Neil Gill, President and CEO of Dogtopia, was recently spotlighted in Franchise Update Magazine’s 2025 Annual Franchise Development Report. In his profile, titled “Catering to Canines,” Neil discussed his leadership and management style, the brand’s technological advancements, consumer trends and more. He also highlighted Dogtopia’s significant growth in the booming billion-dollar pet industry and the consumer shift toward pet health and wellness.

While discussing ways Dogtopia continues to refine business operations, Neil shared, “As the largest operator in pet wellness, it is our responsibility to drive change and streamline some of the antiquated processes while retaining the highest quality of care for dogs to exercise, socialize, and learn. The health and overall wellness of our dogs are always our key priority.”

Speaking of health, Neil sees an increasing concern among pet parents, marking it a visible trend in consumer spending habits across Dogtopia locations. “Parents are becoming far more concerned for the health of their dogs than in the past, so we focus on the six attributes for healthy lives and the development of our range of wellness products. It is interesting to think that Dogtopia sees a dog so often that we do have a genuine impact on their overall health and wellness through exercise, socialization, and general education of dogs in the playrooms. There is no doubt dogs are now influencing human decisions,” he explained.

Neil also discussed the importance of maintaining company culture, from his office to franchisees alike. “It all starts by setting the example,” he shared. “You must be on the front line with your teams, and that includes franchisees. If you’re not constantly reminding people of what you do and why, you’ll lose the culture. This includes regular store visits, in-person workshops, conferences, in-person training, digital webinars, training sessions, and, sometimes, simply having a meal together.”

He further outlined the importance of Dogtopia’s training and support to our franchise network. “When I spend time with our franchisees, especially in training, I’m always reminded of the importance of our role at the support office. They rely on us to deliver on the strategy, to maintain our leadership position, and to be their support and motivation. We also provide the systems, tools, and process to successfully run their business.”

As for the future, particularly in the next 12 to 18 months, he discussed Dogtopia’s continued focus on optimizing the brand. “We’re forging forward with beneficial technology and convenience at the center of everything we do and continuing to build a genuine wellness brand for both the dog and the parent through leading-edge services and products.”

To read more, including how technology and AI are interwoven into Dogtopia’s operations, and more, click here.

If you are interested in becoming a Dogtopia franchisee, learn more about our support, culture, and what makes Dogtopia stand out in this industry.