Want More Time, Happier Clients, AND a Bigger Paycheck? Here’s How Automation Can Help Your Pet Business with Ines McNeil from The Modern Dog Trainer

Feeling overwhelmed with all of the client messages, onboarding steps, and never-ending to-dos?

From onboarding new clients to sending post-visit emails, staying on top of every little detail can feel like a full-time job. But what if you could save hours every week and create a better client experience? That’s where automation comes in.

In this episode of The Pet Marketing Unleashed Podcast, I chat with Ines McNeil, CPDT-KA and founder of The Modern Dog Trainer, who shares how pet business owners—especially dog trainers—can use automation to save time, reduce burnout, and serve clients better without losing the personal touch.

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Meet Ines McNeil of The Modern Dog Trainer

Ines started The Modern Dog Trainer as a blog documenting her own training journey. Over time, it evolved into a go-to resource for professional dog trainers who want to run smarter businesses. She now helps pet pros build sustainable systems that support their growth, using her background in both dog training and business coaching.

Why automation matters in the pet industry

When you’re juggling scheduling, contracts, marketing, and client communication, it’s easy to get buried in admin work. Ines explains that automation reduces this manual workload, sometimes by as much as 10+ hours per week! That’s time you can spend with clients, pets, or even just enjoying a break.

And automation isn’t about removing the human element. As Ines says:

“Automation doesn’t remove you from the equation—it makes your one-on-one experience exponentially accessible.”

Common roadblocks automation can solve for pet businesses

Pet business owners are not fully using the tools they already have. From client management systems to email marketing platforms, many petpreneurs only tap into a small percentage of what’s possible. Instead of jumping to new tools, Ines recommends fully exploring the ones you already use—you might be surprised by what they can do.

3 areas where automation can have an immediate impact on your pet business

1. Email Marketing

It’s far from dead! Setting up an automated welcome sequence helps introduce potential clients to your business without you needing to send every email manually.

2. Client Onboarding

Help clients feel supported from the moment they book with you. Automate contracts, consult scheduling, vaccination reminders, and more to create a professional, stress-free experience.

3. Client Offboarding

So many pet business owners stop the client experience at the last session. But automating your offboarding can be just as impactful. From testimonial requests to thank-you emails or rebooking reminders, Ines encourages thinking of offboarding as a way to deepen client relationships and bring them back again and again.

4. Social Media Messaging

Use automated replies to respond to DMs and inquiries instantly—even when you’re off the clock. This keeps you from losing leads to someone faster.

How automation enhances pet business onboarding (and sets the tone)

When clients book a service, they want to know what’s next—immediately. Ines explains how automating your onboarding experience ensures clients feel cared for and informed right away. Whether it’s sending a contract, setting up consult reminders, or collecting forms and vaccination records, automation builds trust and reduces back-and-forth emails.

What automation means for your time and profit

By saving you time on repetitive tasks, automation allows you to either serve more clients or simply reclaim your time. Ines gives the example of automating post-lesson homework, which is something that once took trainers hours each week. Now? It’s handled in a client portal or handbook, freeing up time for other revenue-generating activities.

Ines McNeil’s favorite automation tools for beginners (plus a few of our own favorites!)

Ines recommends starting with tools you already use—and we couldn’t agree more. Before diving into something new, explore all the features of your existing platforms. You might be surprised at how much they can do.

That said, when you’re ready to expand, here are a few trusted favorites:

• Zapier: Connects thousands of apps so you can automate everything from forms to follow-ups.

• Dubsado: A powerful CRM for managing client workflows, proposals, contracts, and more. We HIGHLY recommend this for 1:1 dog training programs. We use Dubsado every single day at Pet Marketing Unleashed, and love it so much! It's HUGE for automation and time savings. Use the link below and get 20% OFF your first month or year!

• Flodesk: A visually stunning and simple platform for email marketing and automations. It works perfectly for pet business monthly newsletters and automated welcome sequences. Use our code UNLEASHED to try Flodesk for 14 days free AND get 50% off your first FULL year!
  

💡 Disclosure: Some links above are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission (at no cost to you) if you choose to purchase through them. We only share tools we genuinely love and recommend to our clients.

Want to explore all our favorite tools and discounts? Head to the Pet Marketing Unleashed Tools Page!

Automation doesn’t have to feel robotic

Worried automation will make your business feel cold or impersonal? It doesn’t have to. You can add warmth and personality with videos, customized messages, and strategic touchpoints. Ines even shares how you can personalize emails with pet names, birthdays, and more to create a high-touch feel that builds connection—not distance.

And here’s a bonus: automating internal tasks (like reminding yourself to follow up with a client) keeps you more consistent, too.

What to avoid when implementing automation

A few mistakes to watch for:

• Timing errors: Make sure emails or forms aren’t sent to the wrong people or at the wrong times.

• Glitches: Test your workflows regularly—at least monthly—to catch any issues early.

• “Set it and forget it” mindset: Automations should evolve with your business, especially as tools update or your services shift.
  

If you’re ready to dip your toes into automation, Ines recommends starting with a freebie and welcome email sequence. It’s one of the easiest, most effective ways to build relationships and grow your client base on autopilot.

Many pet pros hesitate to automate because they feel like they’re giving up control or losing that personal touch. But as Ines says, when you let go of the admin work, you open yourself up to focus on the parts of your business that truly need you. It’s not about removing yourself—it’s about scaling your presence with intention.

“Automation is already everywhere. Your clients are used to it. And when done well, it makes your business feel even more professional and personal.” - Ines

If you’re ready to save time, reduce burnout, and improve your client experience, automation might just be the next best move for your pet biz.

Ready to hand off your automations to an expert?

If this episode has you thinking, “Okay, I need to automate, but I don’t want to DIY it…” you’re in luck! Visit The Modern Dog Trainer to learn more about Ines McNeil. You can also explore Ines’s Effortless Automation Services to get hands-on support setting up or maintaining your automations. She’ll help you save time, boost your profits, and free up mental space—without sacrificing the personal touch that makes your business special.

At Pet Marketing Unleashed, we help pet business owners like you build brands and websites that actually work—saving you time, booking more of your dream clients, and reducing all that back-and-forth.

Whether you're ready for a website that works on autopilot, a strategic onboarding system, or done-for-you templates that help you implement it all faster, we’ve got you covered.

Here’s how we can support your next step:

• 💻 Website Templates: SEO-friendly, easy-to-customize Wix templates built just for pet businesses—with onboarding tools, copywriting guidance, and more baked in.

• 📥 Seamless Onboarding Masterclass: Learn how to create a smooth client experience using automation and workflows.

• 🛠 PMU Tools Page: Our curated list of favorite platforms (with exclusive discounts!) to help simplify your business systems.