Samantha

Duncan’s Dog Daycare (DDD) became Madison, Wisconsin’s first structured dog daycare built on a holistic approach—caring for each dog’s body, mind, spirit, and overall wellness.

My journey started long before I opened my business, with my first dog, Duncan. He was my “heart dog”—the kind of once-in-a-lifetime soul connection that changes you forever. I’ve always loved dogs and grew up with many, but I never imagined working with them professionally until my passion for government work began to fade and I knew I needed a change.

While working in government, I struggled to find a daycare where I truly felt safe leaving Duncan. When I couldn’t find what I was looking for, I realized I could create something better—not just for myself, but for other devoted dog moms (and dads) seeking that same peace of mind. After many nights and weekends of taking business classes, learning from mentors, and gaining hands-on experience, I followed my dream and opened DDD in early 2020—just as the pandemic began. It was a difficult start, but not even a global crisis could stop this dream.

These last 6 years have been the hardest years of my life. Everyone said owning a business is hard, it takes a lot of sacrifices, etc. but no one prepared me for the struggles I would face trying to keep my business open during a pandemic. Even though it has been hard, I have no regrets. It has made me learn quickly, adapt, grow, accept, change, and truly understand how strong I am and how much I believe in myself/my dream. I am on my path and fulfilling my purpose in life, to impact people through their dogs.