Some pet-care businesses are built around a love of dogs. Others are built around a desire to make a difference. At What's Up Dawg! in Sherman, Texas, those two passions come together in a truly unique way.
Founded in partnership with House of Eli, a faith-based organization dedicated to mentoring and supporting young men, What's Up Dawg! was created to provide more than daycare and boarding services. It was designed to create meaningful opportunities, build confidence, and help individuals discover their purpose, all while delivering exceptional care for dogs.
As the facility prepared to open and welcome its first guests, the team needed systems that could support both their mission and their growth.
By implementing Gingr, What's Up Dawg! found a way to streamline operations, stay organized, and create a seamless experience for staff, clients, and the dogs they serve.
Kennel Manager Elizabeth Coon said the Gingr platform has become an important tool in helping the team focus less on administrative tasks and more on what matters most: creating a safe, loving environment where every dog feels at home and every person feels valued.
After all, a love of dogs is what got her into this line of work in the first place.
"My love for dogs has been lifelong, and they have always been part of our family," Elizabeth said.
That passion comes from decades of hands-on experience. Over the years, Elizabeth has shared her life with five dogs and currently cares for Tommy and Yoshi, two beloved pups who continue to inspire her every day. Caring for Tommy, who has epilepsy, gave her firsthand experience supporting a special-needs dog and deepened her understanding of the trust pet parents place in their caregivers.
"That experience has made me especially comfortable caring for dogs with medical needs, anxiety, or those who simply require extra attention, and I deeply understand how vital trust is for pet parents."
Before joining What's Up Dawg!, Elizabeth operated a successful dog sitting and walking business, serving more than 100 families over five years. Combined with her lifelong love of animals and commitment to serving others, she was a natural fit for a facility with a mission unlike any other.
What's Up Dawg! was born from a challenge facing House of Eli. As the organization grew, so did the need for meaningful employment opportunities.
"House of Eli is always full, and that’s a blessing," Elizabeth said. "Every young man here needs meaningful work, purpose, and the chance to grow."
Looking for answers, the team reflected on a simple question: "When the needs felt overwhelming, we did what we’ve learned to do best—we asked God, 'How do we do this impossible thing?' And His answer was simple: 'What do you already have?'"
The answer was dogs.
"What we already had was a group of young men who connect deeply with dogs. Time and time again, we saw how being around dogs brought peace, joy, and healing," Elizabeth said.
The team witnessed how dogs helped build confidence, foster responsibility, and create opportunities for personal growth.
"Dogs don’t see mistakes. They don’t see failures. They see people exactly as God does: full of worth, love, and potential," Elizabeth said.
That realization inspired a new vision.
"That’s when it clicked — maybe a dog kennel isn’t just a business… maybe it’s a calling," she said.
With community support, faith, and determination, What's Up Dawg! became a reality. Opening in February 2026, the facility was created to serve both local dogs and the young men whose lives are being transformed through meaningful work.
"Our hope is simple: Your dogs return home happy, loved, and well cared for," Elizabeth said. "Our young men discover their value, purpose, and God-given potential."
At its core, What's Up Dawg! is focused on providing exceptional daycare and boarding services.
"Locally owned and proudly serving Sherman, Texas, our goal is simple: to provide a fun, clean, and caring environment where dogs can play, relax, and be themselves," Elizabeth said.
She said the team emphasizes supervised play, positive interactions, and individualized attention for every guest.
"Our team is made up of dog lovers who are trained to watch behavior closely, encourage safe play, and give each pup the attention they deserve," she said.
That welcoming atmosphere extends to both pets and people.
"My favorite aspect of working at What’s Up Dawg! would probably be the energy," Elizabeth said. "Our facility has a fun, laid-back, peaceful, at-home vibe that makes both employees and customers feel comfortable right away."
Whether she's interacting with clients or spending time with the dogs, Elizabeth finds fulfillment in helping create an environment where everyone feels valued.
"One of the best parts is getting to spend time with the dogs," she said. "I love being around them, seeing their personalities, and helping make sure they’re happy, safe, and well cared for."
As a new facility preparing for growth, the team knew they needed software that could help them stay organized while delivering a professional client experience.
"What made us decide to use Gingr to run our dog facility was its ability to keep everything organized and running smoothly," she said.
The team was particularly drawn to Gingr's ability to centralize daily operations.
"It makes managing bookings, customer information, and daily schedules much more efficient, which helps us stay focused on providing the best care for the dogs," Elizabeth said.
Just as important was the user experience for both staff and clients.
"We also liked how user-friendly it is for both staff and clients, making communication and check-ins simple and convenient," she said.
For Elizabeth and her team, the Facility Calendar quickly became one of the most valuable tools in their daily workflow.
"My favorite feature of Gingr is the facility calendar and booking system," she said. "It makes it easy to see our daily schedule at a glance and keep everything organized, which is so important in a busy dog facility."
With a busy daycare and boarding operation, having a clear view of reservations and daily activity is essential.
The team uses the calendar to manage reservations, avoid scheduling conflicts, and keep operations running smoothly.
"Being able to quickly manage reservations, track appointments, and avoid scheduling conflicts helps our day run smoothly and efficiently," she said.
Like many businesses implementing new software, the What's Up Dawg! team experienced a few learning curves as they got started.
"Since we’re fairly new to using Gingr, there have definitely been a few learning curves along the way," she said.
During one particularly challenging setup process, they turned to Gingr's support team for guidance.
"The Gingr support team was really there for us during that time. They were quick to respond, patient, and walked us through everything step by step until we felt confident," she said.
The experience gave the team confidence as they continued learning the platform.
"It was reassuring to know that we had that level of support, especially while we’re still learning, and it made the whole process much less stressful," Elizabeth said.
As they continue exploring the platform, the team has already found several ways Gingr helps improve day-to-day operations. One strategy they've embraced is using the Facility Calendar proactively.
"One helpful 'trick' we’ve discovered is really taking advantage of the facility calendar to stay ahead of the day," Elizabeth said. "It makes it much easier to plan staffing, manage busy times, and avoid overbooking."
They also rely heavily on detailed customer and pet profiles. Having feeding instructions, behavioral notes, and preferences readily available ensures every dog receives consistent, personalized care.
"We’ve also found that keeping customer and pet profiles as detailed and up-to-date as possible helps a lot," she said. "Having notes, feeding instructions, and preferences all in one place saves time and keeps everyone on the same page."
Even in the early stages of their journey with Gingr, the impact has been clear. Elizabeth put it succinctly:
"Gingr has had a very positive impact on the business at What’s Up Dawg! in Sherman, Texas," she aid.
The team has seen improvements in operational efficiency, customer experience, and business growth.
"Since implementing the software, we’ve definitely seen growth, especially in how efficiently we’re able to manage bookings and serve more clients without feeling overwhelmed," she said.
While they're still gathering long-term metrics, they've already noticed encouraging trend, including an increase in customer activity and repeat bookings..
The simple scheduling process and improved organization have made it easier for clients to engage with the business while allowing staff to stay focused on what matters most.
"Overall, Gingr has helped streamline our operations, improve the customer experience, and support the steady growth of our business," Elizabeth said.
As What's Up Dawg! continues to grow, Elizabeth and her team are excited about what lies ahead. From the software itself to the support team behind it, Gingr has become an important part of their foundation.
"We’re really just thankful for everything so far," she said. "It’s made a big difference in helping us stay organized and continue to grow."
As they continue learning new ways to leverage the platform, one thing remains unchanged: their commitment to providing exceptional care for dogs while creating meaningful opportunities for the young men they serve.
"We appreciate having a system we can rely on, and a team that’s there to help when we need it," Elizabeth said. "We’re excited to keep learning more about Gingr and continue building our business with it."
Whether you're launching a new facility or scaling an established operation, Gingr helps pet-care businesses streamline bookings, organize customer information, improve communication, and deliver exceptional client experiences. See why facilities like What's Up Dawg! trust Gingr to help them stay organized, grow confidently, and focus on what matters most—the pets in their care. Schedule a demo today.