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

Hi John, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Social Impact: How does your business help the community or the world?

TheDogBFF Social Club helps the pet community by offering pet owners brand new innovative ways to bond with our pets and the whole family. All of the events that I host or have created, have been created from a true dog lovers perspective. I always keep our furry family members in mind, and my ultimate goal was to create ways for us pet owners to be active with our dogs. I would like for every pet owner out there to have the chance to enjoy their dogs, just as much as I enjoy mine. The Social Club helps the world by displaying visuals of my dog and I breaking barriers and showing pet owners Worldwide that the impossible can be possible with our dogs. Whether we were flying state to state on an airplane, eating meals at high end restaurants, conducting professional photoshoots at some of the most exclusive places around the country, we wanted to show pet owners around the world all of the different ways that you could actually enjoy your dogs and the dogs would enjoy it as well!
Magic Hands Pet Grooming helps the community by giving every single pet owner in the community a chance the to give their dogs the ultimate SPA Day treatment from a passionate dog groomer that loves his craft. That may sound cliche, but loving your craft really matters!
Another key way that Magic Hands Pet Grooming helps the community is through professional education. I’m no expert dog groomer and nor do I try to act like one, but I am learning all of my grooming skills from an expert dog groomer and I want to be able to share the skills that I’m learning with other pet owners Worldwide, who share the same passion for pets as I. Through proper education, I’m able to show pet owners in the importance of getting their pets groomed on a routine schedule and/or if not, the effects it can have on their anatomy. I’m able to show pet owners the difference between using base level grooming supplies and top notch grooming supplies and why the difference matters.
The Fur_casso Painting Experience: What is Fur-Casso?
Fur_casso is the first of its kind. A painting experience that explores the creativity of a dog’s mind. The world’s first painting class curated specifically for dogs, hosted by dogs, with classical paintings as the muse. Fun and entertaining for the dogs and their owners (ages 3+). Perfect for the entire family outing or an out of the box date. A great way for your dog to socialize outside of the stuffy dog kennels, hotels, and uppity dog parks. Come experience a painting class like you have never experienced before. The work of arts in each session is inspired by world-renowned artist Picasso and yours for the taking. Fur_casso is innovating the former concepts of canines in art by establishing a platform for canines to actually create the art. Fur_casso will be hosting events around the world, both virtually and at various pop up locations. Inspired by the renaissance and greats, particularly Pablo Picasso, hence the name, Fur_casso ! We specialize in “abstract expressionism,” but we call it here, “Abstract Canine Expressionism.”

What is ACE (Abstract Canine Expressionism)

A ritualistic style of painting inspired by the 1940s movement of the Abstract Expressionist in NYC. It involves steady motion between the dog artist and their owner(s), which resembles a transic dance. It’s quite amazing what we’ve seen some dogs do. It’s easy to become entranced by your dog’s ability to maneuver on the canvas like a true artist. ACE involves tail whips, Eskimo kisses, paw prints, and of course teamwork! In a sense, your dog becomes your “paint brush.”

THE PROCESS

Canvases are placed on the ground, so that the “dog artists” can attack the canvas from all angles, with no limitations. Like a Gladiator entering the amphitheatre ready for battle. We provide the space, the muse, the art supplies, and libations for all! Of course for virtual meet ups other arrangements will be made – so stay tuned to how we will be organizing our virtual events.

What should our readers know about your business?
TheDogBFF Social Club helps the pet community by offering pet owners brand new innovative ways to bond with our pets and the whole family. All of the events that I host or have created, have been created from a true dog lovers perspective. I always keep our furry family members in mind, and my ultimate goal was to create ways for us pet owners to be active with our dogs. I would like for every pet owner out there to have the chance to enjoy their dogs, just as much as I enjoy mine. The Social Club helps the world by displaying visuals of my dog and I practicing all kinds of responsible dog ownership techniques as we continue breaking barriers and showing pet owners Worldwide that the impossible can be possible with our dogs. Whether we were flying state to state on an airplane, eating meals at high end restaurants, conducting professional photoshoots at some of the most exclusive places around the country, we wanted to show pet owners around the world all of the different ways that you could actually enjoy your dogs and the dogs would enjoy it as well!
Magic Hands Pet Grooming helps the community by giving every single pet owner in the community, a chance to give their dogs the ultimate SPA Day treatment from a dog groomer that is passionate about his craft. That may sound cliche, but that’s really matters!
Another key way that Magic Hands Pet Grooming helps the community is through professional education. I’m no expert dog groomer and nor do I try to act like one, but I am learning all of my grooming skills from an expert dog groomer and I want to be able to share the skills that I’m learning with other pet owners Worldwide, who share the same passion for pets as I. Through proper education, I’m able to show pet owners in my community and beyond the importance of getting their pets groomed on a routine schedule and/or if not, the effects it can have on their anatomy. I’m able to show pet owners the difference between using base level grooming supplies and top notch grooming supplies and why the difference matters.
The Fur_Casso Painting Experience: What is Fur-Casso?
Fur_casso is the first of its kind. A painting experience that explores the creativity of a dog’s mind. The world’s first painting class curated specifically for dogs, hosted by dogs, with classical paintings as the muse. Fun and entertaining for the dogs and their owners (ages 3+). Perfect for the entire family outing or an out of the box date. A great way for your dog to socialize outside of the stuffy dog kennels, hotels, and uppity dog parks. Come experience a painting class like you have never experienced before. The work of arts in each session is inspired by world-renowned artist Picasso and yours for the taking. Fur_casso is innovating the former concepts of canines in art by establishing a platform for canines to actually create the art. Fur_casso will be hosting events around the world, both virtually and at various pop up locations. Inspired by the renaissance and greats, particularly Pablo Picasso, hence the name, Fur_casso ! We specialize in “abstract expressionism,” but we call it here, “Abstract Canine Expressionism.”

What is ACE (Abstract Canine Expressionism)

A ritualistic style of painting inspired by the 1940s movement of the Abstract Expressionist in NYC. It involves steady motion between the dog artist and their owner(s), which resembles a transic dance. It’s quite amazing what we’ve seen some dogs do. It’s easy to become entranced by your dog’s ability to maneuver on the canvas like a true artist. ACE involves tail whips, Eskimo kisses, paw prints, and of course teamwork! In a sense, your dog becomes your “paint brush.”

THE PROCESS

Canvases are placed on the ground, so that the “dog artists” can attack the canvas from all angles, with no limitations. Like a Gladiator entering the amphitheatre ready for battle. We provide the space, the muse, the art supplies, and libations for all! Of course for virtual meet ups other arrangements will be made – so stay tuned to how we will be organizing our virtual events.
Besides being a black business owner in my community, my exceptional customer service skills are what sets my businesses apart from others. Whenever you walk into my places of business you can expect to be greeted by a smiling face every single day. All of my employees will know about all of the products and services in my stores and how they can assist pet owners coming into my stores with potential questions. Being prepared is just another aspect that sets me apart from my competition. I am most excited about what the future has in store for me as far as career wise. I am most excited about creating financial freedom for not only myself, but for my family as well. I have gotten to where I’m at today business wise, by pure determination and enlightenment. I have known for a long time that I wanted to be successful in the pet industry, I just needed to figure out what I was most passionate about and would love doing for a lifetime!?!? Servicing other pet owners and loving the satisfaction that I put on their faces from me helping them keep their pets in great condition and hosting pet friendly events to give pet owners the opportunity to have a great time with their pets has been the most fulfilling for me. Creating cherishable memories that will last a lifetime with our fur babies is my purpose (on top of displaying responsible pet ownership techniques and spreading vital information on Animal Welfare!) It wasn’t easy getting to where I’m at today, and to be honest, I’m still on my “Marathon,” but I have been able to overcome a lot of distractions by focusing on myself, my businesses and the things that make me happy. I have been taught so many lessons along my journey, but probably the most important one for me is to NEVER GIVE UP! Whether Im making small moves or power moves at the time, I’m determined to never give up until I get to where I’m trying reach. I would like the world to know about everything, all of the ways that I have impacted the Pet Industry on a Worldwide level. The brand new inventions that I created in the pet industry for us pet owners to actually start bonding with our dogs. The world’s first pet friendly social club that I established, that not only gives pet owners the incentives of indulging in delicious food and drinks at restaurants with our dogs, but my social club also showcases small businesses in the community who may not receive the proper awareness they deserve. TheDogBFF social club also showcases the pet friendly businesses in the community that pet owners are allowed to bring our dogs with us to. Overall, these are some of the ways that I have brought joy to the world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take my BFF to the Beach for sure. We would go to a different beach each day just so that they could get a different feel for each beach. We would go to lunch in Redondo/Hermosa/SantaMonica/Venice/LA and dinner in Hollywood. I haven’t been to Universal Studios and City Walk in a while, so we would definitely go have some fun there. We would get up in the morning and do some running at Runyon Canyon and the Culver City Stairs to get our cardio systems flowing for the day. We would go visit the Crypto Arena and the take some pictures, the Forum and take some pictures, Intuit Dome and take some pictures, the Hollywood sign and take some pictures., Nipsey Hussle and Kendrick Lamar murals and snap some cherishable pictures. When it’s time to have some partying fun, I would take them to a rooftop party DTLA or a day party in Hollywood. We would do our shopping in a couple of different areas: the Fairfax district, the South Coast Plaza in OC, the fair out there as well. We definitely would hit up some art museums like the Broad,MOCA, LACMA, 2Pac, LBMoA and check out some art. I don’t have any favorite lounge spots that I hang out at, but we would find one where people are having a great time and indulge. Before it’s all said and done, I would take my friend to Long Beach and show them all of the hotspots in the city. Where I was born, raised and branded. We would visit the Pike/Aquarium, etc.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Yes! First and foremost I’m thanking God for life and making me the person that I am, I’m shouting out my parents for creating me, I’m shouting out my daughter Juri Truitt just because I love her so much and shoutout to my fur babies Queen Califia and the Illest B*tch Alive for helping me find my purpose in life. Shoutout to Erin Huland of The Creative Groomer for the grooming lessons. Shoutout Kristen of the Long Beach Community Table for the teamwork, Shoutout the SPCALA for giving me the chance to pass out gifts during the All Paws Rescue Drive 24, Shoutout Michael Kombogiannis of PetWants (Lakeway) for taking a chance on our Art demo and overall Shoutout to all of the club members apart of TheDogBFF Social Club, that way I don’t miss anyone who has helped me out!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedogbff?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDogBFF?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits
@SamPhotoMartin

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