The Dog Stop Signs Dallas Franchise Deals With Mike Asquini And Michael Troutt

The Dog Stop is deepening its Dallas growth plan with two new franchise agreements that put local operators Mike Asquini and Michael Troutt at the centre of the next phase. The all-inclusive dog care brand announced on 22 June 2026 that Asquini is preparing a Central Dallas location, while Troutt is expanding in North Dallas through a new location and the conversion of his existing dog care business, Spawz, into The Dog Stop system.

The story is a clear founder and operator story rather than a simple store-opening note. Asquini is moving from more than three decades consulting manufacturing businesses in the oil, gas and chemical industries into a local pet-care venture. His planned Central Dallas location is expected in 2027. Troutt brings a different background: more than 15 years in technology and software engineering, plus direct operating experience through Spawz. His branded North Dallas location is expected in late 2026.

For franchising, that mix matters. Many service brands are trying to attract experienced professionals who want a second-act business with local presence, recurring demand and room for hands-on management. Dog care fits that model because it combines daily routines, discretionary spending and trust. Pet parents are not buying a generic service; they are choosing a place to leave a family member for daycare, grooming, boarding, training or enrichment. That makes operator credibility and staff standards central to the business.

The Dallas market also gives The Dog Stop a useful test of density. The brand already operates locations in the surrounding area, including Argyle, Plano and The Colony. Adding Central Dallas and North Dallas helps the company strengthen brand awareness inside the metro rather than relying on isolated single-unit growth. If the new operators perform well, the market can start to look more like a cluster, with shared consumer recognition, hiring visibility and cross-market marketing opportunities.

The conversion element is especially important. Troutt is not only opening a new unit; he is bringing an existing local pet-care business into the franchise system. That can give a franchisor a faster route into a market, but it also creates integration work. Staff training, systems, signage, service standards, booking processes and customer communication all have to shift without damaging the local trust the existing business already built. A good conversion can accelerate growth. A poor one can expose gaps between the franchise playbook and real unit operations.

The Dog Stop says it was founded in 2009 and has franchised since 2013. Its model includes daycare, grooming, overnight boarding, individualized training, enrichment and retail. The company reported 47 locations across 17 states, with more than 50 new locations coming soon. That pipeline makes Dallas more than a local expansion announcement. It is part of a broader effort to turn a fragmented pet-care category into a branded, multi-service franchise platform.

For franchise buyers watching the sector, the key signal is operator selection. The brand is choosing people who bring existing professional networks, local market knowledge and either service-business or technical operating experience. Asquini and Troutt are not passive investors in the announcement. They are presented as local builders with personal reasons for entering the category. That is the kind of detail that matters in service franchising, where daily execution and community trust often decide whether a unit becomes durable after opening-week attention fades.

"In service franchising, daily execution and community trust often decide whether a unit becomes durable after opening-week attention fades."