The Dog Stop
The Dog Stop is a privately held Pittsburgh-based pet care franchisor operating 47+ locations across 17 states, offering an integrated bundle of dog daycare, boarding, grooming, training, and retail services unified by a proprietary management software platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersMonroeville, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Dog Stop does
The Dog Stop is a privately held pet care franchisor founded in 2009 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by Jesse Coslov. The company sells and supports a standardized, all-inclusive dog care concept delivered through independently owned franchise locations across the United States. As of June 2026, the network comprised more than 47 locations across 17 states, up from 25 locations in 12 states within a few years prior, with a stated long-term goal of at least 100 locations nationwide.
Each franchise location offers an integrated bundle of five core services: dog daycare, boarding, grooming, training, and retail (premium foods, treats, and supplies), plus add-on offerings such as in-home pet sitting/dog walking and premium "Delights" activity packages. The platform is unified by a proprietary Pet Care Management Software (PCMS) that consolidates client records, reservations, POS reporting, retail sales, grooming history, medical information, and veterinarian contact data. Differentiated facility features include 24/7 Pup Cams in playrooms, antimicrobial FRP/vinyl fencing enclosures, and climate-controlled indoor play areas with turf and poured epoxy surfaces. The company is the first nationwide boarding and daycare brand to achieve Fear Free certification (May 2023) and is an Inc. 5000 winner (2024).
The Dog Stop monetizes through two primary channels. First, at the franchisee level, the company charges an initial franchise fee (on a total investment ranging from $553,500 to $1,112,800, with an average of $750,000–$850,000) and ongoing royalties/brand fees, supported by comprehensive operational, marketing, and real estate services. Second, at the consumer level, each location generates transaction-fee revenue from daycare, boarding, grooming, training, retail, and in-home services, with all-inclusive boarding pricing and no hidden fees. Customers are dog owners seeking premium, transparent pet care, and franchisees are entrepreneurs with a minimum $750,000 net worth and $350,000 in liquidity who are described as dog lovers with proven business acumen.
The Dog Stop firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Dog Stop
- Legal name
- The Dog Stop
- Website
- https://thedogstop.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The Dog Stop is a privately held Pittsburgh-based pet care franchisor operating 47+ locations across 17 states, offering an integrated bundle of dog daycare, boarding, grooming, training, and retail services unified by a proprietary management software platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where The Dog Stop is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Monroeville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Dog Stop business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Dog Boarding: Overnight dog boarding services available 365 days a year with all-inclusive rates including room, bedding, bowls, full day of daycare, and medication administration if needed. Luxury suites and boarding add-ons available.
- Dog Daycare: Daycare services with supervised group play in indoor/outdoor areas. Free daycare included with overnight boarding for dogs meeting group play requirements.
- Dog Grooming: Full-service grooming including grooms, baths, shed-reduction treatment, teeth brushing, nail trims, nail grinds, and more. Offered seven days a week.
- Dog Training: Various training services including puppy classes, obedience training, therapy dog preparation, boot camp, day camp, board and train, private lessons, and behavior modification.
- Pet Retail: Premium pet foods, supplements, treats, chews, and toys. Products ranked minimum three stars with many being limited-ingredient, grain and gluten-free.
- Franchise Fees: Franchise investment ranging from $553,500 to $1,112,800 with average investment between $750,000-$850,000. Requires minimum net worth of $750,000 and at least $350,000 in liquidity.
- In-Home Services: Dog walking and overnight pet sitting services provided by trained, insured in-home caregivers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Limited-time boarding package at $180 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Grooming services - price varies by dog size and coat condition |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | All-inclusive boarding with no hidden fees |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
The Dog Stop product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Dog Stop operates all-inclusive, multi-service dog care facilities combining daycare, overnight boarding, full-service grooming, obedience and behavior training, and an on-site premium pet retail store, with optional in-home pet sitting and dog walking. Each location is operated as a franchise under a unified brand, supported by proprietary management software and standardized operating procedures.
Product overview
The Dog Stop operates as a unified, all-inclusive dog care platform offering five integrated service lines—Dog Daycare, Dog Boarding, Dog Grooming, Dog Training, and Retail Store—at each of its franchised locations. These services are designed to work together as a comprehensive ecosystem: dogs can receive daycare and boarding services alongside grooming and training add-ons, while the retail store provides complementary food, treats, and supplies. Additional offerings include In-Home Services (dog walking, pet sitting) and The Dog Stop Delights (premium activity and treat add-ons for daycare/boarding guests). The brand positions itself as a one-stop-shop where pet owners can access all their dog's needs in a single facility.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Dog Daycare Supervised group play service with dogs placed in playgroups by age and playstyle, utilizing indoor and outdoor play areas with interactive elements; designed for pet parents needing daytime exercise and socialization for their dogs.
- Dog Boarding Overnight dog accommodation with all-inclusive pricing covering room, bedding, bowls, a full day of daycare, and medication administration as needed; luxury suites and add-ons are available for upgraded stays. Available 365 days a year.
- Dog Grooming Full-service spa grooming including full grooms, baths, shed-reduction treatment, teeth brushing, nail trims, and nail grinds delivered by professional groomers in a spa-like setting seven days a week.
- Dog Training Group and individual obedience and behavior training including puppy classes, beginner through intermediate obedience, urban agility, therapy dog preparation, boot camp, day camp, board-and-train, and private lessons delivered at facilities or in-home.
- Pet Retail Store On-site retail offering premium dog and cat foods, supplements, treats, chews, and toys curated to rank at least three stars, with many limited-ingredient, grain-free, and gluten-free options, supported by an everyday low price guarantee.
- In-Home Services Dog walking, overnight pet sitting, and home check services delivered by trained and insured caregivers who can also handle mail, trash, and plant watering; offered as a separate service line outside the facility.
- The Dog Stop Franchise Licensed franchise opportunity for entrepreneurs to own and operate a Dog Stop multi-service dog care facility, including site evaluation, lease negotiation, comprehensive training, proprietary PCMS software, and full marketing and operational support.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 25 locations in 12 states growing to over 47 locations in 17 states within a few years
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Dog Stop
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Dog Stop technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
The Dog Stop partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Sarris CandiesminorSarris Candies partnered with The Dog Stop for the citywide Draft Week campaign in Pittsburgh. The partnership involved distributing 500 chocolate bars across participating businesses with two tickets redeemable for a full year of free dog daycare.
- Headley's Brewing Co.minorHeadley's Brewing Co. partnered with The Dog Stop for the citywide Draft Week campaign, offering partnership activations alongside The Dog Stop locations.
- Dog PennminorDog Penn partnered with The Dog Stop for the citywide Draft Week campaign in Pittsburgh, participating in cross-promotional activations.
- Bacon JamminorBacon Jam partnered with The Dog Stop for the citywide Draft Week campaign, participating in cross-promotional activities.
- Humane Animal Rescue of PittsburghminorHumane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh received 100% of proceeds from The Dog Stop's Draft Week campaign Golden Ticket promotion with Sarris Candies.
- Jeff Green (Franchise Developer)coreLocal entrepreneur Jeff Green leading The Dog Stop's expansion into Massachusetts with two planned locations in Boston over the next three years. Green emphasizes community impact and pet well-being, aligned with the brand's partnership with Fear Free.
- Fear FreecoreThe Dog Stop became the first nationwide boarding and daycare space to become Fear Free certified. Fear Free offers online educational programs aimed at alleviating fear, anxiety, and stress in pets. This partnership enhances The Dog Stop's existing care standards by providing elevated service offerings and setting a new care standard for dog daycare, boarding, and grooming facilities. The partnership aligns with The Dog Stop's philosophy and methods, focusing on creating the best possible environment for dogs through education, innovation, and personalized care.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Dog Stop competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Camp Bow Wow: Large U.S. dog daycare, boarding, and grooming franchise with a multi-location footprint. Directly comparable as a franchise-based, multi-service pet care concept competing for similar franchisees and pet parent customers.
- Dogtopia: Premier dog daycare, boarding, and spa franchise with hundreds of locations across North America. Closest direct competitor in scale, franchise model, and all-inclusive service offering.
- Central Bark: Dog daycare, boarding, grooming, and training franchise. Comparable multi-service franchise model targeting similar franchisee profile and pet parent segments.
- PetSuites (PetSuites of America): Pet resort franchise offering dog daycare, boarding, grooming, and training. Competes head-to-head in the same premium, all-inclusive pet care niche with a similar franchise-driven growth strategy.
Broad incumbents
- Petsmart (PetSmart Doggie Day Camp): Largest North American specialty pet retailer with in-store doggie day camps at many locations. Competes with The Dog Stop on daycare and adjacent services, but pet care is a secondary offering within a much broader retail portfolio.
- Petco: National pet retail and services chain offering grooming, training, and in-store vet clinics at many locations. Overlaps with The Dog Stop on grooming, training, and premium pet care positioning.
Emerging players
- Rover: Online marketplace for in-home pet sitting, dog walking, and boarding. Overlaps with The Dog Stop's in-home services stream and competes for the same millennial urban pet parent segment.
- Wag!: On-demand dog walking, pet sitting, and boarding platform. Comparable to The Dog Stop's in-home services offering and competes for the same discretionary pet care spend.
- BarkBox: Subscription-based premium pet products retailer (treats, toys, grooming supplies). Adjacent to The Dog Stop's retail store revenue stream and shares the premium, pet-parent-targeted customer profile.
Others
- Dogtopia vs. local independents: Fragmented base of independent dog daycare, boarding, and grooming facilities across U.S. metros. These independents represent both The Dog Stop's primary local competition and its acquisition/conversion pipeline as franchise sign-ups accelerate.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Dog Stop social profiles
Digital presenceThe Dog Stop financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Dog Stop leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
The Dog Stop funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Dog Stop M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Dog Stop
What does The Dog Stop do?
The Dog Stop operates all-inclusive, multi-service dog care facilities combining daycare, overnight boarding, full-service grooming, obedience and behavior training, and an on-site premium pet retail store, with optional in-home pet sitting and dog walking. Each location is operated as a franchise under a unified brand, supported by proprietary management software and standardized operating procedures.
Is The Dog Stop a public or private company?
The Dog Stop is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Dog Stop founded?
The Dog Stop was founded in 2009. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is The Dog Stop based?
The Dog Stop is headquartered in Monroeville, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Dog Stop make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Dog Boarding is the primary driver. The others are dog Daycare, dog Grooming, dog Training, pet Retail, franchise Fees and in-Home Services.
Who are The Dog Stop's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Camp Bow Wow, Dogtopia, Central Bark and PetSuites (PetSuites of America). Broad incumbents are Petsmart (PetSmart Doggie Day Camp) and Petco. Emerging players are Rover, Wag! and BarkBox. Dogtopia vs. local independents is listed as an others.
Does The Dog Stop have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Dog Stop.