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When Pennie Mahon is not at her Cy-Fair dog training business, Barks 5th Avenue, she can often be found winning dog Frisbee competitions and speaking about dog training at seminars across the globe.

While she is away, the shop is run by her trusted staff, including General Manager Joe Spencer, trainer Oscar Alvarez and salon supervisor Kristi Wilson. All have developed a passion for working with man’s best friend over the years.

“It’s just a very happy place to work,” Spencer said. “I owned a dog before I started working here, but I never realized how much I love dogs until this job.”

The business was founded in 2000 by Mahon and her husband, Pat. August marks the 16-year anniversary since the couple opened their original 1,000-square-foot location on Cypress North Houston Road.

The Mahons relocated to FM 1960 in 2008. Although Barks started as a dog grooming business, over the years it has expanded to a full-service dog salon, branched out into dog day care and dog training, and started selling food and toys.

Dogs enrolled in day care are divided up into three groups: puppies, small pets and large pets. The former two groups are kept in an inside play area, while large dogs are allowed to run around in the fenced-off, 1-acre play area in the backyard, Spencer said.

“A staff member is out there at all times so the dogs are never left unattended,” he said.

Training services are something the owners take seriously, Spencer said. Customers can choose from several class options, including one-on-one training sessions, potty training and three-week canine boot camps.

“For the boot camps, our trainer is spending time every day with the dog and really gets to know them,” Spencer said. “Most customers come to us with good dogs who just need some polishing on their obedience, but we work to fix behavioral issues as well.”

Spencer said training is based on positive reinforcement, and dogs are never shocked, yelled at or hit.

After training a total of 83 dogs in 2015, Spencer said Barks is on track to train 200 in 2016; the business already trained 116 pets by the end of July.

Business has grown largely by word-of-mouth, he said. Many customers who patronize the business take advantage of all the services offered and come in six days of the week, Spencer said.

“People say we are the best-kept secret in Cypress,” he said.

10620 FM 1960, Houston 281-970-2284 www.barks5thave.com Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Sat. 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Closed Sundays