Also, a new app and pet tech from the dog care franchise.
By Andrew Carlo
A major Northeastern franchise owner has reached a new franchise agreement with Dogtopia.
Founded in 2002, Dogtopia is a pet wellness and care franchise. Under terms of the agreement, Joe Cugine and his daughter, Carly, plan to open multiple new Dogtopia locations in the New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania tri-state market.
The pair currently operate one Dogtopia location and are in the process of purchasing a second, the franchise said. Cugine already owns and operates a strong portfolio of franchise locations in the market. This includes 80 Wendy’s, 14 Taco Bell, and 4 Jersey Mike’s Subs locations.
Looking ahead, the plan calls for Carly to oversee the day-to-day operations of the Dogtopia segment of their business.
“We researched the finest franchises in the industry, regardless of sector. Dogtopia continued to rise to the top. It wasn’t in our initial consideration set, but the more we investigated, we became convinced that they were the right franchise to be involved with,” Cugine said. “I think Dogtopia is really hitting its stride as a franchisor, and I believe that the best days are ahead of us. We have been delighted with the resources and the support we’ve received to date.”
Dogtopia says it currently has more than 285 locations in the United States and Canada. Other recent signings by the franchise include Schaumburg and Wheaton, Illinois; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Chattanooga, Tennessee.
“It’s always exciting to attract experienced franchise operators who are diversifying their portfolio,” said Alex Samios, chief growth officer of Dogtopia. “We’re thrilled to welcome Joe and Carly to the Dogtopia family. Their incredible experience with other franchises will make them a strong fit for our brand, and we’re excited to support their growth and success.”
New tech for Dogtopia
In a move designed to “provide a more proactive approach to dog health,” Dogtopia also announced the launch of a redesigned mobile app.
The franchise said, “the upgraded, smarter, and more personalized platform reflects Dogtopia’s continued innovation and solidifies its position as the world’s leading and most trusted dog care provider.”
Included in the new app is a wearable activity monitor for dogs called DASH. The monitor tracks dog’s activity and habits. Additionally, a new Wellness Dashboard allows pet parents to their dog’s daily activity such as steps, distance, time – both inside and outside Dogtopia.
A bit of competition is injected into the feature as well, with a leaderboard in the app showing dog owners where their dog ranks by distance compared with other Dogtopia dogs and how your dog compares to others of similar size and breed.
“Parents already know us as a safe, fun place for their dogs to socialize. Now, as we roll out the DASH activity monitor nationwide, parents can set goals and track their dog’s activity directly in the app. This is a first in our industry, and it gives parents real data right at their fingertips, showing just how much Dogtopia daycare supports their dog’s health, happiness, and longevity,” said Neil Gill, president and CEO of Dogtopia. “Every dog parent knows daily exercise is essential. At Dogtopia, the average dog walks nearly 10 miles a day, with a mix of walking, running, and roaming. It’s the kind of activity that keeps a dog’s heart, joints, muscles, and mind in great shape.”
A virtual tour of a Dogtopia location is available here.
More information about franchising opportunities with Dogtopia can be found at dogtopia.com/franchising-us/.
