The Dog Stop is a dynamic company that is committed to progress. What sets them apart is that they are constantly evolving and improving their standards of quality care. They have assembled an all-star team of experts with over 100 years of collective experience in the pet care industry. The Dog Stop is the first company in the pet care industry to partner with Fear Free, an organization whose mission is to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets by educating and inspiring those who care for them. Jesse founded The Dog Stop in 2009 because he wanted to create a better version of dog care for his community. The business has evolved and changed tremendously, but the core principles remain unchanged: 100% transparency, the best customer service and all services under one roof providing a clean, fun, and safe environment for all dogs.  Brett Reynolds is the Director and Dog Care and Training at The Dog Stop. He has been working full-time in the pet care industry since 2004 as a professional dog trainer and business manager. After 15 years of managing and owning dog training businesses, he moved into his current role of training and supporting franchisees and their teams on all things pertaining to dog behavior and care.   Key Takeaways: [2:05] - Jesse shares his background and what led him to found The Dog Stop. [5:08] - The Dog Stop is the only full service franchise of its kind. It prevents consumers from going to multiple places to meet their needs. [7:32] - Jesse describes what makes up the services that bring in different percentages of sales. [9:26] - Brett shares his path onto finding his passion in dog training. [11:01] - In the beginning, Brett and Jesse piloted various dog training services at The Dog Stop, including a program included with boarding. [13:55] - The chance of franchisees coming in with training and certifications on providing the services The Dog Stop offers is low. Prospective franchisees go through a process. [15:50] - The right candidate is open to learning new things and flexible. In this industry, it’s important to be able to shift to Plan B quickly. [18:34] - Through franchising, they have shifted from owner operator models to more of a semi-absentee owner model. [21:41] - The Dog Stop has partnered with Fear Free, an organization whose mission is to prevent and alleviate fear and anxiety in pets. [25:27] - Every franchise has its struggles when launching. Jesse talks about slow and controlled growth and the benefits of having a mentor. [28:12] - Real estate is important for this business as well and Jesse explains that they have a team of agents that help franchisees find the best place in their community. [30:40] - From a business administration perspective, The Dog Spot is currently working on implementing more technology to improve the customer experience. [33:40] - Not all dogs are suitable for a traditional doggy daycare. The Dog Spot has a menu of services and experiences for all personalities.   Mentioned in This Episode: The Dog Spot Website The Dog Spot Franchising Site