over here. But um, but I think uh just kind of playing off each other. When we first started the the business, we would go on lessons together and we kind of played off each other really well, and then we sort of developed our own styles and and now we go on lessons on our own. Um, and I feel like that's what's gonna happen in the networking space where we come and play off each other in the networking space.

SPEAKER_00 12:59

But yeah, I mean we kind of live and work this all the time, every day of our life. Like Holly does the barn thing a lot, she's really into the horse world, but like literally dogs are every day. We take our dog out and just uh we talk shop a lot. Um, and uh we just love it. I mean, absolutely love it. And just even today with a little bit of snow for the first time, our husky got out and truly enjoyed it. We filmed some stuff out there today and you know, maybe make some content with the five. There you go. But yeah, just getting out there and having fun with your dog, and you know, that's a big part of it too. Just try to have fun, and no matter what you're doing.

SPEAKER_02 13:34

Well, and as you're going to these events, like you know, there's the drive to the event, there's the event, and then there's the drive home from the event.

SPEAKER_01 13:40

Do you guys like pre-game and post and then post-game? Like, what do you conduct? Who did you make or who'd you meet?

SPEAKER_02 13:46

I mean, is there any conversations that go between the two of you before and after?

SPEAKER_00 13:51

I would say that's something we really got to work on a little bit better. We've got to be a lot more intentional in that. Um, you know, for too long we did kind of learn cruise control. Sure. It seemed a little too easy. Um, but again, I that's something we definitely need to be a bit more intentional.

SPEAKER_04 14:06

We usually show up in different cars because I'm coming from the barn. Yeah. So I've been working with the horses and I come to the event and he's coming from home. So um, but we do talk about people that we've met, and you know if if we do a one-on-one, we'll talk about that.

SPEAKER_00 14:21

And um with the dog thing, it's kind of easy. Like we don't really have to go to people. People like dog, you like you said, Colorado is just like the most dog-friendly place in the world. And it's like when you see somebody mentions dog, everybody's eyes go, really dogs? Like it's just a it's people just want to approach you, and again, we loving what we do, and that we we know and we believe in what our methods are doing, and uh um, and we do really want to encourage people to talk to us and communicate, and uh just again, it's it's about having fun with your dog because dog training can be frustrating and your dog is picking that up.

SPEAKER_02 14:57

So you know, well, it's interesting that last week we had uh Thomas Kern from Kern Painting on the show, and we were talking about referrals, but like anytime somebody's coming into somebody's home, there's a different level of trust. Absolutely. Not only are you coming into somebody's home, but you're working with their pets, uh or maybe around their kids, different things. So I would imagine trust is a really big part of your business. How do you get referrals? What are things that work for you as you're developing the relationships to the point where it's just a natural thing to invite somebody to come into not only your home but your family?

SPEAKER_04 15:31

Most of our referrals come from clients um that have have worked with us and have learned to trust us and um follow the method and trust the method and um the it is a very interesting thing because dogs are so personal. We learn a lot about people in not only are we coming into their home, we're also learning uh very intimate things about them. Um, because that does affect the dog. And so I I think when we have clients, especially clients who have had, you know, I don't know, maybe they're going through a divorce, or maybe, you know, they're sick, or maybe they, you know, stuff like that where it's big and the dog picks up on it. And and while we're asking them what's going on in their life and has anything changed, and we learn that they inadvertently learn to trust us because they're telling us some some deep stuff. So um those people become kind of our best referral people that share intimately with us and and we are able to help them through a hard situation.

SPEAKER_01 16:40

So is there like a like a graduation ceremony? I'm like, oh, you're you're you're a good boy now, right? Like more ongoing training, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 16:50

It is ongoing because we do what we call a life of dog support guarantee. Okay. So so we don't do like your typical 10 sessions and then you go through graduation, you know what I mean? We we are there for the life of the dog, so we commit what we say to to the life of your dog. And so if something does come up down the road, we're there to help you. So that gives people peace of mind in that, you know.

SPEAKER_00 17:14

Yeah, no, I mean we're committed to them for the life of their dog at school. You know, we kind of we sp we expect a little out of them too. They need to commit to doing the work, but also if they ever do find themselves struggling, they can call us at any point in time in the future. Um, we often work with clients that have moved into the territory from another part of the country. Um, they were bark busters maybe in California or some other place. And uh they simply kind of can step in and call us and uh no no hassle whatsoever. And uh you know, it's it's a very again, I keep saying the word emotional, but it we get clients a lot of times with their first lesson, they're calling us out of tears, you know, because they're not sure. Right, and maybe they get had given up, but maybe their spouse or their daughter. Um we've had cases like that where they're just like, Mom, you gotta try, you really gotta try. Call these guys, and you know, they didn't really know us, but then we get in the house and there's an emotion there and it's a struggle, and then like two weeks later they're crying because it's tears of joy. Like, I can't believe this, I can't believe my dog. You know, and often it's rescues a lot, so many rescues that we work with. And uh again, people have the their heart is in the right place, but they maybe just don't understand. And again, like Holly said, there's people are sharing very intimate details in their life because it's literally like a child family.

SPEAKER_04 18:30

People will do anything for their dogs, sure.

SPEAKER_02 18:33

Yeah, absolutely. I've seen that, or someone's going in. Um, you know, sometimes it's the the fun pictures that are saying at social media, but if like a dog gets a medical thing, you know, they treat them like a member of their family, which is really cool. Um, you know, one thing I love about networking is how it can open up doors, right? We talk about referrals a lot, but uh introductions um is a big part. You you've mentioned that you work with the rescues or the vets, that they've been really great partners. Um, are there any partnerships you're looking to seeking out or uh new connections that you're trying to get in? We got a lot of listeners in Northern Colorado. We could uh help have them help uh introduce you.

SPEAKER_04 19:16

Our our biggest um business that we would love to get a connection with, and we have connected with them on some level is um Pooter Pet and Feed, we think would be a great partner.

SPEAKER_03 19:29

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 19:30

Um we actually our dog Max, who we rescued, he was he was actually uh he's a Siberian husky and he was on a chain for three and a half years in Thornton, right around the corner. And um, I think he was out in the elements, and he was he was actually our most challenging dog we've ever worked with, and also our greatest teacher. Um but he came to us with severe diarrhea, um, so much that he started kind of going downhill on us. And when we went to the vet and we did all the things and spent thousands of dollars and did the prescription diet and you know, consulted with the GI specialist and all the things. And then we went into Pooder Pet and Feed and their great staff said, Here, try this sensitivity kit. And it was a a saliva swab and a hair sample, and we sent it in and we get this this sheet that says, you know, these things he's sensitive to sensitive to and these things, you know, he can eat. And I took in the sheet and we said, What can he have? And they picked us out of dog food, and literally he was getting better within four meals. And so that was just incredible. And so we we tell a lot of our clients who have dogs that maybe you are itchy or you know, hot spots or GI issues to to go in and do that kit. And I think it's a great way for our clients to get into their door. And and we just have always felt that that that could be a great partnership.

SPEAKER_02 20:52

Well, I love the personal testimonial too. It's not just because there's an opportunity potentially with referrals, but it's like, no, this happened, this really worked when other things didn't. So shout out putter pet and feed. Uh if you guys know them, tag them in the in the comments uh below. But let's let's get some one-to-ones and let's get some connections facilitated with that one. Well, Scott Molly, uh, this has been awesome. Really uh enjoyed networking with you. Um, you know, really understanding that what you do is make people's families like work. Um and um it's been really cool to see you um grow with the community and stuff there. But if somebody's maybe got the dog that um they've been trying to work on, maybe they've been watching YouTube videos, or maybe they've had something on behalf, but they it hasn't worked um and they want to get a hold of you. What's the best ways for someone to get a hold of you?

SPEAKER_04 21:45

So um they can call our personal cell phone. Mine is 970 291 1413.

SPEAKER_00 21:51

I can be reached at 970 846 4809.

SPEAKER_04 21:55

And or you can go to barkbusters.com and you can either fill out a quiz. Or a contact submission form. You will get that information. I do want to do a quick shout out to you though. Um so one day after a dog lesson, I was in Berthid and I became stranded at about, I don't know, 7 30 p.m. And my car was oozing um coolant or something. And so I called Andrew, and I was asking him if there was anyone, you know, anywhere I could take my car, or you know, did he have a recommendation for a you know an auto shop? And like my car got towed to Metric Motors and they were amazing. And that was a very stressful situation for me. And it was just like the perfect example of our networking group in action, like real time for me. And so I just really appreciated that referral and you answering your phone at 7:30 at night. So thank you for that.

SPEAKER_02 22:54

We'll write on it. It's cool to see. Yeah, shout out Metric Motors for all that. They do great work over there. Matt uh Sealer, former podcast guest, uh, one of the earlier episodes there. But well, very cool. Well, last question. Um Scott, do you focus? Are you like the specialist for specific types of dogs, different issues, or Holly? Like you gave both of you gave out your cell phone. Who should I call, Scott or Holly, or who should I call for what?

SPEAKER_00 23:18

Uh that's an interesting question. I mean, I think it's interesting. We kind of go back and forth. Like, occasionally I'll get a case. I mean, we'd love to handle any case, either one of us, but occasionally I'll get a case was like, Holly, I think I need you to come out and yeah, get your perspective on this. Honestly, I think it's a team. Um, I wouldn't say that she's definitely probably more of the puppy person, I would say. If they're if I was gonna point out any one thing, I like it. Like puppies are amazing and they're they're challenging though. They can be a handful. Um I think puppy or Holly probably has a little more patience in that area, and uh it's amazing though. I just like the the ability to call her, not only her, but like without throughout our international network, we can reach out and call. There's nothing that we haven't seen within our network. So um I don't know if that answers that question.

SPEAKER_02 24:06

If you got a puppy, call Holly. Everything else calls Scott. I love it.

SPEAKER_04 24:10

You can call both of us.

SPEAKER_02 24:12

All right. Well, I've really enjoyed networking with both of you. Uh excited to see you around the events and watch you continue to grow. Thanks so much for coming on, Connections The Matter.

SPEAKER_04 24:21

Thanks for having me.

SPEAKER_02 24:22

Thank you so much. Appreciate your time. Hey all, thanks for watching. I love networking and building relationships with other Northern Colorado business leaders. So if you want to come meet some of these podcast guests, meet me, or meet some other amazing entrepreneurs in Northern Colorado, I would love to have you attend one of our next events. Uh, go in the podcast description. There's a way so that you can see our upcoming schedule. And maybe you could be a future podcast guest as well. Thanks.