“The Dapper Dog:” My Friend’s Dog Grooming Business

Did you ever have a dream that you really wanted to go after? For years, all my friend Anna ever dreamed of doing was working with animals. A dog lover like me, she wanted to either become a veterinarian or a dog groomer. When she saw what dog groomers did behind the scenes at her school, she set her heart on that. 


Although Anna is younger than me, she also dreamed of having her own business. You have to admire that kind of drive and ambition! She started her grooming business in her home and called it “The Dapper Dog.” What do you think of that great name? The local newspaper did a full-page article on her growing business, and soon Anna and her mother purchased a downtown building and remodeled it into two shops – one her mother’s and one hers. She worked hard and made her dream come true!

This Sunday over lunch she told me one of her funniest dog grooming stories. A customer asked Anna if she could give her dog a Mohawk haircut! Anna remembered watching someone in grooming school give a dog a Mohawk, so she bravely said yes. Her customer was so happy with the result that she couldn’t stop laughing. Of course, the obvious question was, “Did you take a picture?” Sadly, she said she forgot to, but she wished she had! But she did give me some great photos to share with you!

“The Dapper Dog” is doing really well. She even does specialty cuts. I had my dog, a German Shepherd/Lab mix, Sunny, get her nails done there and Sunny absolutely loves Anna! I’m so proud of her for having a big dream and having the determination to go after it and make it happen!