Wag N’ Wash Franchise

Wag N’ Wash was founded by Jef Strauss and Dan Remus. In a 2021 interview, brand executive Kristen Risby traced its origins to 1999 in Colorado Springs. The founders wanted a business where they could bring their aging Dalmatian to work. Their early concept combined self-service washing with a bakery for pets.

Risby described the development of five Colorado stores before the founders turned to franchising as a way to expand. The business evolved into a combination of pet products and services, retaining the connection between owners and their companion animals that inspired the original shop.

Pet Supplies Plus announced its acquisition of Wag N’ Wash in February 2022. The announcement described the brands continuing separately, with Wag N’ Wash focused on self-wash, grooming and food options primarily for dogs, alongside select cat products. Today, the franchise website continues to identify Pet Supplies Plus as the source of broader corporate support while presenting Wag N’ Wash as a distinct neighborhood pet-service and retail concept.

The franchise FAQ describes real estate assistance before opening, including help finding sites and reviewing a lease. Training covers staffing the store and using employee learning modules and online education. A district team leader provides guidance on recruiting and training employees.

The brand’s current support overview identifies operations, store design, merchandising, marketing and employee management as training and support areas. These subjects connect the preparation of the premises with the work of running the store.

Ongoing corporate resources include marketing campaigns, supplier relationships and business-operations support through Pet Supplies Plus. District guidance and online learning give the owner resources for developing the team as the business operates. The owner still needs to manage day-to-day staffing, customer service and execution; support does not replace those responsibilities.

Wag N’ Wash brings several pet-care activities into one customer visit. A store can serve someone who wants to wash a dog, book grooming or shop for food and supplies. That creates a concrete service proposition for a neighborhood business.

The opportunity may suit a buyer who enjoys customer-facing retail and the practical demands of a service team. Its appeal lies in combining personal local relationships with shared business resources, rather than treating enthusiasm for pets alone as an operating plan.

Use our pet-care franchise model comparison to compare service mix, facilities, staffing and owner workload across pet businesses.