By Melissa Wagoner
Having dogs regularly groomed isn’t about looks – though that is a benefit. Rather, regular baths can contribute to skin health, keeping nails trimmed ensures a comfortable gait and consistent grooming reduces the likelihood that yeast infections, dander, ear infections and dental disease will become an issue.
“Groomers often notice and identify things that the client has not because we are in all the different nooks and crannies…” Cassy Proffitt, owner of PNW Pooch in Mount Angel, explained. “I also think that it’s a sign of love and devotion to our dogs…”
Starting out as a part-time groomer for PetSmart in college, Proffitt discovered she liked the job so much she quit school in 2009 to work full-time. Since then, she has worked for various grooming operations throughout Wisconsin and Oregon. When her previous employers sold their Willamette Valley location, she decided it was time to strike out on her own.
“I’ve now met a great ‘landlord’ who shares enthusiasm for what I’m doing and for my business growth,” Proffitt said of the location she secured at 165 N. Main St. in Mount Angel four years ago.
Primarily offering bathing, de-shedding, ear cleaning and toenail trimming services, Proffitt said the hardest part of her job is the toll it takes on her body.
“The process to get an end result is often very tedious; dogs move and pull, occasionally bite and I’m maintaining their safety with sharp tools in my hands…” she said.
But these difficulties can be mitigated when pet owners follow two simple guidelines: keep to a regular grooming schedule and schedule appointments on days when the dog is relaxed.
“[F]or example, going to the vet and then the groomer in the same day is just too much,” Proffitt pointed out, citing services scheduled on July 5 as a poor idea as well.
And, while taking pets for a walk prior to grooming can be helpful, Proffitt does not recommend wearing dogs out to the point of exhaustion.
“I would encourage you to set standards appropriately,” she suggested.
And for those dogs visiting the groomer for the first time, Proffitt recommended the owners stick to the basic service package.
“I want the dogs and I to be safe,” she said, and to have an enjoyable experience.
“The best part of my job is to feel the reciprocating energy flowing from me to the dog and vice versa…” Proffitt said, “we have this comfort level based on built trust.”
PNW Pooch can be contacted at 920-228-3303.
