Whiskers to Wags

Brightly colored dogs and cats paper the walls while Bentley, a gray Schnauzer, is toweled dry after a quick bath by Lindsy Reeser Friday at Whiskers to Wags.

Reeser and Patti Miller, both of Lenox, are co-owners of the grooming business, located at 202 1/2 N. Elm St., which opened Feb. 9.

“We just both have a true passion for animals, dogs especially,” Miller said. “We looked at a couple places (to rent) and we found this one. The set-up was perfect for just two groomers and some animals, so we rented it and started putting it together.”

Miller and Reeser both have backgrounds involving animals. Miller grew up around animals and has been breeding and showing Shetland sheepdogs for 20 years.

Reeser also grew up around animals when she starting showing dogs at 7 years old. She began learning how to groom animals from a master groomer, and ran a doggy daycare in Des Moines for six years. She then groomed animals for Southern Hills Veterinary Services, located in Creston, Corning, Red Oak and Villisca, for a year and a-half before Whiskers to Wags was opened.

“It’s hard to explain. It’s a passion for us,” Miller said. “We love what we do. We love the bonding and the one-on-one with the dogs.”

Whiskers to Wags

Whiskers to Wags offers grooming for dogs and cats.

Several grooming packages are available for each animal, as well as flea services, nail trims, teeth brushing and other regular services.

“We get here about 7:30. We get some dogs that’ll drop off early, so we check them in and get them bathed,” Miller said. “They go in a kennel to dry, and then she (Reeser) clips them down. She grooms them, and then from there we call the parents to come get them.”

Reeser and Miller have only groomed one cat since opening, but explain the process is more time-consuming than with a dog.

“Cats tend to have a bit of a different temperament to deal with,” Reeser said, “so they take longer and they take more patience. Honestly, there aren’t many cats that enjoy it. Other than that, we take a lot of breaks with them.”

Because cats are easily stressed, the groomers will do one service then take a break, do another service and take a break and so on. Similarly, they will take it easy with puppies and dogs that have not been groomed before.

“Different dogs, different personalities, different temperaments,” Reeser said. “There’s not a lot of groomers that tolerate the patience involved with cats or tolerate the risks that come with cats. ... It’s all about knowing how to handle them properly and making sure you’re paying attention to their stress signs.”

Variety

“Big or small, we groom them all” is Reeser and Miller’s motto for their grooming business. While they are offering services for dogs and cats, they have groomed other animals before, such as guinea pigs and rabbits.

And, to add to the fun of the job, glam services are available for dogs and cats. Sparkling nail caps are available for cats while nail polish, nail gems and feather extensions are available for dogs.

“We haven’t done any of those yet,” Miller said about the feather extensions. “It was just something fun and it looks easy enough to do. So, we thought it might attract the younger generation.”

Miller and Reeser have averaged six dogs per day from all over the area since opening, and expect even more in April, when the average grooming business booms because of the warmer weather.

Business

Working with show dogs has taught both Reeser and Miller how to handle dogs and cats with patience, and to take pride in their grooming and training skills.

“It’s taught us to be patient, and how to associate with them and read their signs as far as if they’re stressing,” Miller said.

Reeser said several aggressive dogs have been groomed at Whiskers to Wags since opening, but she was able to get beyond that using patience and knowledge.

“We want them to be a well-adjusted adult and be comfortable with grooming,” Miller said. “You want it to be a positive experience. That’s everything we do: positive reinforcement.”

Miller and Reeser’s long-term goal is to expand the business to include boarding, training, day care and more retail.

Until then, they are offering $5 off a customer’s first groom, $5 off for referrals and loyalty cards.

Whiskers to Wags is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Hours on Fridays and Saturdays may vary depending on Reeser and Miller’s dog show schedule.

Contact Miller or Reeser to schedule an appointment or get more information at whiskerztowagz@gmail.com or 641-202-5335. You can also like Whiskers to Wags on Facebook.