- Khadija
- Boarding Pet Care, kennel CRM, kennel management, Kennel Management Software
- 0 Comments
- 767 Views
For pet kennels and pet care businesses, seasonal swings aren’t just about warmer weather and holiday rushes—they’re about managing sudden surges in furry guests with just the right team in place. Hiring temporary staff may look simple, but ensuring the process is effective is not always easy. That’s an art form. Suppose you want to deliver exceptional care without stretching your team too thin. In that case, it’s time to rethink how you handle seasonal staffing, with help from the proper kennel management and pet boarding scheduling software.
Best Practices for Modern Kennel and Boarding Pet Care Facilities
Let’s dive into the best practices every modern kennel and boarding facility should follow.
1. Forecast Your Busy Seasons Early
The first step to innovative seasonal staffing? Plan and ask yourself:
- When does business spike the most? (Summer vacations? Holiday travel?)
- How long does the busy period typically last?
- How much extra staff did you need last year, and was it enough?
Use your kennel booking system and built-in analytics from your dog or boarding kennel management software to spot patterns. The earlier you can predict demand, the more time you’ll have to recruit and train without last-minute stress.
If you’re running multiple services—like pet daycare, training, or grooming—integrating your forecasts through an all-in-one pet care business software platform gives a complete view of staffing needs across departments.
Once your peak periods are identified, build a year-round staffing calendar using a kennel management system. Mark out when to start advertising, interview deadlines, training sessions, and onboarding goals.
2. Build a Seasonal Hiring Pool
Imagine having a trusted bench of trained, enthusiastic staff ready to jump in when things get hectic. This is why building a trustworthy source of potential employees is valuable.
Start by keeping in touch with past seasonal workers. Many are happy to return year after year if their experience was positive. Use your kennel CRM to tag, organize, and communicate with seasonal hires so you never have to start from scratch.
Add an ongoing application form on your website—connected to your cloud-based kennel software—so interested applicants can express availability anytime. This provides flexibility and ensures you’re always building a talent pipeline. Boarding software for pet businesses can also help you track seasonal staff performance and customer feedback from previous years, making rehiring decisions easier and smarter.
3. Write Job Descriptions That Attract the Right Talent
Your job postings should do more than list duties—they should sell the experience. Temporary workers want to know they’re joining a fun, fulfilling environment. Use your dog daycare software to publish openings across platforms, then craft engaging job descriptions. Highlight perks like working with animals, flexible hours, paid training, or pet-care discounts.
Mention tools and software they’ll learn to use, like your dog training business software or dog grooming software, as these may appeal to candidates pursuing a long-term pet-care career. Remember to include opportunities for advancement, such as potential full-time roles within your kennel management system or a growing pet-care company.
4. Speed Up the Interview Process
In seasonal hiring, speed is key. Quality candidates may accept another job within days. You need a streamlined system that is ideally managed within your kennel CRM.
Use your kennel booking system to auto-respond to applicants and schedule interviews directly. Offer video interviews to save time and expand your candidate reach. Use consistent, role-specific questions to compare applicants fairly.
Review their flexibility when dealing with different dog breeds and personalities. Even if someone lacks experience with a veterinary clinic or animal shelter management system, their enthusiasm and trainability can make them a seasonal superstar.
5. Invest in Effective Pet Care Training
Short-term staff need quality onboarding to provide consistent care and protect your reputation. Skimping here can create more problems than it solves. Create a seasonal staff bootcamp that covers:
- Cleaning and safety procedures
- Dog behavior basics
- Emergency protocols
- Proper use of your pet daycare software or dog kennel software
- Communication etiquette with pet parents
Use your cloud-based kennel software to assign digital training, track progress, and test comprehension. Let new hires observe what seasoned team members do while on the job. Ensuring they’re comfortable using the kennel management system helps them hit the ground running.
6. Make Seasonal Staff Feel Valued
One of the biggest mistakes pet-care businesses make? Treating seasonal workers like outsiders. Boost retention and performance by integrating them into your culture. Ideas to try:
- Kick off the season with a welcome orientation.
- Provide branded swag like shirts, notebooks, or treats.
- Acknowledge wins during team huddles.
- Use your kennel CRM to send personalized thank-you notes or gift cards.
Celebrating wins with your seasonal staff, tracked through your pet care business software, creates positive experiences. Staff happiness leads to pet and client happiness.
7. Collect Feedback to Improve Year After Year
Before your seasonal team finishes their final shift, make it a priority to gather feedback. These insights can help refine everything from recruiting to training next year. Create a simple feedback survey for pet businesses using your boarding software. Ask:
- What did they enjoy most?
- What challenges did they face?
- How could the onboarding process improve?
Exit interviews—whether in person or digital—help staff feel heard and appreciated. Plus, you’ll gather insights to refine your process with every new season.
8. Leverage Software to Automate Pet Care
Running a modern kennel or cattery during peak seasons can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to. Using the right technology, such as:
- Kennel management software for staff coordination
- Dog daycare software for activity tracking
- Pet boarding scheduling software for managing appointments
- Cattery management systems for feline-specific care
- Veterinary clinic management systems for health tracking
You’ll not only stay organized, but also improve your staff’s performance and your customers’ experience. Look for platforms integrating CRM, scheduling, payments, and reporting into one seamless cloud-based kennel software solution. You can handle peak seasons like a pro with thoughtful planning, consistent training, and the right pet care business software. Build your team confidently with Gigasol, deliver exceptional daily care, and make your busiest season the best.
