Meet Shannon Renn | Owner of Rotten Dog Sports Lodge

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shannon Renn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shannon, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
After years of working in the insurance industry, I want to build something around animals instead of sitting behind a desk. Much of my life I have had my own pets (mostly dogs) and further volunteered with rescues.

I was the customer back then, having to choose a way to care for my own when we left town. Often times we think of boarding being stressful for the pups; however, it is a huge stress for the pet parents. People want peace of mind when they leave their dog. Years before I opened the doors, I started to plan just how I could provide a home based, loving environment for their dogs. Clearly the only option was to make it my lifestyle – in my home and build out enrichment filled days, creating a place where dogs feel safe, fulfilled and loved. After all, people aren’t just paying for a kennel. They’re paying for trust.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Rotten Dog Sports Lodge was built from a deep love for dogs.

After years working in insurance and spending much of my personal life involved in dog rescue and caring for animals, I realized there was a huge gap in the pet care world. Too many dogs were being treated like numbers instead of family. Traditional boarding facilities often felt stressful, loud, and impersonal. I wanted to create something warmer, safer, more personal, and genuinely enriching for dogs and their owners.

That vision became Rotten Dog Sports Lodge — a home-based dog boarding, training, and sports facility in Braselton, Georgia that combines professional-level care with the comfort of a real home environment. We focus heavily on individualized care, enrichment, sports, relationship-building, and creating an environment where dogs can relax, thrive, and have fun.

We are especially proud of our all-inclusive approach. We don’t believe owners should be “nickel and dimed” for quality care. Medications, individual attention, enrichment activities, playtime, support for picky eaters, late-night potty breaks, photos and videos, and genuine one-on-one interaction are all included because we believe those things are part of proper care — not upgrades.

Further, we have added training in areas such as dock diving, swimming, barn hunt, scent work, agility, trick training, and also enrichment daycare. Watching dogs gain confidence, build skills, and genuinely enjoy themselves is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.

The journey certainly was not easy. Like many small business owners, we started with big dreams, limited resources, and a lot of uncertainty. Building a business from the ground up requires sacrifice, long hours, constant learning, and the ability to adapt quickly. There were moments of exhaustion, financial stress, self-doubt, and setbacks that tested us. But every challenge became an opportunity to improve, evolve, and stay focused on our mission.

One of the biggest lessons learned along the way is that authenticity matters. People connect with businesses that genuinely care. We learned that building trust, being transparent, treating dogs like family, and consistently showing up for clients creates something far more valuable than simply running a service — it creates a community.

Another lesson has been the importance of never becoming complacent. We are always looking for ways to improve the experience for both dogs and owners, whether that means expanding activities, improving facilities, refining training methods, or simply listening closely to what our clients need most.

What we want the world to know about Rotten Dog Sports Lodge is simple: this business was built with heart. Every dog that comes through our doors matters to us. We care deeply about their happiness, safety, emotional well-being, and quality of care. We are proud to offer a place where dogs can stay, play, learn, and be loved while their owners have peace of mind knowing they are in capable and compassionate hands.

At the end of the day, Your dog is our dog. Rotten Dog Sports Lodge is more than a business to us — it is a passion, a lifestyle, and a dream that grew through hard work, resilience, and an unwavering love for dogs.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
One of the best things about Braselton, GA is there are so many options within reach. The best part of this area is that you can go from peaceful countryside to wineries, lakes, mountain towns, racing, or Atlanta energy pretty quickly.

Day 1 — “Welcome to Georgia”

We’d start slow.

Breakfast at a local café such as The Galloping Gallette. We could then check out downtown Braselton, Sugar Hill, Suwanee (depending on the events they may have going on). Then maybe catch dinner at a local restaurant such as Jacks Bar and Grill to experience the locals Cheers Version here in Braselton.

Day 2 — Lake Day

You can’t come here and not do a lake day. We could take our boat out on either Lake Lanier for the day. Soak up the sun and fun. Stop for lunch at Pelican Petes and then wrap up with dinner later at FishTales or if we want to go casual, The Twisted Orr.

Day 3 — Mountain Town Escape to either Helen, Daholonega or Blue Ridge depending on the events they may be having. Most likely to find good food, music, winerys, mountain overlooks, waterfalls and shops.

Day 4 – Go check out the Atlanta Safari Park. Drive through 156 acres of free roaming habitat, with animals from all over the world! The Drive-Thru Safari, with two miles of roads, takes guests approximately one hour to complete. Animals eagerly greet guests; many species will come right up to the window of your vehicle. Following your safari, explore the walk-thru portion of the park where guests can get out and explore the free-flight bird aviary, giraffe exhibit, petting zoo, and giftshop.

Then head over to Lake Hartwell for dinner on the lake at JR Cash’s Bar and Grill.

Day 5 — Atlanta Adventure

Head over to the Atlanta area to check out one or some of these choices:

Atlanta Braves game while exploring The Battery and Eating/Drinking
or Ponce City Market

Day 6 – Take a Glass Blowing class in Lawrenceville GA at Cavalry Glassblowing Studio. Then at night see a good Concert. (if available) at The Hall at Bourbon Brothers Gainesville, GA . They have a good restaurant there also. (if not an option) maybe see if Buford Community Center, Town Park & Theatre has a concert or play.

Day 7 — Slower Local Day at Chateau Elan with a Resort Pass for Pool Time, Spa and Restaurants.

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Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am truly humbled by all the support I have had. It starts with my parents (all 4 of them) Wayne, Sandra, Earnest and Marlie, who raised me to work hard and honestly and treat others as you would want to be treated. Daily, my Husband, Steve Renn who has stood by my dream and been a source of stability and encoragement during the entire process. Brother in- law and significant other, Ryan and Kelly, who lived and worked here daily with the dogs and cared for them from the start. The help doesn’t stop there, Samantha, Meghan, Madalyn, Genesis, Jason and Faith have all been amazing associates here that coordinate care for the pups. Behind every happy dog, every clean kennel, every late-night potty break, every game of fetch, every cuddle session, every photo update, and every wagging tail… is a staff member giving their all. This team is the reason everything runs the way it does. From zoomies to slobber to pool splashes to enrichment chaos, these humans show up every day with patience, heart, and passion for the pups. We are grateful for the hours worked and dedication they bring to our dogs, our clients, and our business every day. I can’t leave out my CPA, Insurance agents, SCORE and the International Boarding and Pet Services Association organization for solid advise and support.

Website: https://www.rottendogsportslodge.com

Facebook: dogsportslodge

Image Credits
MeghanBodie and her Scentwork GSPs