Today was one of those days where the whole pack showed up with their own personalities — a mellow Shih Tzu, a goofy Pitty with a nose for treats, a shy little lady who runs the show from behind the scenes, and a Maltese boy who needed a minute before showtime. Let me introduce you to today’s wonderful pack!
Here is a look at today’s wonderful pack:
Marley the Shih Tzu
Marley is the most laid-back guy you will ever meet — total mellow vibes from the moment he hops into the van. His true moment to shine, though, is towel time. When it is time to get dry, this boy puts on the cutest little show, rubbing his face all over the towel like it is the best part of his whole day. And honestly? It might be.
Rocky the Pitty
Then there is Rocky, Marley’s brother — outgoing, friendly, and absolutely sure that everyone in the van is his biggest fan. He would protect his family in a heartbeat, but around here he is all wiggles and charm. His favorite game is sniffing out my treat stash, and he gives me that look the whole groom like he is keeping score: did Nicole put the treats away before Rocky got in the van? Smart boy. The answer is always maybe.
Love the Pitty
Sweet, shy Love is Rocky’s sister, and she likes things quiet and predictable. She and her mom have figured out the best system for the walk to the van: I stay out of sight, circle around behind it, and Love hops right in like a pro. The look she gives me once she realizes I was there the whole time — the look of betrayal is real with this little lady! Nothing a few treats cannot fix, of course.
Johnny Angel the Maltese
And rounding out the day was Johnny Angel. This handsome boy is all nerves at first — he shivers with anticipation right up until his spa day gets started. But once he is settled in the van, something clicks: he is just fine, and he turns into the sweetest little cloud you ever did see.
A Wild End to the Day
Now, I have to tell you about the end of the day, because it was a doozy. As I was raising the grooming table, the wire that connects to the built-in outlet got snagged and yanked the wires right out, tripping the alarm in the inverter. Just like that, the table and the tub were stuck in place, and I had to finish sweet Johnny Angel on the backup batteries. By the time he was done, those batteries were getting close to losing power, and with the table and tub out of commission there was no way I could complete my last dog of the day. So she is booked for Monday evening instead — thankfully there was an opening! Just another day in the life of a mobile groomer.
Until next time, my furry friends!
Catch the Action Live! Want to see these grooming transformations happen in real-time? Tune into the solo live stream over on Twitch at DogGroomerNicole. Whether we are tackling tricky coat conditions, working with different breeds and weight classes, or just enjoying some puppy cuddles, you can watch it all unfold straight from the van.
While you are watching from your laptop or desktop, please take a moment to click the link below the stream to learn more about Folds of Honor, a phenomenal charity we are incredibly proud to support.
See you all on the road!