The 3 Kinds of Network Partners
Pet Handlers
Vendors who actually handle dogs
Veterinarians & Pet Hospitals
Daycare & Boarding Facilities
Groomers
Puppy Stores
Rescues & Shelters
Dog Sitters/Dog Walkers/Dog Boarders
Breeders
Dog Association/Organization
Trainers
Pet Services & Adjacent Businesses
Vendors who serve dog families, but don't handle dogs
Food & Dog Supply (Hollywood Feed, 3 Dog Bakery, etc)
Property Management/Apartment Complexes
Dog Photography
Home Services - Air Duct Cleaners, Carpet Cleaners, Invisible Fence, Pest Control (fleas), Poop Picker-Uppers
Miscellaneous
WD vendors, influencers, festival organizers, etc
School/Non-Profit (Non-Rescue)
Show/Festival Organizer
Blogger/Influencer/Celebrity
Dog Expert
Sports organizations
WD Vendor (Local) - coupon booklet, accountant, lawyer,
WD Vendor (Non-Local) - swag vendors, printing, ad networks, collars, etc
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Partner - Pet Handlers
Vendors who actual handle dogs
Veterinarians and Pet Hospitals
Like breeders & trainers, this group, along with rescues, all think that they are the “true dog experts” and they all have VERY strong opinions about dogs, breeds, breeding, training, dog care, health care and basically every other topic. However, since the Office Manager usually runs the place, you can easily win them over, especially if you go in “as a rep” (since drug reps and food reps come by all the time) and offer them food too. Hardly any other trainer in town has time to build relationships like this, yet these vets are asked several times a day who they recommend, so if we CAN win them over, then we’ll get lots of great leads from them.
Opps for Partnership
- They can refer clients to us through brochures, biz cards, fliers, social posts, emails, newsletters and even their website…which we can reciprocate.
- We can introduce them to the products from PawTree.
Groomers
Grooming is a service provided by most boarding and daycare providers that offer hair, nail, skin, teeth, ear, gland care for the dogs. There are also mobile groomers as well.
Opps for Partnership
- We can help with their dogs that nip and scratch at them instead of them having to either put up with it or fire the client.
- They can refer clients to us through brochures, biz cards, fliers, social posts, emails, newsletters and even their website…which we can reciprocate.
- We can introduce them to the skin and hair care products from PawTree
Daycares & Boarding Facilities
Daycares are for people who want their dogs to play while they are at work, or are busy living their lives, or just want their dog to have some stimulation. While boarding is for an overnight stay, and often requires needs overnight staff.
Opps for Partnership
- We can help with their dogs that are disobedient, and nip and scratch at them instead of them having to either put up with it or fire the client
- They can refer clients to us through brochures, biz cards, fliers, social posts, emails, newsletters and even their website…which we can reciprocate.
- We can introduce them to the products from PawTree
Puppy Stores
Puppy stores are business that sell puppies.
Opps for Partnership
- They can refer clients to us through brochures, biz cards, fliers, social posts, emails, newsletters and even their website…which we can reciprocate.
- We can help their customers who are buying puppies have a great and successful life with their new dogs!
Rescues & Shelters
Industry. There are rescues and then there are shelters. Most shelters are just short-term orphanages for dogs who wait to be adopted locally, or to be transported up north where dogs are more cared for. Examples would be Humane Society or Memphis Animal Shelter. Most rescues on the other hand are typically foster-based and don’t have a facility. Most rescues are "In-Take Rescues" that will re-home dogs that are brought to them (ex: Sunny Meadows Rescue), while very few (if any) rescues focus on “Seizure Rescue” where they grab dogs off the streets (like All 4 Paws). These guys are out in the field, pro-actively looking for dogs at-risk and asking the owners if they can care for them. Most rescues will take dog-aggressive dogs, but not people-aggressive dogs.
Memphis Animal Shelter. MAS says that they are a no-kill policy unless its an irredeemable situation like a highly aggressive dog (but there’s just no way). There is no one there certified to make decisions to identify dogs that have behavior problems that need to be euthanized. They will only go “seize” a dog that the police tell them to because it’s sick or because it’s dangerous and roaming.
Humane Society. They will only take a dogs that are hurt or sick. They are private and are a no-kill unless it’s a crazy situation.
Opps for Partnership
- The Humane Society in Memphis has said that while they love us to death, they cannot work with us because we are balanced trainers.
- MAS is a total unorganized mess. Drop off some brochures, and hang some posters, and ask them to pass them out to each new adoption and they miiiight do it. It might be better to just ask the girls up front instead of asking the big decision-makers honestly.
- For rescues, it would be best if we helped their foster families learn how to train dogs themselves so that while they have that dog for 2-4 weeks, they can train it in the basics and thus make it FAR easier to place them in a new home. In exchange, we ask them to promote us to their donors and friends in their emails, newsletter, social posts and website which might generate some leads and also adds to our online domain authority (which helps us rank better in organic searches.)
Breeders
This group, along with trainers, vets and rescues, all think that they are the “true dog experts” and they all have VERY strong opinions about dogs, breeds, breeding, training, dog care, health care and basically every other topic. The online groups for these folks are often quite toxic, judgmental and mean…so you need to be very careful what you say around them about what Wonder Dog believes or does or thinks. We need to just keep it at a minimum that we are in-home dog trainers and that’s about it.
There are supposedly “ethical breeders" and “backyard breeders.” That is, there are people who breed dogs for fun or money (or accidentally) and sell them…and then there are the snobby jerks who think they are God’s gift to dogs actually often really know dogs and dog DNA and dog bloodlines and how to show a dog, etc. However, to this second group, if any dog is bred for any lower motive (fun, profit, etc) than to “better the breed” or if you breed a dog in a manner that is outside their personal methodology or timing, then you are the scum of the earth and they will tell you so. This is just a heads up about how these seemingly sweet, professional people are often meanies in disguise.
Opps for Partnership
- Breeders can hand out our brochures with each new puppy and refer clients to us through brochures, biz cards, fliers, social posts, emails, newsletters and even their website.
- We can introduce them to the products from PawTree.
Dog Sitters VS Dog Walkers Vs Dog Boarders
Dog sitters come to your house each day or stay overnight to ensure that your dogs get water, food, exercise, stimulation, etc. Dog walkers come by your house during the day to let your dog out when you’re at work or have a very busy day. Dog boarders typically take your dog to their home and have your dog stay with them while you’re away.
Opps for Partnership
- They can refer clients to us through brochures, biz cards, fliers, social posts, emails, newsletters and even their website…which we can reciprocate.
- Reach out to them on the apps they work on and let them know that if they refer their clients/customers to us that we will send them a referral fee!
Dog Association/Organization
There are all sorts of dog associations and organizations in town that do shows and events of all kinds. Imagine a local chapter of the American Bulldog Association, or a Dog Cancer Awareness Association, or a Society of Dog Lovers, etc. Like the other rescues and non-profits, we can often give them free programs to help them raise money and in exchange get promoted in their newsletters and emails, Facebook & website, etc.
Trainers - Agility, Obedience, Show, Hunting, etc
Like breeders, this group, along with vets and rescues, all think that they are the “true dog experts” and they all have VERY strong opinions about dogs, breeds, breeding, training, dog care, health care and basically every other topic. These online groups are often quite toxic, judgmental and mean… So you need to be very careful with what you say around them about what Wonder Dog believes or does or thinks. We need to just keep it at a minimum that we are in-home dog trainers and that’s about it.
Opps for Partnership
- They might refer us to their clients for problems in the home that they don’t won’t to or can’t resolve since it would require them leaving their facility to come to the client, or in the case of hunting dogs or others, they maybe don’t know how to resolve the problems that we do.
- We can refer aggressive dogs to some trainers if they handle aggressive dogs.
- We can introduce them to the products from PawTree.
Pet Services & Adjacent Business
Vendors who serve dog families, but don't handle dogs
FEED & SUPPLY COMPANIES
Hollywood Feed and boutiques like Woof Gang Bakery offer animal owners all sorts of feed and gear for their animals.
Opps for Partnership
- Along with many other retailers, they usually have a different type of environment than the typical Walmart or Kroger. They are open to us not only putting up our posters, but they will actually hand out our brochures to all of the customers who buy a choke collar, prong collar or remote collar if you ask them in the right way, emphasizing that it’s about PROTECTING these dogs (so we don’t mention anything about signing them on as clients or anything about money or sales. Its ALL about protecting the dogs from potential abuse.)
Script After Explaining What Makes Us the Safest Dog Trainers: “Some of the other pet supply retailers will give out our brochure to anyone who is asking about or buying a choke collar, prong collar or remote collar since that tells us that they are probably pretty frustrated with their dog and most likely will go home and start using it without watching any videos about proper usage. You only have ONE SHOT to train a dog the right way, right? Is that something that you think your team would consider as a way to HELP US PROTECT THESE DOGS?"
- Please DO NOT mention that we refer people to PawTree!
Property Management or High-End Apartment Complexes
If they have good enough credit to get into a high-end apartment complex or to rent a house from a property management company, then they probably have the credit to use to get approved by our bank as well.
Opps for Partnership
- Drop off brochures to them or hang posters in the leasing office on the community board.
- Like all other partners, they have tenants bring their dogs to live with them, and can get lunch bought for the team when they help us sign on new clients so doing a free lunch and learn might be a good idea with apartment or property management complexes.
Home Service Companies
Companies like the ones listed below all thrive off dog families and would love to work with us to mutually grow together.
- Air duct cleaning (removing pet dander for sensitive respiratory patients)
- Carpet cleaning (removing poo stains and odors)
- Invisible fence providers (installing a barrier around the yard, plus a remote collar, that gives a tap when the dog gets close to exiting)
- Pest control (killing a flea or tick infestation that can’t be contained with DIY products)
- Poop-picker-uppers (removing the poop from your yard a few times a week)
Opps for Partnership
- They are looking for new business just like we are so they all should be willing to work with us.
- Ask them the best way to get referrals because it might not make sense to hand them 10 expensive brochures when they only refer us over the phone, or when their guys are out riding in dirty trucks all day, etc.
- Definitely ask them about the breakfast and learns (before their crews leave for the day) to get the crew involved. Maybe for them, we offer $50 a lead since they all won’t be back to the office for lunch and thus wouldn’t be motivated by that offer?
- They will definitely want to be in our coupon booklet.
- Otherwise, they can generally refer clients to us through brochures, biz cards, fliers, social posts, emails, newsletters and even their website…which we can reciprocate.
- Be sure not to tell the invisible fence reps that we can teach a dog to NOT ever leave the yard or that we can teach a dog to ONLY poop in one part of the yard, because that would eliminate the entire problem that their business is grounded upon!!!
Dog Photography & Paintings
Yes, this is a whole industry! They take pics & paintings of good and bad dogs all the time - in fields, by lakes, in the woods, next to the fireplace, etc. So they might want to know about us and what we do and might want to recommend us to their clients.
Opps for Partnership
- They are looking for new business just like we are!
- Ask them the best way to get referrals because it might not make sense to hand them 10 expensive brochures when they only refer us over the phone, or when their guys are out riding in dirty trucks all day, etc.
- Definitely ask them about the breakfast and learns (before their crews leave for the day) to get the crew involved. Maybe for them, we offer $50 a lead since they all won’t be back to the office for lunch and thus wouldn’t be motivated by that offer?
- They will definitely want to be in our coupon booklet.
- Otherwise, they can generally refer clients to us through brochures, biz cards, fliers, social posts, emails, newsletters and even their website…which we can reciprocate.
Miscellaneous
WD vendors, influencers, festival organizers, etc.
School/Non-Profit (Non-Rescue)
Upper-class private schools and some non-profits will often contact us to donate something for their silent auction. If their donors are the upper-middle-class and upper-class people who tend to buy from us, then we certainly would want to get involved with their auction.
Opps for Partnership
- Offer them our highest off-leash program for free in exchange for promote us to their parents and donors by placing our logo and link in their ads for the auction, in the printed auction program, plus in their emails, newsletter, social posts and website which might generate some leads and also adds to our online domain authority (which helps us rank better in organic searches.)
- AFTER they have already offered to promote us in their newsletter or whatever in exchange for the free donation, we can ask them about sponsorship opportunities around the baseball field. You MUST ask this AFTER they have already offered to promote us, otherwise, this turns into a sales conversation very fast as they are now trying to SELL us promotions. In this case, we would ONLY want a HUGE ad at the back of their baseball stadium (not any of the worthless small ones).
Show/Festival Organizer
These folks are in our Biz Planning file (instead of in our partner database) where the passwords are with all contact info for the company, the website, our client account numbers, our primary contact (if we have one), our username and passwords, etc.
Bloggers/Influencers/Celebrities
These are people who work with the media - radio, TV, podcast, local Instagram or blog personalities - as well as celebrities in the city like the mayor, senator, top business leaders, sports players, entertainers, top dog vets, etc who can promote us to their audiences (email, social posts, etc) and we can promote that we trained their dogs (if they let us).
Dog Experts (Local or National)
These are people that we could have on our podcasts or blogs, or who we could run entire educational series about to our clients.
Sports Organizations
Most sports organizations do doggy days, so we could do a Tribe event where we go to an event with the Tribe! We could also try to sponsor the Dog Day events for the organizations.
WD Vendor (Local) - coupon booklet
We could invite the partners in the network to offer freebies and coupons to the people who get the booklets.
WD Vendor (Non-Local) - swag vendors, printing, ad networks, collars, etc.
Restaurants (not tracked in our database)
Many coffee shops, sandwich shops, donuts shops & Mexican restaurants will have a wall, window or community board upon which we can post business cards, fliers and larger posters. In most cases, there is no need to ask permission unless it's so small that the worker is right there where you are posting it so just walk back there and add yours to the others.
Put it in a prominent place on the board, eye-level if possible and the bigger the poster, the better. Then go by once a month to see if you need to replace it. To save on time, hit the popular ones first. Note: Since they are not actually recommending us, there is no real need to thank them or give them gifts for deals that came from there.