DAWGS
DAWGS is a Chicago-based manufacturer and renter of steel door, window, and property guards that secure vacant commercial and residential buildings. It sells on a quote-based rental model to property managers, real estate investors, housing authorities, municipalities, and fire departments nationwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What DAWGS does
DAWGS (Door And Window Guard Systems, Inc.) is a Chicago-based manufacturer and service provider of steel security panels for vacant buildings, founded in 2009 and operating as a privately held corporation headquartered at 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave. The company designs, manufactures, and rents modular steel door guards (featuring a proprietary 6-point locking system modeled on bank vault security), steel window guards with aeration holes, A/C guards (to prevent copper and unit theft), and parking lot barricades. A key technical asset is a patent-pending installation system that secures every door and window without damaging the underlying property; the company also offers a FAST (Frequent Access Security Tool) keyless entry system for managed contractor access. All products are installed and removed by professionally trained DAWGS crews.
The company operates a rental-only revenue model with contracts ranging from one month to multi-year terms, complemented by short-cycle removal/reinstallation services. Pricing is quote-based and customized per property. Its go-to-market is sales-led and direct: customers reach DAWGS through a phone hotline (877-883-2947), website quote forms, or real-estate professional referrals. The customer base is diversified across real estate investors, property managers, housing authorities, municipalities, fire departments (training partners in Chicago, Philadelphia, New York), insurance companies, retail/commercial owners, schools & hospitals, and nonprofits. Distribution is enabled by a national network of regional warehouse/distribution centers spanning 20+ major US metros (Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia, Seattle, St. Louis, and others), supporting 1-2 day installation turnaround.
DAWGS has received growth equity from NextGen Growth Partners (January 2022) and The Riverside Company (April 2025), with both round amounts undisclosed. The company is led by CEO Nick Oberhouse and Partner/VP of Engineering Jim Glass. Recent strategic activity includes a Dallas market launch in November 2024 and the introduction of a dedicated Court-Appointed Property Receiverships Program in July 2024 with 48-hour installation and white-glove concierge service. Code-compliance tailwinds (e.g., Ohio's January 2017 plywood ban) and the rise in distressed/vacant inventory position steel guards as a regulatory-preferred alternative to traditional board-up.
DAWGS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DAWGS
- Legal name
- Door And Window Guard Systems, Inc.
- Website
- https://dawgsinc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- DAWGS is a Chicago-based manufacturer and renter of steel door, window, and property guards that secure vacant commercial and residential buildings. It sells on a quote-based rental model to property managers, real estate investors, housing authorities, municipalities, and fire departments nationwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DAWGS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vacant Property Security
- SIC
- Metal Doors, Sash, Frames, Moldings & Trim (3442)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Screens, Storm Doors/Windows & Insect Protection Systems (IMADAIAK)
Keywords
Where DAWGS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
DAWGS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Steel Guard Rental: DAWGS manufactures and rents attractive steel panels to cover door and window openings on vacant buildings. Services include installation and removal by professionally trained crews. Equipment is available on rental basis with short and long-term arrangements ranging from one month to multi-year contracts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Custom quote-based pricing per property |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
DAWGS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DAWGS manufactures and rents steel panels (Door And Window Guards) used to cover door and window openings on vacant, foreclosed, and distressed buildings. The company delivers and installs the guards via professionally trained crews from regional distribution centers across the continental U.S., and offers removal, winterization, and managed-access services on rental contracts ranging from one month to multi-year terms.
Product overview
DAWGS (Door And Window Guard Systems) provides vacant property security solutions through a portfolio of steel security products. The core offerings include Steel Door Guards and Steel Window Guards, which feature proprietary modular designs with 6-point locking systems. These products are complemented by specialized add-ons including A/C Guards for copper theft prevention, Parking Lot Guards for commercial property protection, and the FAST keyless entry system for managed access. DAWGS operates on a rental-only model, offering short and long-term arrangements from one month to multi-year contracts, with professional installation and removal services provided by trained crews nationwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Steel Door Guards Steel panel guards installed over door openings on vacant buildings, featuring a 6-point locking system, modular sizing, no exterior hinges or handles, and managed access for authorized personnel. Sold and rented to property investors, property managers, housing authorities, rehabbers, and other real estate professionals needing to secure vacant properties.
- Steel Window Guards Modular steel window guards fitted over window openings on vacant buildings, accommodating virtually any window size or shape, with aeration holes for fresh air and sunlight and an interior-only bracing system. Used by property investors, property managers, housing authorities, rehabbers, and real estate professionals to prevent break-ins and vandalism on vacant properties.
- A/C Guard Specialty steel guard designed to enclose and protect air conditioning units on vacant properties, deterring copper theft and whole-unit AC theft. Used by property managers, owners, and housing authorities securing vacant residential and commercial properties.
- Parking Lot Guards 14-gauge steel barricades used to protect the exterior of vacant commercial properties such as restaurants, chain stores, and retail buildings, acting as a visual and physical deterrent. Sold and rented to commercial property owners, managers, and retailers with vacant retail or restaurant locations.
- Court-Appointed Property Receiverships Program Specialty vacant-property security service program for court-appointed receivers, delivering 48-hour installation, 24-hour removal capability, winterization, same-day response, white-glove concierge service, and a dedicated account manager. Targeted at receivers, attorneys, and municipalities managing court-appointed properties.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% success rate reported by property manager case study customer
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use DAWGS
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments10 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
DAWGS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
DAWGS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Cook County Land Bank AuthoritycoreDAWGS provides security solutions for Cook County Land Bank Authority properties. The CCLBA was formed in 2013 to stabilize blighted neighborhoods and stimulate redevelopment. DAWGS helps secure vacant properties during the land bank's holding period.
- Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin and Metropolitan ChicagominorDAWGS partners with Goodwill to support communities they serve. Based in Chicago, this partnership exemplifies DAWGS' commitment to community involvement and local economic development.
- Shore Community Services / Shore Joseph Koenig Sr. Training CentercoreDAWGS uses Shore Packaging Solutions to sort and rekit their equipment after removal from properties. The partnership provides work for 20 trainees through this recurring project, supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Humble DesignminorDAWGS partnered with Humble Design to provide furnished homes for families escaping homelessness in Chicago. DAWGS participated in a Day of Service event furnishing a home for a mother and her four children.
- American Legion Post #2091minorDAWGS donated time and materials to secure Legion Post #2091 during rehabilitation of their new building. DAWGS has a long history of supporting veteran causes and military heroes.
- Lights of Honor International (LHI)minorDAWGS donated vacant property security services to The Lights of Honor International, a nonprofit helping build a brighter future for veterans.
- Lipstick SaintsminorDAWGS supports Lipstick Saints, a Chicago-based nonprofit providing opportunities for inner-city teenage girls to live happier and healthier lifestyles. DAWGS sponsored their Christmas in July event.
- HUD Section 3 ProgramminorDAWGS partners with public housing authorities to foster economic opportunities for Section 3 residents through employment opportunities and job fairs. Section 3 is a HUD program that fosters local economic development and neighborhood economic improvement.
- Chicago Fire and Police DepartmentscoreDAWGS annually meets with and trains members of the Chicago Fire and Police Departments on the use of and in some cases bypass of DAWGS window and door guards. Provides equipment and vacant property forcible entry training for first responders nationwide.
- Philadelphia Fire DepartmentcoreDAWGS provides vacant property accessibility training for Philadelphia Fire Department. DAWGS has worked with fire departments including Chicago and New York Fire Departments for more than a decade.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
DAWGS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- VPS (Vacant Property Security): VPS is a UK-headquartered vacant property security specialist operating globally. Mentioned in DAWGS's own materials as a sister brand (VPS360), VPS provides steel security screens, doors, and vacant property protection services — directly comparable in offering and customer base to DAWGS.
Broad incumbents
- Safeguard Properties: Safeguard is the largest mortgage field services company in the US, providing property preservation, inspection, maintenance, and board-up services to banks and mortgage servicers. They compete indirectly with DAWGS through their preservation portfolio serving the same REO/foreclosure customer base.
- Mortgage Contracting Services (MCS): MCS is a major national property preservation and inspection services provider serving financial institutions and government agencies. They offer vacant property securing among broader preservation services, overlapping with DAWGS's mortgage servicer and housing authority customers.
- Assurant (Field Asset Services): Assurant's Field Asset Services division manages vacant and REO properties for financial institutions, including property securing and preservation. They serve the same mortgage servicer and bank customer base as DAWGS, though with a much broader services portfolio.
- ServiceMaster Restore: ServiceMaster Restore is a major disaster restoration and property services franchise network providing board-up, securing, and restoration services. They overlap with DAWGS in emergency management and vacant property protection, though as part of a broader restoration portfolio.
- Belfor Property Restoration: Belfor is the global leader in property restoration and disaster recovery services. They provide emergency board-up and property securing services for damaged and vacant properties, serving insurance carriers and commercial customers that overlap with DAWGS's emergency management segment.
- ADT: ADT is the largest residential and commercial security provider in North America, focused on electronic alarm and monitoring systems. While they offer a different solution modality, they compete for security spending at vacant and commercial properties.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
DAWGS social profiles
Digital presenceDAWGS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DAWGS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
DAWGS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DAWGS 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 DAWGS
What does DAWGS do?
DAWGS manufactures and rents steel panels (Door And Window Guards) used to cover door and window openings on vacant, foreclosed, and distressed buildings. The company delivers and installs the guards via professionally trained crews from regional distribution centers across the continental U.S., and offers removal, winterization, and managed-access services on rental contracts ranging from one month to multi-year terms.
Is DAWGS a public or private company?
DAWGS is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was DAWGS founded?
DAWGS was founded in 2009. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is DAWGS based?
DAWGS is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does DAWGS make money?
One revenue line is on record: steel Guard Rental.
Who are DAWGS's main competitors?
VPS (Vacant Property Security) is listed as a direct peer. Broad incumbents are Safeguard Properties, Mortgage Contracting Services (MCS), Assurant (Field Asset Services), ServiceMaster Restore, Belfor Property Restoration and ADT.
Does DAWGS have an API?
No public API is recorded for DAWGS.
What industry is DAWGS in?
DAWGS's product category is Vacant Property Security. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADAIAK, Screens, Storm Doors/Windows & Insect Protection Systems. Its SIC code is 3442.