Get to know us
About Us
Our goal is to understand your individual needs and requirements, as well as what is manageable for your special K9 on a day-to-day basis. With a full understanding and guided approach, we do this for all our K9 clients, in particular those K9s that need extra special care i.e. the nervous and/or older dogs, thus providing the best possible experience for all of them time and time again.
Knowledge of breed standard along with an understanding of mixed breeds is how we approach all our awesome K9 clients. We believe that ‘all dogs are different and unique’ and that’s how we handle them – our interaction is tailored and personalized for each and every dog.
Grooming and special treatments are never rushed. This ensures that every K9 client has a positive and relaxing experience, full of constant reassurance, lots of cuddles and rest breaks. All K9 clients are hand dried; we do not use cage dryers at our K9 Pet Spa.
Our Team
Meet our Just Really Absolutely Amazing Lovely Team …..
Josie
Owner, Co-Founder & Groomer
I’ve been surrounded by dogs ever since I was a child – from my father with his beloved German Short Haired Pointer hunting dogs to my current dog Lola, a 6-year-old Portuguese Water Dog. Over the years, my family and I owned many different breeds – two German Short Hair Pointers, a Cocker Spaniel, Chow-Chow, St. Bernard, Briard, two Golden Retrievers, German Shepherd, Bouvier des Flanders, Miniature Schnauzer, three Chocolate Labrador Retrievers and one Yellow plus the sweetest Husky- Lab cross ever. The wonderful memories and experiences of all these great dogs have given me a strong affinity with K9s of every size, temperament and age.
If anyone told me that I would find myself grooming dogs as my second career let alone own a grooming salon, I would have never believed them yet, here I am and loving every minute of it.
It all started in 2007 with Dragons Den – that’s when I met Dave Hachey and it was my job to help entrepreneurs like Dave with his pitch to the Dragons. With my love for dogs, we became friends and knowing what Dave wanted to do, it did not take me long to get involved with his innovation and his business goals. Fast forward 16 years and umpteen dog grooming and handling, as well as coat and skin care related courses later... I am still as excited today about what I do as I was back then.
Strange as it may sound, I find combing out mats truly relaxing – it must be the years of washing, brushing, de-tangling, and de-burring those horse manes and tails and then bathing these magnificent equines to be sparkling clean a challenge that must always be met. Our new bathing stalls at K9 Pet Spa together with the shampoos I use allow me to really get those coats looking their best.
For a really good cleansing bath nothing beats the fresh smelling Vetrolin Bath Ultra Hydrating Conditioning shampoo – I use it for just about every dog I bath. For the dogs with sensitive skin or skin issues, my go to is Soos Pets’ Natural Hypoallergenic Shampoo and their corresponding Revitalizing Leave-In Conditioner. Then there’s the absolutely awesome Marshmello – the no silicone, sulfate-free shampoo! Its smooth, creamy richness rinses perfectly clean! It is by far THE best for those soft curly coats that tend to mat easily. This shampoo made with real marshmallow root is awesome for your dog’s skin and it smells delicious, like its name!
So, bring on the dogs …. big, small, young or old, natural coats and clipper/scissor cut styled dogs and I’ll bath and groom them! There’s no better feeling than finishing a groom on a Miniature Schnauzer and getting those “eyebrows” spot on, achieving that nice and tight muzzle on a Portie, or watching that Golden Retriever or Aussie Shepherd walk out the door and see their coat and tail flowing in the wind.
Depending on the day, if you don’t see me at the shop then you know, I am at the barn with the horses!
Lisa
Co-Founder & Groomer
I am also the owner of The Art of Dog Grooming Inc. which provides cosmetic teeth cleaning at the Spa.
My focus is a holistic approach and personalized service for each and every fur babe. I groom in a stress-free environment providing optimal health for whole body and mind of each fur babe.
I am conscious of all products being used on your fur babe. With 20 years’ experience and I.P.G. grooming and salon detail certifications plus being a certified dental assistant, I pay strict attention to every detail on breed standard grooms.
My specialty is the needs of brachiocephalic breeds, the squishy faces. These breeds have uniquely structured skulls with narrow nostrils and smaller airways. They overheat easily; in hot climates, air conditioning and cool water available is a must! Additionally, skin, eye and oral health care are extremely important for these breeds.
That’s what I am about and here are some of the services I provide and the products I use for the treatments I offer:
- K9 cosmetic teeth cleaning with sterilized hand scalers while your dog is awake.
- External anal gland expression with full groom.
- DERMagic skin line for yeasty skin
- DERMagic salt scrubs ~ Dead Sea salts and natural minerals removes dead skin cells, draws toxins from the skin, relieves itching and leaves your pet’s skin and coat fresh and exfoliated.
- Marshmello 2.0 treatments – This is a truly No-Silicone, Sulfate-free Shampoo! Its smooth, creamy richness made with Marshmallow Root, Shea butter, Keratin and Babassu oil rinses perfectly clean giving your fur babe a real clean without harsh sulfates. The Marshmello leaves coats so fluffy and soft you’ll want not stop hugging your fur babe!
- Plum silky…. What can I say, I just love plum silky!!!
and last but not least,
There’s the award winning groomer Melanie Newman shampoo line! These products not only have no artificial fragrance, no SLS, no paraben – these products work well and they also repair the skin and coat. Mats and undercoat come out easier making salon time shorter.
With my certified Dental Assistant background, my approach to cosmetic teeth cleaning is holistic. For large, medium and small dogs alike, including the toy breeds. I have yet to encounter a dog whose teeth I cannot clean. Once they understand what I am doing, they relax and feel quite at ease… some of them are so relaxed, they fall asleep!!
Anna
Groomer
After completing my grooming course with Nancy Bryson, I started working at a local pet salon where I quickly excelled in my role, taking pride in my ability to not only groom dogs but also to create a comfortable and stress-free environment for them. From there I opened and ran my own shop in Bolton, ON until I met the love of my life which took me to Waterloo.
In my career, I have worked with various dog breeds, from Doodles to Yorkies, and I’ve developed a deep understanding of each of their unique grooming needs. Over the years I have been able to hone my skills in pet styling, ensuring that each dog leaves the salon looking and feeling their absolute best. I mostly use Soos Pets’ Hypoallergenic shampoo to bath the dogs I groom but I also have other favorite lines that I use from time to time. My favorite dogs to groom are Yorkies! but also Westies, and any small breeds….that said, there also are some very special Doodles (and Std Poodles!) that I love grooming!
My passion for the job extends beyond grooming. While I strongly believe in educating pet parents on the importance of regular grooming and proper pet care and I love taking the time to explain different grooming techniques and products that can help my clients maintain their dog’s coat and skin health, I also believe in continuous learning for myself – I am a certified pet esthetician.
Over my years of experience and dedication, I have built a loyal customer base being a trusted name in the community where I had my shop – some of my Bolton clients still come to me in Waterloo! I treat every dog as if they are my own, providing individualized care and attention. I do this in a gentle manner with lots of patience so that even the most nervous and anxious dogs relax and trust me.
When I’m not grooming, you can find me spending time with my husband and my own furry family members.
My love for animals is not just a job, but a true calling.
Alison
Groomer
Hi. I’m Alison and I love working with dogs! I’ve been grooming dogs for over 10 years now. I started working in the pet care industry as a dog walker while still in high school. In 2004 I entered the grooming industry as a bather and groomers assistant. Over the years I have learned so much working with many wonderful groomers along the way and I’ve taken a variety of courses ranging from puppy handling to animal first aid; expanding my knowledge and continually learning new techniques.
I enjoy grooming many different breeds, big and small, with all different coat types. I take pride in my work as well as treating all my clients’ dogs as one of my own.
The shampoos I use are high quality shampoos such as Soos and Tropiclean to ensure a healthy skin and coat. These products are made with high quality, natural ingredients and do not contain any harsh chemicals or artificial components. They leave your dog’s coat clean, soft and smelling great. About smelling great …. I just love love love when a shampoo leaves the dogs with their unique unmistakable clean, fresh smell!
I must say my favourite breeds are German Shepherds, Pomeranians, Chihuahuas and Airedales. Something about them steals my heart.
When not grooming at the shop, I enjoy spending time with my own dogs (Lolly and Presley) and my daughter. Together, we enjoy fishing and walks with the dogs.
Dog Grooming is a wonderful and rewarding career, I can’t see myself doing anything else!