Haute Dog Pet Spa & Resort’s line of products uses organic, tear-free shampoos—a claim made from experience. When owners Cheri and Jason Halla opened the business last August, longtime groomer Cheri received numerous boxes of shampoos from vendors. She tested them all on herself. “She’d have shampoo in her eyes and say, ‘Oh my goodness we’re not ordering this one, it’s not tear-free,’” Jason recalled. Cheri has been a groomer for 15 years. When a two-year break for knee surgery aligned with Jason’s retirement, the couple decided to open their own business. “Cheri had this cult following in the area—about 25 customers were coming to our house when she was recovering, and she was washing dogs [while wearing] her knee brace,” Jason said. When Haute Dog opened, the dedicated patrons came, followed by plenty of new clientele. After a vet clinic in the same shopping center closed down, the property manager came to the Hallas to see if they wanted to move Haute Dog into the larger space. Instead of moving the grooming salon, they decided to add a day care and boarding facility. In March they turned the old exam rooms into luxury hotel suites for dogs and installed an indoor open-play yard with toys. “When you walk in the dogs are just running around,” Cheri said. “It looks like a party.” Haute Dog Pet Spa Grooming & Self-Wash 1700 RM 620 N., Ste. 103, Lakeway 512-518-3909 Hours: Mon.-Sat. 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. noon-6 p.m. Haute Dog Pet Resort Boarding & Daycare 1700 RM 620 N., Ste. 106, Lakeway 512-520-4133 Hours: Mon.-Sun. 7 a.m.-7 p.m., additional drop-off and pickup times available by request www.hautedoggrooming.com