Most people who open a pet business are fueled by a true passion, but many of them really don’t understand all the underlying necessities for being able to start and grow a successful business,” says Eileen “Top Dog” Proctor intently. “I’ve been there, done that, and I want to share what I have learned with others to help them avoid the pitfalls that I have experienced and for them to be able to have faster success. I want to help them achieve their dreams and serve the pet parents and pets in their areas.”

Eileen Proctor’s mantra is “I help petpreneurs (entrepreneurs in the pet industry) to sniff out opportunities, dig a little deeper, get that all-important leg up on the competition, and position themselves as leader of the pack.” If you spend just five minutes with Eileen Proctor and experience her enthusiasm, passion, pioneering spirit, business acumen, wisdom, wit, and energy, you will understand why Eileen Proctor is called the Top Dog.

“I’ve always been a Fido Fanatic,” confesses Eileen as she flashes a contagious smile. “I don’t believe I was born; I believe I was whelped and probably had past lives as a dog. I have such an affinity for, love of, and deep understanding of dogs. It goes far beyond being a dog lover.”

While she was growing up, Eileen knew that she wanted to do something with animals and pets, but as it turned out, Eileen found herself with a corporate marketing career, climbing the ladder in a Fortune 100 company. Eileen advanced, receiving promotion after promotion – but something was missing, and Eileen was not happy. “I needed something to feed my soul. I really wanted to work with animals,” confesses Eileen. “The truth is I would rather kiss a dog on the mouth than a boss on the behind.”

During the 1990s, a phenomenon happened in the pet care industry – doggie daycare, and it changed Eileen’s career path. Doggie daycare got its start in San Francisco, California, as a way to help increase pet adoptions. This totally new concept enabled pet owners to have a place where their newly adopted precious pets could socialize, romp and play, and be cared for during the day while the owners were at work – instead of the pet being home alone.

At the time, Eileen was living in Phoenix, Arizona, the sixth largest city in the United States. She saw how doggie daycare was sweeping other parts of the nation, but there were no doggie daycares anywhere in the Phoenix area. “I decided to pioneer this industry in Phoenix and to make life better for the dogs and the people who love them,” says Eileen emphatically. She then added, “There’s no second opportunity to be first!

In October of 2000, Eileen opened It’s a Ruff Life Dog Daycare and Activity Center. “It became one of the most respected pet services companies in the country,” Eileen says. Soon Eileen had multiple locations and added services like grooming (bow-wow beautification centers), training, and other services to appeal to and cater to the needs of loving pet parents.

In the beginning, Eileen had to overcome various obstacles and work through some difficult challenges. “Being first has its benefits, but it also has its pitfalls,” says Eileen. “People knew what boarding kennels were, but they didn’t understand the concept of doggie daycare. You’ve got to be able to educate your target market about the services you offer and what you do and also about what you do not do.

“The second challenge is to get the word out about your business with a very limited marketing budget. Most people who start a business are underfunded. I learned how to develop creative and very effective low-cost/no-cost marketing methods and tools.

“One of my biggest issues was learning how to recruit, train, motivate, and retain a proper staff,” continues Eileen. “When you are dealing with the precious lives of the four-legged family members, you can’t have unqualified or undependable people on your staff.

“We were emulated by many organizations, and I became a mentor to others who wanted to open pet service companies,” says Eileen. “That’s when my career as a pet industry expert em‘bark’ed. I found that helping these new petpreneurs was really what I wanted to do. I wanted to help them to be able to start and expand and actualize their dreams of a pet business.”

“I sold my chain of doggie daycares and went full time into my company, Top Dog Business Boosters,” says Eileen. “It’s a business development company that caters specifically to the distinctive requirements of people in the pet industry.”

Through Top Dog Business Boosters, Eileen shares her expertise with others. By training them and giving them information about marketing, customer acquisition and retention, strategic alliances, and getting the media to spread the word about their businesses – Eileen gives them the tools necessary to create a thriving business.

Eileen has earned the title of America’s Canine Connection Coach. She is a professional speaker at conventions and trade shows. She has her own radio show (Tawkin’ Dawg on Castle Rock Internet radio). Eileen is a frequent guest on television, radio, newspaper, and magazines, and she has a TV show in development right now.

Eileen is also known as the Voice of Pet Rescue. She does a lot of pro “bone-o” work to raise awareness about the needs of homeless pets and works tirelessly for the underdog. One of the fundraisers that Eileen created is an annual event called the Bowl-A-Rama for Animal Rescue. To date it has raised over $2 million for animal welfare organizations in the Phoenix area.

Eileen will be the keynote speaker at the 2013 Pet Boarding & Daycare Expo in Baltimore, Maryland, this November 11th through the 14th. Her exciting, educational, and entertaining keynote address will “Unleash Your Passion – From the Boardroom and Boredom to Biscuits, Balls, and Belly Rubs.” Her presentation will prove invaluable for people who are starting out or thinking about a pet business and for those who have been involved in their pet business for a while and feel like they are starting to burnout. Eileen will help you re-ignite the passion that drew you to the pet world in the first place. She will share her wealth of knowledge and years of experience as she presents several seminars during the expo.

Successful business owners know that you can’t be one-dimensional, and you certainly can’t do it alone. Eileen will show you how to take a look at everything around you, align yourself appropriately, find your mission, then find the individuals and businesses that will help you get to where you want to be to fulfill your vision and mission.

If you are ready to become the leader of your pack, come to the 2013 Pet Boarding & Daycare Expo in Baltimore, Maryland, from November 11–14 to see and hear the “Top Dog” Eileen Proctor. Learn how you can become a Top Dog, too!

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