District Dogs began in 2014 as a one-man dog walking operation, founded by Jacob Hensley. With Jacob as the sole walker, the business grew steadily—adding one happy pup (and client) at a time. Within two years, District Dogs had evolved into a team of walkers covering much of Northwest DC, quickly earning a reputation for warm, reliable, and outstanding pet care. From the beginning, our commitment has always been to go above and beyond for every dog in our care—and our clients will tell you the same.
In the fall of 2016, Jacob’s vision of a full-service pet care company came to life with the opening of our first storefront in DC’s Park View neighborhood. That milestone marked the beginning of an exciting expansion. In spring 2019, we opened our second location in the fast-growing Navy Yard community, followed by a third in the vibrant Shaw neighborhood in October 2020.
The momentum continued in spring 2022 with two new locations: our flagship training center and our first Virginia outpost in Arlington’s Clarendon neighborhood. We expanded further into Northeast DC with the opening of another facility that same year, extending our reach across the city. In 2023, we opened in National Landing, located within Amazon’s HQ2 development, and launched our Alexandria, VA store—our most recent company-owned location.
In total, Jacob has personally opened and operated seven District Dogs locations, each carefully designed to reflect the brand’s values of excellence, transparency, and community. He also played a key role in launching a handful of franchise units, assisting with everything from space design and planning to operational systems and team training.
To support franchise growth, Jacob partnered in 2022 with longtime real estate advisor Steve Gaudio to co-develop a national franchise model. Together, they created the framework for expanding the District Dogs experience beyond the D.C. region. During that time, Jacob and Steve also developed a complementary brand—Molly’s, named after his own dog—as a dedicated identity for the franchise business. Though the brand transition of the Alexandria location occurred after the sale, Jacob was instrumental in naming and building the Molly’s brand.
In 2025, Jacob sold the franchise business, to Barry Madani and his team. He continues to lead District Dogs as an independent company, focused on strengthening and growing its corporate-owned locations while staying true to the values that started it all.
After building a successful career in the world of finance, Jacob Hensley realized something vital was missing: true fulfillment. As he considered a career change, he kept returning to a lifelong passion—caring for animals. With years of hands-on experience walking, breeding, and training dogs, Jacob had a deep-rooted connection to the world of pet care.
His time in the fast-paced finance industry gave him a unique perspective on the demands faced by busy professionals. He understood firsthand how important it is for pet owners to have peace of mind—knowing their dogs are receiving the best possible care, attention, and exercise.
Motivated by both his personal passion and professional insights, Jacob set out to build a pet care business that offered dependable, high-quality service with a genuine, personal touch. In 2014, he founded District Dogs—a company born from love for dogs, and a commitment to helping their humans live easier, happier lives.
