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The Honest Dog Breeder Podcast
The Honest Dog Breeder Podcast
Author: Julie Swan
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Welcome to the Honest Dog Breeder Podcast, with me, your host, Julie Swan, where each week we dive in to discuss all things dog breeding, so you can build a breeding business you love, producing dogs that fulfill their owner's dreams. I believe you can have an honest dog breeding program, that also pays the bills. So throw those pods in your ears while you're cleaning kennels—I'd love to join you.
147 Episodes
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Puppy buyers are changing, they're asking for more from us, and they have new boxes they want us to check before buying. There's also a dark side of this movement that has buyers publicly coming after breeders. Today I'll talk about what they're doing, what to do if you're a victim, and how you can adapt your program so you're serving this new evolution of puppy buyers.
Discounting older puppies is tempting. Discounting is what stores do as the seasons change. They'll have sales for summer clothes as summer comes to an end. Yet, does it work for puppies? The answer? Well, sometimes, but not usually. In this episode I'll discuss the problems with discounting your older puppies, when it makes sense, when it doesn't, and if you do decide to discount a puppy, how to handle offering a discount in a way that is best for you, your buyers, and your dogs.
Parvo was one of the most stressful challenges I faced as a breeder—until I found NeoPar. In this episode, I share my journey and how NeoPar has worked for me to protect puppies against parvo at a very young age, even before they leave for their new homes. Because it bypasses maternal immunity, it gives puppies protection right when they need it most, and it's one of the few things that lets me sleep better at night knowing they're safe. This isn't a sponsored episode—it's simply my story and the solution that finally gave me peace of mind.
Ever wonder how to plan and budget for your facility upgrades? In this episode I'll share my best tips and tricks for facility upgrades, whether its the little stuff while you're just getting started, an intermediate DIY project or room remodel, or a large exterior facility. I'll also give you some guidelines for how to plan the budgeting for it and when to invest in a facility so that you aren't waiting too long, but in a way that doesn't capsize your finances either--no one wants to be "forced" to produce so many dogs.
Over the last few episodes we've discussed ways to build a financial future, whether or not it includes dogs. In this episode we'll discuss whether your should invest in your facilities, so you can grow your breeding business, or whether you should invest in your future. I'll give you all the criteria you should review and answer to make the best decision for your business, your future, and your family!
She told me, "If I don't sell 20 puppies this month, I'll go under." It was a wake-up call—and not just for her. In this episode, I'm sharing real ways to turn your dog breeding profits into long-term financial stability, so you're never stuck breeding out of survival. Whether you stay in the game or eventually want to take a step back, this one's all about building options. Don't forget to grab the cheat sheet at honestdogbreeder.com/115!
One of the biggest mistakes I see breeders make is that they finally get some momentum—puppies are selling, income is flowing—and instead of using that money to create peace or freedom down the line, they burn it. You might be investing all of that money in your breeding program, but as important as it is to reinvest in your program, it's also incredibly important to invest in your future. In this episode, I'm so excited to share with you how to capitalize on your breeding program when it's in its heyday—when your dogs are popular, you've got lots of buyers, a good price, and your enthusiasm is high.
I asked myself this question recently when I realized I'd back-to-back (and overlapping) litters starting on January 31st of this year had been a little too much for my bandwidth. While there are easy calcuations to determine how many puppies you need to sell, and litters you need to have, to reach a financial target, and I've got a formula to help you calculate that - you can get it at https://honestdogbreeder.com/litters. But money isn't the only factor you need to consider when determining how many litters are right for you. In this episode I dive into the other questions you need to be asking yourself as you determine how many litters you should have!
In this Q&A we have 5 questions I've been asked recently on the website. I'll go into brief detail on what to consider with each question and what do to about it. If you want to submit your own questions for Q&A, send me a message at julie@honestdogbreeder.com. Thank you!
Ever feel like you're pouring money into marketing but not getting results? In this episode, we dig into the top marketing money leaks breeders face—from the trap of paid advertising to websites that repel more than they attract. I'll walk you through common mistakes that quietly drain your budget and energy, plus how to take the heavy lifting off your plate so your efforts actually move the needle. Whether you're just starting out or tightening things up, this episode will help you stop wasting money and finally get your marketing working for you—not against you. Sign up for the early bird special discount for Breeding Marketing Mastery: honestdogbreeder.com/earlybird
This is the second part of our three part series about common money leaks that breeders have. This episode covers hiring people. I'll share my own experiences hiring people, what some of the best methods are for being successful with employees, when a good time is, and common errors that end up capsizing profit and making things worse. I have a cheatsheet for you to use that will help you dive into all the things you should think about prior to hiring someone.
This episode is the first in a 3-part series where we discuss the ins and outs of where I see breeders losing money. This episode approaches the practical side of owning dogs and stud service and where the sweet spot is. Stay tuned for the second part where we discuss the ins and outs of how to pay people in a way that helps you take better care of your dogs and makes you more money, without killing your profit margins. And the third part, where we discuss marketing and how to have it make you money. Want to learn more? We discuss deep dives into the breeding business each month with a masterclass released each month inside the Dog Breeder Society. Watch the on-demand courses, learn from seasoned breeders in the discussion boards, and ask Julie questions on the live calls twice a month! Learn more about the Dog Breeder Society.
In this episode we are joined by Kerry Howell, a professional dog photographer. She shares some tips and tricks on better dog photography as well as when you should consider hiring a professional photographer for your breeding business. You'll love Kerry's simple and easy approach that makes this process a lot less painful and easier to accomplish. This is the first lesson of a masterclass on better photography that dives deeper into Kerry's professional photography tips! Get the whole masterclass included with your membership to the Dog Breeder Society.
Want to do more social media, but you're not sure where to start? We've got you covered. In today's episode, Julie & Kate discuss Breeder Copy Hub, what it is, how it works, and how you can use it to make a streamlined plan for your social media. Learn more about social media, tips and tricks, and how to incorporate Breeder Copy Hub into your plan.
It seems logical: more puppies means more money, right? In working with many breeders, it's clear that there is much more to the story of increasing your profit in your breeding program. So the answer to the question of "will more puppies make more money?" is it depends. In this episode we discuss the compounding complexity of scale and the options for how to increase profit in your breeding business, the honest and smart way. This is part of a larger masterclass I've released with a Google Sheet that you can adjust and play with to gain insight into where you can increase profit and how puppy numbers will play into this. Checkout the Course!
NJ Shelsby is a business coach and she is a master of efficiency. She loves to strike the balance between enjoying life and having a successful business. As a business coach she helps people regain their time, while tackling what they need to do. NJ challenged me to think differently about my processes and her advice propelled me into a much more efficient end of 2024. You'll love her tips and tricks and I bet you could implement a few today!
Lara Marek is a coach for life and business, but she noticed something ... when people stopped working with her, they were unable to maintain their momentum. She found that there were underlying stories they held subconsciously that got in the way of success. She found she was able to give her clients long-term success through hypnosis, helping them to discard the underlying stories sabotagin their success. Learn what these stories look like, how to spot them, and see if hypnosis might work for you!
Danielle McGeough is a wealth of knowledge! With her wide array of experience in various industries, she's been helping people get more done for years! In this interview Danielle explains her RISE Ritual. Here's a quick snippet: "One of my favorite ways to teach people to press pause is to create something called a RISE Ritual Method. And RISE stands for reflect, intentional planning, sensory activation, and embodying your new story. And this doesn't have to take incredibly long. "In fact, I think that you can create a ritual that's 15 minutes. So you start out by thinking about, 'What state am I in?' And then, 'What state do I want to transition to?' And you name the transition that you want to create. And then from there, you go, 'Okay, what's a question I could ask myself, a reflection that I could engage in, that would help me move from one state to the next?' "From there, you can intentionally plan. A really quick way would it just to go, 'If there were three things that I could do today, that at the end of the day, I would feel fulfilled, I would know that I had given my best in my business, or at home, or both, right? What would those three things be?' And you name those and you write them down."
The dog breeding industry did a lot of normalizing in 2023, things are getting back to normal, but there have been changes. In this episode I discuss plans for the new year, how the economy is influencing dog breeding, and where I think it's all going so you can be prepared. Plus I've started a YouTube Channel where you can watch these episodes on recorded video check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/@jswan (I'd love it if you subscribed!)
Today you get to meet my very own, my kids: Dakotah & Hunter, they're 12 and 10 and they've been a part of dog breeding pretty much their whole lives. Today they share life from their perspective in living with a dog breeding program and being a part of it. They share what they love, what they hate, and how they help. I hope you enjoy breeding from a kids' perspective!

















