Aspen’s Dog House, the best place to treat all of your canine’s special needs, is opening soon in two La Jolla locations.
One of the first dog-exclusive pet stores, Aspen’s is co-owned by business partners and dog lovers Ace Rogers and Cody Decker. Decker also owns Decker’s Dogs + Cat at 7928 Ivanhoe Ave. in La Jolla Village.
The new dogs-only pet store with all the bells and whistles will have two initial outlets at The Shops at La Jolla Village at 8867 Villa La Jolla Drive #608 near Whole Foods and at 5622 La Jolla Blvd.
Aspen’s is named for Rogers’ adopted three-legged pooch that he “takes everywhere.” Rogers said they chose his pet’s name because “it was just a great way to brand our new company and to create a greater awareness for handicapped dogs.”
“We wanted our company name to be both symbolic and inspirational,” agreed Decker.
Decker said Rogers was one of the first customers “to walk into my small business” adding that “over time we became friends, one thing led to another, and now we’re in business together.”
On their company website, aspensdoghouse.com, the business duo says their intent was to “create an exclusive high-end experience for both dogs and their humans and a premier destination for dog owners who want to go above and beyond for their canine companions. We believe dogs deserve the very best and have worked tirelessly to curate an unparalleled selection of top-of-the-line products and services. From premium A5 wagyu meals, state-of-the-art dog washing stations, and the finest dog toys, we have everything you need to spoil your pup.”
Having been in the pet shop business for over 10 years, Decker found that “over 80% of my business was dog-related,” which ultimately led to his involvement in creating a store exclusively for canines that were “just a little more personalized and creative.”
Decker noted they didn’t want to create a typical pet store where “the fish stuff is next to the dog collars,” but instead create “a high-end experience for people who love their pets and to ‘just be wowed’ when they walk in.” He added, “We didn’t want to have a little of everything – but the best of everything.”
On Aspen’s Dog House’s website, it is noted that “every dog is different, and that’s why we offer a wide range of products and services to cater to all breeds and sizes. Our selection of premium food and treats is specially formulated to provide optimal nutrition for dogs of all ages and activity levels. We also offer a variety of grooming supplies and training classes to help keep your dog looking and feeling their best.”
Aspen’s will also be community-centric.
“We’re going to be working within our community, focusing big on charities that are helping out other pets,” Decker said. “We hope this leads to other people helping pets after they’re inspired to by us. We want to be a great platform, and place, for anyone involved with dogs.”
Rogers and Decker recently donated over $10,000 worth of Kong toys for 700 dogs in care at the San Diego Humane Society, to provide additional mental and physical enrichment crucial to those pets’ health and happiness while they await new homes.
Decker noted he and Rogers’ new pet store is a team effort, adding Aspen’s Dog House will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. He said he’ll be focused more on operations, whereas Rogers will be handling the marketing end of things. “He’ll (Rogers) bring great ideas and I believe together we’re going to make a really awesome team,” concluded Decker.
