When I walked into Hounds Town for the first time more than a decade ago, I had no idea it would change the course of my life in every way.
In the fall of 2013, I made an appointment to have my dog Maggie evaluated. I had just moved to the area and was desperately in need of help. She had recently gotten into a fight with the other dog in my home, and I was at a loss about how to handle her behavioral issues. A competitor had labeled her dog-selective and leash-aggressive, warning that she might be a danger to other dogs. I was already stretched thin, commuting five hours a day roundtrip into New York City — the last thing I needed was to feel like I was failing my dog.
Shortly after the incident, I sat at my computer and searched “dog trainer near me.” Up came an ad from an obnoxiously colorful mom-and-pop daycare that promised to help dogs just like Maggie. I was skeptical, but I figured I had nothing to lose.
The day of my appointment, I walked into that blue and green building off the highway with little hope. Mike Gould — who would later become my co-founder — was standing in the lobby, ready to evaluate her. Mike had spent his career in law enforcement running police canine units, giving him the rare experience of working with dogs labeled aggressive, dog-selective, and everything in between.
He looped Maggie with a kennel lead. After about thirty seconds, he looked up and said: “There’s nothing wrong with this dog — the issue is how you’re managing her. Get on the train to work, and by the time you arrive, we’ll send you a video of Maggie playing with other dogs.” I stayed skeptical. Experts had already told me there was no hope for her.
As promised, a video arrived — Maggie, tail wagging, playing happily in a group of dogs. I was stunned. What had Hounds Town seen in her that no one else could? In that moment, I knew her life had been changed. And so had mine.
On the train ride home, one thought kept circling: This concept needs to be everywhere. I imagined all the dogs like Maggie whose lives we could transform — the shelter dogs we could help socialize, foster, and rehome, and the pet owners whose lives we could make genuinely easier. What if Hounds Town could be in every community? I let myself picture 100 stores open — a seemingly impossible leap from where we stood, but something told me to keep it as my North Star.
That thought was the seed of everything that followed. The intention that would carry us through a decade-long journey to 100 open stores, countless dogs’ lives changed, and many dreams realized. The ebbs and flows in between are the story of our brand.
Once Mike and I committed to building a franchise system, it was all hands-on deck from day one. In those early days, we did everything ourselves — from managing construction to training franchisees to sell daycare packages. Since Mike already had a Hounds Town location running since 2001, we used that business model and operational foundation to create a system others could replicate. Over the years, we also opened satellite corporate stores to test the model in new markets.
Our greatest challenge was bottling up our secret sauce: the art-based science of dog management and safe pack curation that allowed dogs like Maggie to thrive — to go home tired, stimulated, and better behaved. We believed this kind of natural pack interaction was also the key to a healthier relationship between dogs and their owners, and that it could meaningfully reduce owner surrenders to shelters. That belief drove us through the long days and long years.
In time, we were fortunate to bring on talented, heart-centered team members who helped build the brand into what it is today. I credit them with crafting the systems that allow franchisees and their staff to learn our proprietary dog management method. Because of their dedication, we’ve been able to save hundreds of dogs’ lives — providing a home away from home for dogs turned away elsewhere due to breed or behavior — while also creating business ownership and employment opportunities for people who share our passion.
With our 100th store opening, we are well on our way to fulfilling our mission: ensuring that every dog in this country has access to what we do. This milestone is significant for the business, but it is deeply personal for me. It is a reminder of what is possible when you take a chance.
I had to say goodbye to Maggie a few months ago, before this milestone she unknowingly set in motion for all of us. Her spirit lives on in everything we do — in our collective dedication to doing it for the dogs so that we may change the way the world understands and connects with them… one dog at a time.