Shada Ghatrehee dries her dog Zoe.[/caption]
As Shada Ghatrehee finishes grooming a black poodle, she steps back to observe her work on the dog. Ghatrehee shakes her head and says, “Nope,” as she grabs a comb to brush through the dog’s fur. She then trims some hair to make the poof on the top of the dog’s head even.
Ghatrehee, a self-proclaimed perfectionist, loves animals. The Frisco dog groomer beams whenever she talks about her three small dogs, her German shepherd and her horse.
Ghatrehee said she wants to treat each of her four-legged clients as one of her own pets.
“Every dog that comes in—it could be a matted dog, it could be a dog that gets groomed every few weeks—I treat them all the same,” she said. “I just love them.”
Ghatrehee opened The Dog House, a dog-grooming salon, in May. The business offers baths, cuts and nail trimming as well as pet accessories and hygiene products.
A black poodle stands on a grooming table while Ghatrehee trims the fur on his tail.[/caption]
Ghatrehee is a certified dog groomer and had previously worked in another salon. But she said she knew she wanted to own her own business.
When deciding about what products and services to offer, Ghatrehee said she thought about her own dogs.
“When I thought about the services that I would offer, I put my dogs first,” she said. “I was thinking about them and what I’d want my own animals to have done and what other people might want.”
One of the most popular services at The Dog House is the blueberry facial, Ghatrehee said. The nontoxic, blueberry-scented cleanser removes stains and helps whiten the fur on white dogs.
The Dog House sells dog treats, grooming supplies and pet accessories.[/caption]
“With the blueberry facial, I’m actually massaging their face for about five minutes,” Ghatrehee said. “It actually relaxes the dogs. They really love the smell of it, and for some reason they really love the taste. You see them licking their faces. It’s the cutest thing.”
Hair dyeing is one of the lesser-known services at The Dog House. Ghatrehee said she often dyes one of her dog’s fur for holidays and special events.
“I’m thinking when Halloween comes around, it’ll become more popular,” she said.
Ghatrehee said one thing that sets The Dog House apart from other groomers is that she works only on one dog at a time. She said she does not want the dogs to get distracted by or be anxious because of other dogs.
She also said she grooms breeds that other groomers consider aggressive breeds and will not accept, such as pit bulls.
Some of the products offered in The Dog House store include treats, beds, collars and toys.
Ghatrehee said she likes to offer specialty items, such as dog sunscreen, that may be available for only a limited period of time. She will also place specialty orders if a customer wants something not available in the store.
Ghatrehee aims to make every dog comfortable in her salon, which may include talking to the dog to reassure it or playing music in the background while she grooms.
“I don’t think people realize until they walk in that I’m different compared to some groomers,” she said. “I’m not going to take the dog and quickly get him done. I really take the time, and I really care for the dog.”
