After the Last Dog unpacks the everyday challenges grooming business owners face, offering expert insights and practical solutions. Join Dara and Jennifer as they share unique perspectives to help you transform your salon into a thriving, well-structured environment.
Recent Episodes
The Business We Inherited: Legacy or Liability? Why You're Afraid to Question Your Own Team
Somebody in your shop asks one of your groomers about something they did, maybe a newer person, still new enough to question things. And the groomer looks at them surprised: "that's how I do it." Not defensive, just genuinely caught off guard, like why would you question this? In this episode, Jennifer Oppel (founder of Growing Groomers and creator of the first Missouri pet grooming apprenticeship program and related curriculum) breaks down why salon owners inherit cultures th…
When “One More Chance” Becomes the Problem
Why do I keep giving chances when I know better?
Being understanding is part of being a good leader. But what happens when the grace you keep giving one employee quietly becomes extra work for everyone else?
In this episode of After the Last Dog, we’re talking honestly about the employee you care about, worry about, and may be afraid to lose, even though her lateness, personal struggles, or workplace conflict are beginning to shape the entire day.
This is not about becomin…
The Business We Inherited: Legacy or Liability?
The Business We Inherited
Legacy or Liability?
Every grooming business has an official operating manual and an unofficial one. The unofficial version is revealed through what gets rewarded, tolerated, questioned, or ignored.
In this episode of After the Last Dog, Dara examines what business owners inherit from former employers, mentors, industry traditions, early survival decisions, and even earlier versions of themselves. From booking and training to equipment and communicatio…
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