The Dog Stop® In The News

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PRESS RELEASESThe Dog Stop® Signs Deal for First Arizona Location

The one-stop-shop for dog care continues franchise expansion by signing its first development deal in the Phoenix metro area.

(PRESS RELEASE) PITTSBURGH, PA — The Dog Stop®, the all-inclusive and award-winning dog care brand rapidly expanding across the U.S., announced its entry into Arizona with its first location set to open in the Phoenix metropolitan area in fall 2025, marking a significant step in the brand’s continued nationwide expansion. As one of the fastest growing states in the nation, Arizona has an increasing demand for pet services, and The Dog Stop® is eager to meet that need by expanding its franchise presence statewide.

The location will be owned and operated by Jonah Mars, who brings a strong background in accounting and finance, along with a lifelong passion for dogs. After earning his MBA from Arizona State University in 2022, Mars spent the past three years in fund accounting for a renewable energy company. While he found success in the field, he was drawn to franchise ownership for a more exciting and fulfilling career, one that aligned with his love for animals. Discovering The Dog Stop®, he fell in love with the brand’s one-stop-shop model and ability to provide top-notch care for all facets of a dog’s need. Looking ahead, he plans to expand The Dog Stop®’s presence in Arizona by opening additional locations in the Valley, and hopes to connect with his community by partnering with local shelters and hosting adoption events.

“I’m excited to bring The Dog Stop® to Arizona and introduce local pet owners to everything we have to offer,” said Mars. “Phoenix is one of the largest and fastest-growing cities in the country, and with so many dog owners here, there’s a real need for high-quality, all-in-one pet care. Whether it’s daycare, boarding, grooming, or retail, we want to be the trusted partner for dogs and their families in the community.”

As The Dog Stop® expands into the Southwest, Arizona represents a prime market for growth. With its year-round warm climate, active outdoor lifestyle, and high number of pet-friendly households, the state is a natural fit for The Dog Stop®’s full-service approach to dog care. The brand is actively seeking franchise partners to continue its expansion in cities across Arizona, including Tucson and Flagstaff.

“Bringing The Dog Stop® to Arizona is an exciting step in our national expansion strategy,” said Jesse Coslov, CEO and Co-Founder of The Dog Stop®. “As more pet owners seek high-quality, comprehensive care for their dogs, we’re committed to growing in communities where we can make the biggest impact. Phoenix is just the beginning, and we look forward to establishing a strong presence across the state.”

Owned and operated by dog people since 2009, The Dog Stop® understands the complex process involved in dog care and knows that there is no such thing as a one size fits all approach. At The Dog Stop®, expert staff at each location stay up-to-date on the ever-changing science that applies to dog care, behavior, grooming, and nutrition. Its one-stop-shop offers pet care products and supplies, with each item on its shelves the latest and greatest in its respective category, ensuring that every dog who stops by receives the very best treatment.

The Dog Stop® is now actively seeking single and multi-unit operators throughout Arizona who can be semi-absentee, are passionate about dogs, and will go above and beyond to exceed the needs of their customers. Benefits of this franchise opportunity include comprehensive support from the corporate team, as well as technology to streamline training and customer service.

With a focus on growth and a dedication to its mission, The Dog Stop® is poised to lead the pet care industry in 2025 and beyond. For more information regarding The Dog Stop® or its franchise opportunities, visit here.

About The Dog Stop®

Founded in 2009 and franchising since 2013, The Dog Stop® has been winning over dogs and their owners with their all-inclusive facility complete with playtime-focused daycare, spa-style grooming, year-round overnight boarding, individualized training and enrichment activities, and a natural pet retail store that carries the best products all run and managed by highly-trained staff. Each component is catered to personally stimulate every dog’s physical and mental needs, ensuring they leave happier and healthier. The Dog Stop® currently serves dogs and owners in 39 locations across 15 states, with over 50 new locations coming soon. For more information, go to https://thedogstop.com/.

The Dog Stop® Wraps Up 2024 With Record Success and Exciting Growth Plans for 2025

The one-stop-shop for dog care reflects on a year of remarkable achievements and gears up to bring its services to more pet lovers in the coming year.

(PRESS RELEASE) PITTSBURGH, PA — The Dog Stop® – the all-inclusive and award-winning dog care brand rapidly expanding across the U.S – is celebrating its most successful year yet in 2024, setting the stage for even greater achievements in 2025. With a focus on innovation, franchise development, and a mission to provide exceptional care for all dogs, The Dog Stop® continues to redefine the standards of the pet care industry.

Milestones Achieved in 2024
This year, The Dog Stop® saw unprecedented growth, opening three times more locations than any previous year in the company’s history, with new stores launched in major markets including Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, and Chicago. The company exceeded its franchise development goal of selling 40 territories, setting a new benchmark for success. In total, 12 locations opened across Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, and Colorado, with 13 additional locations set to open soon in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Texas, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Oregon, California, Virginia, and Illinois.

“The consistent efforts of our team, systemized processes, strong unit economics, and superior service offerings have fueled our record-breaking success,” said Jesse Coslov, CEO and Co-Founder of The Dog Stop®. “Our commitment to meeting the needs of all dogs and their owners continues to set us apart in the industry.”

Innovations and Enhancements
In 2024, The Dog Stop® introduced several key advancements to enhance both the customer and franchisee experience:

New Point-of-Sale System: Streamlining operations with a single platform that integrates 6-8 essential business technologies, offering customers seamless online booking through the mobile app, website, and social media.
Expanded Membership Options: The launch of new Happy Healthy Pup Memberships complements The Dog Stop®’s popular Daycare Membership program, providing added value to customers while bolstering franchisee stability.
Enhanced Dog Care Services: Addition of healthy pup check-ups and monthly weight monitoring as part of membership packages adds value for clients, creating loyalty and repeat visits for franchisees.

Recognition and Leadership
In 2024, The Dog Stop® was named one of Inc. Magazine’s 5000 Fastest-Growing Companies for the third consecutive year, rising more than 1,000 places in the rankings. The company also continued to build out its leadership team, bringing in franchise and dog care experts with proven track records in scaling successful brands.

Setting the Stage for 2025
Building on its record-breaking success in 2024, The Dog Stop® is gearing up for broader expansion and innovation in the year ahead. The brand plans to double its 2024 store openings, bringing The Dog Stop® to major markets potentially in California, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Texas, Arizona, Massachusetts, and in all NFL and major metro cities nationwide. With over 600 available territories, franchise development goals include signing 50 franchise deals for a total of 100 new units as The Dog Stop® continues its mission to make exceptional dog care accessible to more communities across the country.

The Dog Stop® is committed to continuing to refine its customer experience through expanded membership offerings, enhanced digital services, and innovative care options tailored to meet the needs of all dogs. “Dog care isn’t one-size-fits-all, and The Dog Stop® is proud to provide personalized care solutions that address the diverse needs of pet owners across the U.S.,” added Jesse Coslov.

With a focus on growth and a dedication to its mission, The Dog Stop® is poised to lead the pet care industry into 2025 and beyond. For more information regarding The Dog Stop® or its franchise opportunities, visit https://thedogstop.com.

About The Dog Stop®

Founded in 2009 and franchising since 2013, The Dog Stop® has been winning over dogs and their owners with their all-inclusive facility complete with spa-style grooming, year-round boarding, individualized training, playtime-focused daycare, and a natural pet retail store that carries ranked products all run by highly-qualified staff. Each component is catered to personally stimulate every dog’s physical and mental needs, ensuring they leave happier and healthier. The Dog Stop® currently serves dogs and owners in 33 locations across 14 states, with over 50 new locations coming soon. For more information, go to https://thedogstop.com/.

The Dog Stop® Welcomes New Leadership

February 26, 2025 // Franchising.com // PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Dog Stop® is proud to announce the addition of several crucial leaders to its corporate team. The brand has welcomed Jeff Farnell as VP of Operations, John Henning as Director of Franchise Development, Megan Allen as Director of Real Estate and Construction, and Nancy Purvis as Franchise Support Manager, and looks forward to benefiting from their decades of experience in franchising, operations, and pet care.

With over 20 years of experience in the franchising and dog care industries, Jeff Farnell has a proven track record of supporting operational growth and franchise success, having previously led an operations team responsible for scaling another dog care brand to over 250 units nationwide. As a dog parent himself, Farnell’s passion for delivering an exceptional experience for dogs and their owners aligns perfectly with The Dog Stop®’s mission to provide a one-stop solution for all dog care needs. As Vice President of Operations, he’s thrilled to join a standout team as they work to optimize and scale operations to drive superior results for franchisees.

“I’m thrilled to join The Dog Stop® and work alongside a visionary Founder and CEO like Jesse Coslov and his talented team,” said Farnell. “The brand’s one-stop solution for pet parents—offering daycare, boarding, grooming, retail, and training. I’m excited to leverage technology to streamline operations for franchisees and drive growth while staying true to our core values of integrity, performance, and dedicated support. I look forward to contributing to the success of our franchisees, employees, and the communities we serve.”

Megan Allen has joined The Dog Stop® to lead the Real Estate and Construction department, bringing with her two decades of experience in franchising and a deep understanding of the pet care industry. She began her career in franchising at 17, quickly rising through the ranks to become COO of another dog care brand, where she spent 12 years helping to develop over 150 locations. Her expertise in real estate, franchise development, and data-driven decision-making positions her to help franchisees navigate site selection and create long-term wealth through profitable investments. Allen is dedicated to strengthening franchisee support, building a collaborative community of owners, recruiting the right ownership groups for the brand, and guiding them in securing prime real estate locations. Under her leadership, The Dog Stop® will continue to prioritize integrity, performance, and exceptional pet care, ensuring its franchisees and the communities they serve thrive.

Boasting 21 years in franchise development, John Henning most recently successfully grew a furniture retail concept from 50 locations in one state to 285 locations across 29 states in just two years. In addition to his passion for the dog care industry, being a dog dad himself, his ability to attract and support the right franchise owners makes him a tremendous asset to The Dog Stop®. Henning looks forward to doubling franchise sales as the Director of Franchise Development by building a talented team and implementing innovative marketing initiatives to owners who align with the company’s goals.

Nancy Purvis, a hospitality industry veteran and former multi-unit franchise owner in the dog care industry, looks forward to helping The Dog Stop® grow as their new Franchise Support Manager. Purvis brings firsthand knowledge of franchisee needs to her role at The Dog Stop®; having owned and operated four dog care locations for over 15 years, earning numerous awards and serving on advisory boards. After selling her locations and taking a brief break from the industry, she found herself ready to take on a new role that allowed her to leverage her vast knowledge and experience, and provide new franchisees the support she was looking for when she opened her first location. Working with the franchisees from signing to opening, she plans to emphasize the importance of putting dogs first in every decision to ensure they provide the highest quality of care. o succeed as the brand continues to grow.

Led by Founder and CEO Jesse Coslov, The Dog Stop® leadership team is united by a shared vision to uphold The Dog Stop®’s core values of integrity, superior performance, and dedicated support for franchisees and the communities they serve. Together, they aim to:

Expand The Dog Stop®’s presence.
Enhance franchisee training and operational support to drive profitability.
Utilize innovative technology to streamline operations and improve customer experience.
Maintain excellence in pet care by prioritizing the well-being of every dog entrusted to their facilities.

“We are thrilled to welcome these four outstanding leaders to The Dog Stop®’s already stellar executive team as we continue to work towards our mission,” said Jesse Coslov. “Each of them brings unique expertise and a deep passion for excellence, which aligns perfectly with our vision for the brand’s future. The Dog Stop®’s leadership will be instrumental in enhancing our operations, expanding our footprint, and ensuring we deliver the best possible experience for our franchisees as well as dogs and their families across the country. This is an exciting new chapter for our brand, and I couldn’t be more confident in the team we have in place to drive our success.”

The Dog Stop® Announces New Location Coming to Lake Charles

The Dog Stop® is poised to open a new location in Lake Charles. Located at 3507 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, LA 70605, the new facility is the brand’s fifth location in Louisiana. The doors opened for services in August with a Grand Opening Celebration set to take place in September, promising a full range of services designed to enrich every facet of a dog’s life.

To ensure the highest quality service for dogs in the community, The Dog Stop® Lake Charles will be welcoming the talented team from Ace and Chanti’s. The local grooming salon closed their doors this summer, and will be joining The Dog Stop®’s growing family and supporting the new facility. The brand-new one-stop-shop for dog care fills a niche in the market with their all-inclusive services, including holistic retail, luxury boarding accommodations, an interactive and social daycare experience, spa-like grooming, and more. With four other successful locations in Louisiana, The Dog Stop® has established themselves in the state, and is now ready to provide Lake Charles pet parents with their high-quality services.

“We are thrilled to be welcoming the incredible team from Ace and Chanti’s to The Dog Stop® community,” said Shawn Nunez, local owner of The Dog Stop® Lake Charles. “This is an amazing opportunity to maintain their expertise and uphold the sense of community they’ve built with loyal dog owners. We look forward to opening our doors to returning furry friends and new ones, and commit to upholding the high-quality care and services they have come to expect.”

Nunez, a Lake Charles local, chose to open The Dog Stop® after his community was hit by a major hurricane. Like many others, he adopted a dog during the COVID-19 pandemic, only a month before the hurricane struck. Nunez and his dog, Zeus, suffered damage to their home, and had to live out of town while it was repaired. During that time, Nunez sought to find a place that Zeus could go to while he was at work, and was introduced to dog boarding and daycare. Recognizing a need for these services in his own community, he began researching options and discovered The Dog Stop®. He was impressed by the brand’s streamlined model and commitment to excellent dog care services, and hopes to eventually open more locations in the Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas communities.

“I chose to join The Dog Stop® team to fill a gap in the dog care industry in my home town of Lake Charles,” said Nunez. “The brand’s proven business structure as an all-inclusive facility is extremely beneficial and rewarding. The ability of having a location where relationships can be built between local dog owners and The Dog Stop® team is unlike anything we have in the community, and I look forward to bringing this to Lake Charles.”

Owned and operated by dog people since 2009, The Dog Stop® understands the complex process involved in dog care and knows that there is no such thing as a one size fits all approach. At The Dog Stop®, expert staff at each location stay up-to-date on the ever-changing science that applies to dog care, behavior, grooming, and nutrition. A one-stop-shop also offering pet care products and supplies, each item on its shelves is the latest and greatest in its respective category, ensuring that each dog who stops by receives the very best treatment.

“Partnering with passionate franchisees is key to our mission and expansion plans,” said Jesse Coslov, CEO and Co-Founder of The Dog Stop®. “We are thrilled to now be partnering with Shawn.”

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Awards

The Dog Stop® Named to 2023 Inc 500 List – News Coverage

PetAge – published August 29, 2023 (scroll down for article)

Franchising.com- published August 30, 2023 (scroll down for article)

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Franchise Investor News

Business Financing Mistakes to Avoid When Purchasing a Franchise

Investing in a franchise with the same solid onboarding and ongoing strategy as The Dog Stop® lets you open a business without having to start from scratch. The franchisor should provide you with all the tools and training you need to achieve success and to remain successful.

One of the first things you can do as a franchisee is to avoid common financing mistakes that put your store at risk.

Franchise Financing Pitfall #1: Not Exploring All of Your Options

Always shop around for financing options. While many franchisors offer their own financing, this doesn’t necessarily mean they offer the best rates. Franchisor-funded financing also tends to come with restrictions, such as covering only start-up costs and nothing else.

To successfully open your own franchise store, you’ll need to cover start-up and operational costs, which usually include:

Real estate for store location
Professional services from architects and designers
Supplies and equipment
Furniture and fixtures
Employee hiring and training
Advertising
Working capital
Insurance

As you explore financing options to cover all of these expenses, write down the pros and cons of each type. You’ll discover some financing options provide flexibility in how you can use the funds, making it simple to choose a solution that best meets your franchising needs.

Some of the most common ways that people fund a franchise purchase include:

Personal loans
Home equity loans
SBA loans
Borrow money from friends or family
401(k) rollover
In-house financing

Franchise Financing Pitfall #2: Financing a Fad

Don’t invest in a franchise that represents a fad. Fads are great when they are in, but as soon as they lose mainstream interest, they fall by the wayside, as do any franchise companies that represent the fad. Fortunately, most established franchises have tried-and-true methods of operation, but you’ll still need to do research to ensure you’re investing in a company with a track record of success.

The Dog Stop® opened its doors in 2009 and has since delivered first-class dog daycare, boarding, training, retail products, and grooming services in a safe environment. We don’t operate in a fad industry, which has allowed us to provide peace of mind to thousands of dog owners. The Dog Stop® Difference and has helped us build a proven record of success that keeps customers coming back while attracting more and more new franchisees on a regular basis.

Franchise Financing Pitfall #3: Not Securing Enough Financing

To help you compare franchises, most franchisors will specify how much cash you’ll need on hand. However, the total cost of buying the franchise and getting it up and running typically far exceeds the franchisor’s estimate.

Don’t let this unknown frustrate you. Instead, borrow more than you think you’ll need. Having more is always better than running into the headache of not having enough. For some franchisees, not having enough capital is the difference between losing their investment and keeping their business doors open.

Franchise Financing Pitfall #4: Waiting Until the Last Minute

Taking time to shop for funding options is key to your overall return on investment. You’re less likely to sign an unfavorable financing contract if you avoid waiting until the last minute to secure funding.

Giving yourself plenty of time to shop for funding is also important for timing purposes. It can take months for financing paperwork to go through. If you’re not careful, you may find yourself missing out on profitable franchise opportunities.

Additionally, having your funding in place helps ensure you pick the right franchise option. You’ll have less stress on your mind as you explore different franchises, giving you more confidence in the final choice you make.

The Dog Stop®: Want Start Your Own Franchise?

Are you ready to open your own franchise store? We already have 24 store locations in 12 states, with 50 new stores opening soon. If you need more information, get in touch with us today. Send us your comment or question and receive a response within 48 hours.

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