The Dog Stop
The Dog Stop partners, from left, Niki and Ryan Rathert, and Karla Scheibelhut, with their first hire, MacKenzi Blair, dog care manager.
Entering his mid-40s, Ryan Rathert found that he had worn all the tread off the tires of his career in executive management in the mortgage industry.
“I wanted to just figure out how I could do something more rewarding than grinding 60 to 80 hours a week at a job,” he said.
Burned out, exhausted, and unfulfilled, he found liberation in entrepreneurship.
He has rediscovered life and a livelihood in dogs. His life has now literally gone to the dogs but in the best way possible.
Rathert has partnered with his wife Niki and a onetime colleague in the mortgage business, Karla Scheibelhut — all dog people — to buy into a franchise of The Dog Stop, a Pittsburgh outfit in expansion mode. The store is in unincorporated Denton County but with an Argyle address, 8135 Gateway Dr., Suite 500.
The Dog Stop is a one-stop-shop for dog care. Rathert’s location is the 24th store operating in 12 states, but the corporate office says it has 50 new locations coming soon.
Rathert’s store formally opened on Nov. 19 with a grand opening event and a good reception from the public. He had hoped for 200 to show.
“No joke, we had more than 1,200 people at our grand opening,” he said. “It was unbelievable.”
He credited an effective social media campaign and the more vintage methods of mailers and newsprint to get the word out and exceed expectations.
“But I think we kinda hit the nail on the head with the location,” Rathert said. “We're kinda right in the middle of all these different communities that are just exploding with growth. The reception was awesome.”
The pet industry is healthy and trending.
According to the American Pet Products Association, consumers spent $136 billion in 2022, up from $124 billion in 2021. That figure is projected to be $143 billion this year. The revenue figures have increased each year since 2018 ($90 billion).
In 2022, consumers spent $58 billion on pet food and treats, and $11 billion on other services, such as boarding, grooming, insurance, training, pet sitting, walking, and all services outside of veterinary care.
The Ratherts and Scheibelhut identified a void in the marketplace in the rapidly growing community in southern Denton County. Their brand-new high-end facility boasts large suites and beds, high-quality turf, private play areas, and a great culture for local dogs and their owners.
The Dog Stop was founded in 2009 in Pittsburgh. Its stores sell the products and services of dog care, including behavior, grooming, and nutrition, and all the supplies that go with that.
“We are thrilled to bring The Dog Stop to Argyle,” said Jesse Coslov, CEO and co-founder of The Dog Stop. “We are incredibly confident in Karla, Ryan and Niki to carry out The Dog Stop’s mission of the highest quality of care and look forward to seeing the amazing work they’ll do for both pets and owners in the community.”
Rathert left the mortgage business in October 2022. “Culturally, it wasn’t a great fit.” The job and burn out was taking a toll on his emotional and physical health, he says. He took six months off to recoup while seeking a new livelihood that could both provide for his family and provide for a quality life. That’s not to say there wasn’t big-time risk involved. Of course, there was.
And a whole different set of problem solving to tackle.
He consulted with a business coach and had actually found the location before he found the model.
“I lost like 30 pounds while I was off. During that time my health got a lot better,” he says. “I didn't realize how stressed I was. I was able to dive more into spending time with the kids and coaching and doing some traveling. Fortunately for me, my career had done well to afford us the ability to do those kinds of things, but I didn't realize how unhealthy and stressed I was.
“For me, taking the leap of faith was more like, how can I not do this for me? Clearly what I was doing wasn't good for me, and I was traveling way too much. It was more like I had to find something that's going to allow me to be healthier and more present, and something more rewarding that I enjoy.”
Scheibelhut is the store’s general manager.
Scheibelhut and Rathert worked with one another in the mortgage industry. When asked to join the Ratherts in their new enterprise, Rathert says, “she jumped at it.”
“For kind of all the same reasons” Rathert had left mortgage, he says. “She’s a huge dog lover, so, for her, it's a much more rewarding career. It eventually led to her buying in and being a part-owner, which I love. I love that she's invested.”
Though a franchise, The Dog Stop gave the partners an opportunity to run and brand the business as locally owned, which it is, of course. It’s the both of best worlds of what a franchise can offer: A proven model and blueprint and some back-office support, but locally owned and operated.
The partners have an assistant manager and two dog-care managers. Rathert sees a day when his franchise expands to other stores in the area with this mentored management staff running those operations.
Rathert and Niki are Iowa natives. He went to Iowa and she attended Northern Iowa. They are the parents of two children. The family moved here in 2012, a job the reason for the relocation.
“We love it down here,” Rathert says. “I have no regrets. Not interested in moving back. I don't like the cold weather anymore. I golf and I fish, and I can do all those things 12 months a year.”
With his new and improved life.
