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by MoeGo on Dec 18, 2025 1:39:16 PM
For pet boarding and daycare operators, the holiday season often feels like a high-stress sprint. Full calendars, stretched staff, anxious pet parents, and zero margin for error can quickly turn “busy” into “overwhelming.” But what if the narrative could change?
To help operators like you prepare, we partnered with IBPSA and Dog Handler Academy to host a Holiday Survival Guide MoeGo Live featuring real-world expertise from:
TLDR: Calm does not happen by accident. It is built through intentional systems and early planning.
Below, we’ve turned the conversation into a 5-point, actionable holiday blueprint you can apply to your own operation.
1. Plan Early, Market with Intent
Both Carmen and Eve identified the single most critical success factor: start early. “It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.”
- Start planning early. Take the August advantage.
- Review last year’s data: occupancy peaks, staffing ratios, drop-off and pick-up congestion, and client complaints.
- Set clear targets before the rush begins:
- Maximum safe occupancy
- Revenue goals tied to staffing reality
- Staff satisfaction and retention goals
Holiday Planning in Phrases
Carmen emphasized that early planning is what separates reactive facilities from proactive ones. To turn this into a phased plan:
- Phase 1 (Aug/Sept): Soft launch. “Holiday bookings are now open for our loyal clients!”
- Phase 2 (October): Create urgency. “Spaces are filling fast. Book now or risk missing out.”
- Phase 3 (When ~90% Booked): Pivot entirely. Stop marketing space and start marketing value-added services to your booked clients. “Once you’re full, every email and social post should be about your special holiday treats, one-on-one playtime, or festive photo shoots,” Eve shared.
2. Price for Value, Upsell with Purpose
One of the strongest points of consensus across the panel was simple but firm: do not discount during the holidays.
Hold Firm on Your Holiday Rates
Your capacity is your most valuable asset. Price it accordingly. “More dogs equals more staff. Discounting devalues the extra labor required,” Eve shared.
Create & Promote High-Margin Add-Ons
This is your primary revenue lever once booked.
- Example: Eve’s facility sells a ���Thanksgiving Dinner” for pets (turkey, sweet potato, green beans) for $11/plate. It’s a popular tradition that boosts revenue.
- Bundle Services: Create “Holiday Deluxe” or “Winter Breakout” packages that include a day of daycare, a special treat, and a report card. Simplified choices lead to higher ticket values.
Train Your Front Line
Get your front-desk staff on situational upselling. Seeing an older German Shepherd on the schedule? That’s a perfect opportunity to suggest a "warm blanket add-on" for his arthritic joints.
Automate Holiday Pricing
Use tools to eliminate manual work and ensure consistency.
The Pricing Rule feature allows facilities to automate holiday surcharges, late pick-up fees, and after-hours charges, while add-ons and packages standardize upsells without relying on memory or manual overrides.
3. Staffing for Safety & Morale
“Your product can be copied. Your people can’t.”
Holiday volume puts enormous pressure on teams, which is why staffing strategy and morale came up repeatedly throughout the webinar.
Smart Holiday Staffing Strategies
Here are some smart holiday staffing strategies from Carmen and Eve:
- Hire from dog-savvy candidate pools, such as:
- College students home for break
- Fitness-oriented workers accustomed to physical labor
- Reactive-dog training clients already familiar with handling protocols
- Balance full-time and part-time hours intentionally to avoid burnout.
- Mandate the non-negotiable “Two-Person Rule:” Any time dogs are out of enclosures (potty breaks, transfers, bathing), two staff members must be present.
Keep Team Morale High
To proactively combat burnout for your team:
- Create a “Quiet Zone”: Designate a staff-only space, free from barking, for mental resets.
- Gamify the Shift: Run dog breed trivia or “guess the weight” contests with small prizes (gift cards, fuzzy socks) to keep energy positive.
- Acknowledge the Sacrifice Daily: “Thank you for working on New Year’s Eve” should be said out loud, repeatedly. Recognize that they are giving up family time.
4. Operate with Zero-Risk Rigor
When things go wrong during the holidays, they go wrong fast. Carmen and Eve emphasized that risk management is about all preparation rather than reaction.
The “Spare Crate” Tip
Always hold back 1-2 enclosures. This is for the true emergency: a regular client with a family disaster, a last-minute booking error, or a shelter referral. It’s your pressure-release valve.
Conduct Rigorous, Standardized Checks
This includes:
- Medications: Must be in the original pharmacy container.
- Emergency Contact: Verify the contact is local and not traveling with the owner. Call them during intake to confirm.
- Food: Ask about allergies and inspect packaging. Don't accept glass jars that can shatter.
- Team Communication: Gather the team before the holiday rush to review emergency response:
- Bloat
- Respiratory distress
- GI issues (pumpkin, probiotics)
5. Communication that Creates Calm and Builds Trust
At the heart of everything is trust. And trust is built through clear, proactive communication.
The Big Three
Carmen and Eve agreed that pet parents mainly want answers to three questions:
- Is my pet eating?
- Is my pet pooping?
- How is my pet’s personality/energy level today?
Answering “The Big Three” questions eliminates 80% of parental worry, consistently reduces anxiety-driven phone calls and builds confidence in your care.
Pet Codes & Client Portal
This is where the strategy meets the system. The all-in-one platform keeps critical documents organized, signed, and easy to reference when it matters most.
- Pet Notes: Flag a pet’s medication schedule or fear of loud noises so that critical info travels instantly from the front desk to every kennel tech
- Clients & Pets: Store all signed agreements and provide a transparent, professional window into your service for parents.
Leverage the Digital Report Card
A 15-second video of a dog playing is more reassuring than a paragraph of text. As one of the most popular features, the Digital Report Card helps you share photo and video updates to pet parents in real-time.
A Calm Holiday Season is a Choice
Facilities that experience calmer, more profitable holidays are not luckier. They are more prepared. They plan earlier, price smarter, protect their teams, operate rigorously, and communicate clearly.
Want to go deeper? 👉 Watch the full webinar here.
Just starting or adding to your business?
We have flexible plans meant for all stages.
The Holiday Survival Guide for Pet Boarding and Daycare Businesses
5 Email & SMS Templates Top Pet Businesses Use for the Holiday Season
