On this edition of Practical Pet Chat, Rob and Lorin kick off 2026 by reflecting on the close of another year and sharing what’s ahead in the months to come. They dive into key updates and announcements for the show, outline what listeners can expect in the new year, and discuss emerging themes shaping the pet industry—from evolving pet parent expectations to changes impacting care, services, and business operations. The conversation also takes a more personal turn as Rob and Lorin recap their holidays, share moments that stood out, and talk about how time away helped shape their perspective heading into the new year. As always, the discussion blends industry insight with real-world experience, thoughtful observations, and approachable conversation. Whether you’re a pet parent, pet professional, or simply passionate about the pet world, this episode offers a warm, insightful, and engaging start to 2026—full of perspective, practical takeaways, and a clear look at what’s coming next on Practical Pet Chat.

On this edition of Practical Pet Chat, Rob and Lorin kick off 2026 by reflecting on the close of another year and sharing what’s ahead in the months to come. They dive into key updates and announcements for the show, outline what listeners can expect in the new year, and discuss emerging themes shaping the pet industry—from evolving pet parent expectations to changes impacting care, services, and business operations. The conversation also takes a more personal turn as Rob and Lorin recap their holidays, share moments that stood out, and talk about how time away helped shape their perspective heading into the new year. As always, the discussion blends industry insight with real-world experience, thoughtful observations, and approachable conversation. Whether you’re a pet parent, pet professional, or simply passionate about the pet world, this episode offers a warm, insightful, and engaging start to 2026—full of perspective, practical takeaways, and a clear look at what’s coming next on Practical Pet Chat.

On this episode of Practical Pet Business, Lorin and Rob take pet business owners through a comprehensive and practical year-end review designed to turn reflection into forward momentum. As the year comes to a close, they break down what to look at across your business—from timelines and key events to sales performance, seasonal trends, and the initiatives that delivered results (or didn’t). They explore the changes that happened over the past year and the changes that still need to happen, helping owners assess what evolved organically and what requires intentional adjustment. The conversation covers vendor relationships, product assortments, pricing, and partnerships, with insight into what to keep, what to refine, and what to reconsider as you plan ahead. A central focus of the episode is your customers: how their needs, expectations, buying behaviors, and feedback shifted throughout the year, what they communicated directly or indirectly, and how those insights should influence your decisions going forward. Lorin and Rob also discuss how external factors—market conditions, industry trends, and operational realities—play into your planning process. The episode wraps with a clear, actionable “quick-start” path for 2026, offering guidance on setting priorities, creating realistic timelines, and aligning your business goals with customer success. It’s a practical, thoughtful roadmap to help pet business owners close the year with clarity, confidence, and a strong foundation for the year ahead.

On this episode of Practical Pet Business, Lorin and Rob take pet business owners through a comprehensive and practical year-end review designed to turn reflection into forward momentum. As the year comes to a close, they break down what to look at across your business—from timelines and key events to sales performance, seasonal trends, and the initiatives that delivered results (or didn’t). They explore the changes that happened over the past year and the changes that still need to happen, helping owners assess what evolved organically and what requires intentional adjustment. The conversation covers vendor relationships, product assortments, pricing, and partnerships, with insight into what to keep, what to refine, and what to reconsider as you plan ahead. A central focus of the episode is your customers: how their needs, expectations, buying behaviors, and feedback shifted throughout the year, what they communicated directly or indirectly, and how those insights should influence your decisions going forward. Lorin and Rob also discuss how external factors—market conditions, industry trends, and operational realities—play into your planning process. The episode wraps with a clear, actionable “quick-start” path for 2026, offering guidance on setting priorities, creating realistic timelines, and aligning your business goals with customer success. It’s a practical, thoughtful roadmap to help pet business owners close the year with clarity, confidence, and a strong foundation for the year ahead.

In this year-end episode of Practical Pet Chat, Lorin and Rob invite pet parents to slow down and reflect on the year that was—through the lens of their pets’ lives. From shifts in daily routines and household dynamics to new experiences, challenges, and milestones, they explore how your pet’s world has changed and evolved over the past year. Lorin and Rob encourage listeners to revisit the highlights—the small moments and big memories alike—that brought joy, growth, and connection. Whether it was mastering new training goals, navigating health changes, welcoming new family members (human or animal), or simply strengthening your bond through everyday life, this episode is a reminder of how meaningful these shared experiences truly are. The conversation also turns to preparedness and care, emphasizing the importance of reviewing and updating your pet’s safety plans as the year comes to a close. Lorin and Rob walk through key considerations such as refreshing emergency “go bags,” reviewing medications and medical records, confirming emergency contacts and care instructions, and ensuring plans are in place should the unexpected occur. These simple but often overlooked steps can make a significant difference in protecting your pets when it matters most. This episode blends reflection, gratitude, and practical action—helping pet parents honor the year behind them while feeling informed, organized, and confident heading into the new year. All of this and more on this special year-end episode of Practical Pet Chat.

In this year-end episode of Practical Pet Chat, Lorin and Rob invite pet parents to slow down and reflect on the year that was—through the lens of their pets’ lives. From shifts in daily routines and household dynamics to new experiences, challenges, and milestones, they explore how your pet’s world has changed and evolved over the past year. Lorin and Rob encourage listeners to revisit the highlights—the small moments and big memories alike—that brought joy, growth, and connection. Whether it was mastering new training goals, navigating health changes, welcoming new family members (human or animal), or simply strengthening your bond through everyday life, this episode is a reminder of how meaningful these shared experiences truly are. The conversation also turns to preparedness and care, emphasizing the importance of reviewing and updating your pet’s safety plans as the year comes to a close. Lorin and Rob walk through key considerations such as refreshing emergency “go bags,” reviewing medications and medical records, confirming emergency contacts and care instructions, and ensuring plans are in place should the unexpected occur. These simple but often overlooked steps can make a significant difference in protecting your pets when it matters most. This episode blends reflection, gratitude, and practical action—helping pet parents honor the year behind them while feeling informed, organized, and confident heading into the new year. All of this and more on this special year-end episode of Practical Pet Chat.

In this episode of Practical Pet Business, Lorin and Rob tackle one of the most important—and often overlooked—topics for pet professionals as we head into a new year: budgeting and planning for the 2026 pet industry landscape, with a special focus on local events, expos, shows, and community gatherings. As the pet industry continues to grow and evolve, so do the expectations placed on business owners. Events that were once “must-attend” cornerstones have become increasingly expensive, more complex to navigate, and, in many cases, less predictable in the value they provide. Lorin and Rob encourage listeners to take a step back and ask the tough but necessary questions: Am I truly getting enough ROI from the events I attend? Is the financial cost aligned with the opportunities I’m actually receiving? How much time, team bandwidth, and personal energy am I sacrificing—and is it worth it? They break down the hidden costs that pet pros often forget to calculate: staff coverage, travel logistics, preparation hours, inventory management, marketing spend, post-event follow-up, and the emotional toll of constant show cycles. As the industry shifts, the “value” of showing up is no longer as straightforward as it once was. Lorin and Rob also explore a deeper question: loyalty. You reward your customers’ loyalty every day. But are the events, associations, and organizations you support giving you that same loyalty back? Are they helping your business grow, supporting your goals, and acknowledging the commitment you bring year after year? Because at its core, the pet industry is built on relationships—relationships with customers, vendors, community partners, and each other. Yet those relationships are being tested as resources are stretched thinner and expectations continue to climb. The hosts unpack how to evaluate which relationships are truly beneficial, which commitments deserve to be renewed, and which may need to be reconsidered altogether. Whether you're a retailer, service provider, manufacturer, or pet professional carving out your place in the market, this episode gives you the tools to rethink your 2026 strategy with clarity and confidence. All of this—and plenty more strategic insights, tough truths, and practical advice—on this episode of Practical Pet Business.

In this episode of Practical Pet Business, Lorin and Rob tackle one of the most important—and often overlooked—topics for pet professionals as we head into a new year: budgeting and planning for the 2026 pet industry landscape, with a special focus on local events, expos, shows, and community gatherings. As the pet industry continues to grow and evolve, so do the expectations placed on business owners. Events that were once “must-attend” cornerstones have become increasingly expensive, more complex to navigate, and, in many cases, less predictable in the value they provide. Lorin and Rob encourage listeners to take a step back and ask the tough but necessary questions: Am I truly getting enough ROI from the events I attend? Is the financial cost aligned with the opportunities I’m actually receiving? How much time, team bandwidth, and personal energy am I sacrificing—and is it worth it? They break down the hidden costs that pet pros often forget to calculate: staff coverage, travel logistics, preparation hours, inventory management, marketing spend, post-event follow-up, and the emotional toll of constant show cycles. As the industry shifts, the “value” of showing up is no longer as straightforward as it once was. Lorin and Rob also explore a deeper question: loyalty. You reward your customers’ loyalty every day. But are the events, associations, and organizations you support giving you that same loyalty back? Are they helping your business grow, supporting your goals, and acknowledging the commitment you bring year after year? Because at its core, the pet industry is built on relationships—relationships with customers, vendors, community partners, and each other. Yet those relationships are being tested as resources are stretched thinner and expectations continue to climb. The hosts unpack how to evaluate which relationships are truly beneficial, which commitments deserve to be renewed, and which may need to be reconsidered altogether. Whether you're a retailer, service provider, manufacturer, or pet professional carving out your place in the market, this episode gives you the tools to rethink your 2026 strategy with clarity and confidence. All of this—and plenty more strategic insights, tough truths, and practical advice—on this episode of Practical Pet Business.