A New Kind Of Doggy Daycare

Issue #25

September 26th, 2023

Quick Hits:

😢 “Mommy can’t take care of me”

🐍 Apparently surfing with your snake in Australia comes with a fine

🌬 A farting dog and a $1400 refund

😃 Have you ever seen a better reaction?

🐱 Human Years To Cat Years Calculator

This week we interviewed Shaina Denny, the co-founder & CEO of Dogdrop

1. Why did you decide to launch Dogdrop? What did you see lacking in the market that you thought Dogdrop would solve/address?

Dogdrop was born out of a passion for providing a solution that merges the need for a safe and engaging environment for dogs with the convenience and flexibility that pet parents require. Our aim was to create a stimulating environment where dogs could socialize, exercise, and receive personalized care, addressing the modern pet owner's desire for a holistic approach to pet well-being.

2. How do you differ from the average dog boarding facility? What does a monthly membership look like?

We saw a gap in the market for dog daycare that offered not just a space for dogs to stay in an outdated facility, but well-designed, smaller footprints, with trained staff to give dogs the care they deserve. We start with identifying locations where people and their pets already live, work, and play. Then, we build out smaller locations that we can better control the quality of. The next part is delivering on our service which is a better experience for both dogs and their parents.

In order for us to provide the best experience possible, our team invests a ton of time and energy in getting to know our members’ needs and preferences. We believe a member-based community better supports our team in consistently delivering on this promise. Our monthly membership allows pet parents to access our services flexibly at any Dogdrop location and ensures all dogs are current on vaccinations, pass our Good Fit Test, and get access to discounted rates.

3. You are pursuing a franchising business model, how did you land on this approach? Was franchising the approach you always had in mind?

Franchising was a strategic decision to scale our impact and bring the Dogdrop experience to more neighborhoods. We believe in the power of local entrepreneurs who share our passion for dogs and our vision for exceptional pet care and our system was built to support them. When we started, we didn’t have a clear growth model - our first priority was proving out the concept and then looking into different growth strategies. It became clear that franchising is an effective way to fulfill our mission and reach more neighborhoods.

4. When deciding on new (franchise) locations, what are some determining factors you look for in a local market?

Site selection is particularly important to us. We consider several critical factors, including the local dog population, density (apartment units), demographics, community engagement, and proximity to potential dog parents. As we put Dogdrop’s where people live, work, and play, we also highly consider co-tenants. Our brand new Hollywood location is next door to a Mayweather Boxing Gym. Folks can drop off their dog for an hour while they hit the gym. It’s a win-win! We’re currently focused on putting Dogdrops on the ground floor of multi-family properties and work with developers and property managers who see dog care as an amenity. We’re looking for more developers to work with across the country.

5. What are some franchisee requirements? How do you work with them?

Dogdrop seeks franchisees who are deeply committed to providing an exceptional customer experience, possess strong leadership skills, value community engagement, and excel as efficient operators. Prospective franchisees should demonstrate both a passion for our mission and the financial capability to invest in and successfully operate a Dogdrop location. We collaborate closely with our franchisees, offering a detailed blueprint for launching their own establishment. From meticulous site selection to continuous operational support, we provide extensive training and guidance. Our collaborative approach ensures that franchisees are equipped with the tools and knowledge necessary to maintain the high standards of care and service that define Dogdrop.

• Walmart has entered the game - The world’s biggest retail chain is opening its first pilot, a pet services center, outside Atlanta.

• Meowy wowy - IPG is acquiring Felix, the world’s only cat insurance brand.

• Mascotte Health - After raising $1.2M in July, this company aims to make vets’ lives easier.

• New Aussie pet insurance - Former IAG executives launch Fetch

  PAWS right there!!! Don’t forget to subscribe 👇👇

• Omni Dog - This UK company is making meatier plant-based dog food.

• Sonny Nation - Human grade is the future of dog food.

• FDA AVIA - The US Food and Drug Administration is modernizing its evaluation & development of animal and veterinary products.

• Small > Big - Europeans want private-label brands over national brands.

• September 26 - Today is Pet Hunger Awareness Day.

• Lost toddler - This 2-year-old was found lost in the woods surrounded by her loyal dogs.

• 30k - You can actually clone your pet for this amount.

• Crocodile saves dog - This is one of the weirder stories we’ve encountered.

• FancyCats - It’s going down in cat down.

• Perfect pairing - A new program is pairing old cats with old people.

• Dog jumping competition - A first-of-its-kind competition is being held in New York.

• Record-breaking screening - Two hundred and nineteen dogs and their owners came to see “Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie.”

1. What are some early challenges you’ve encountered and how have you solved them?

In a fast-paced retail setting like ours, maintaining consistency in service excellence can be a hurdle, while our team feels taken care of as well. There are a lot of moving pieces when running a dog daycare business. We need to tend to the needs of our team, pets, and pet parents. However, this challenge has led us to refine our training processes and create a robust training and learning system. Through initial and continuous education our team members are empowered to provide top-notch care. It’s also allowed us to really hone in and specialize on the roles that make the operation smooth and successful.

2. In 2021, you raised $2.9m. What did you learn from going through the fund-raise and also post-fund-raise, bringing on external investors as part of the journey?

Securing funding in 2021 was a significant milestone that reinforced our belief in our business model and market potential. Post-fundraise, we were focused on the allocation of capital to ensure we’re hitting our business goals while meeting our mission of providing the best quality care to dogs and their humans. We launched out of Science’s venture studio, so we have had external investors since day one.

3. Tell us more about your experience building and leading a team in a high-growth business.

We are currently nearing 30 employees and have a handful of amazing fractional team members and partners who support us as well. We've prioritized hiring individuals who are versatile, adaptable, and share our passion for our mission. We started out hiring more full-time generalists who then can manage specialists in different capacities and as we grow more we bring some of those specialists in-house.

You reached the end, you deserve a treat 🍖

Be part of the pack - For more news, links, and entertainment follow us on social media (links below) and fur - ward this to your best human friend.

If you haven’t already, consider subscribing below 👇

Finally, Which dog breed loves living in the Big Apple?

A New Yorkie.

See you next week!

The Woof is a weekly newsletter dedicated to covering the pet industry.