An Ankeny couple channeled their love for dogs into a new business that promises a unique experience.
In June, Jonathan and Sally Scroggs opened a Zoom Room dog training studio at 1875 N. Ankeny Blvd. The Scroggses have lived in Ankeny since the early 2000s and have been involved in the community through sports and volunteering.
They’re also passionate about their 2½-old labradoodle with a beard named Murphy, and were looking for something outside of their previous professional careers: Sally in accounting and Jonathan in business analytics. They did some research and found Zoom Room, the dog training franchise, which has another location in the West Des Moines area.
“It ticked all the boxes,” Sally said.
The Zoom Room has group classes and private training for dogs in obedience, agility and social skills. The emphasis is on positive reinforcement, with owners giving out plenty of treats as they work with their dogs. There are also events like dog discos and room to book dog parties. The Scroggses are also working on an event with a local brewery.
The Scroggses say they hope to provide an opportunity for owners to build positive relationships with their dogs while doing interesting things — and even getting in some steps.
Even people without a dog are invited to come watch.
Jonathan said what makes Zoom Room different is that it offers a more flexible schedule and doesn’t operate on a semester system. People come in when they are able, but there are still graduations based on the skills both dogs and their owners develop.
The Zoom Room also sells toys, treats and training gear, and has a “cadaver bar” with animal parts for dogs to chew on.
The Scroggses say they have already seen dogs make great progress in the past few weeks.
The Scroggs family lives on the north side of Ankeny, where the Zoom Room is, and their children are involved in the business as well.
“This is a huge challenge,” Jonathan said. “It’s fun to build something that’s our very own.”
Chris Higgins covers the eastern suburbs for the Register. Reach him at chiggins@registermedia.com or 515-423-5146 and follow him on Twitter @chris_higgins_.