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So it’s no surprise that this lifelong pet lover would take the reins at the family business, Doggie Styles, which just marked its grand reopening after a few renovations to the 14-year-old business.
“We needed to renovate the shop anyway, so we decided to celebrate,” said Patrick.
Doggie Styles began in 2002 as a mobile unit started by Patrick’s mother, Cheryl, who left a career in human resources to spend more times with her canine companions.
Business was brisk and the family soon opened a storefront in downtown Shelton. When the business outgrew that space, they moved to their current location in a shopping plaza at 210 Leavenworth Road.
Patrick worked with her mother along the way, but took over as manager of the business in 2006. She has studied grooming since 2002 and now has a team of five groomers working steadily at the shop.
“It’s tough to be on your feet all day, but it’s very rewarding work,” she said.
Doggie Styles had a full house recently, as dogs awaiting the clippers sat excitedly in crates along the wall. Patrick said the shop makes sure dogs are kept together and with the groomers so they don’t get lonely or anxious.
“It’s like daycare,” she said. “Some of them cry until Mommy leaves and then they’re OK.”
The recent renovations added a long shelf the groomers can use and a new drying system that makes for easier cleanup at the end of the day.
And that’s a big help for this bustling business: Doggie Styles tended to 6,500 dog appointments in 2015 alone, Patrick said.
The shop offers the usual services — from bathing and haircuts to nail trimming and ear cleaning — as well as some extras, including feathering and extensions. The groomers will also service cats and smaller pets.
Patrick said she would eventually like to open a grooming school on the site, as groomers should be certified and confident before they staff a styling station.
“A lot of times, the dog is really nervous or scared,” she said. “You have to know how to deal with that. A lot of it is experience.”
Doggie Styles is open Mondays through Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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