Welcome to Happy Tails - Your Newbie Guide

Hey there, new friend! 🐶

I'm Koah - you might have seen me in the other blogs Mom writes. I'm the Shih Tzu around here, and I've been getting groomed by Mom since I was a puppy. I heard you're coming to Happy Tails for your first groom! Maybe you're excited, maybe you're a little nervous - that's totally normal. Let me tell you what to expect, from one pup to another.

When You First Arrive

Your human will bring you to our place, and honestly? It probably smells AMAZING because there are dog smells everywhere. (I'm not biased or anything.) Mom will come out to meet you and your human. She'll want to chat with them for a minute about what you need - like, are you nervous about certain things? Do you have any ouches? What kind of haircut do you want?

And here's the cool part: you might meet me!

I LOVE meeting new dogs. I'll probably wag my tail like crazy and maybe try to sniff you. But if you're feeling nervous or overwhelmed, don't worry! Mom will give you space and I'll hang out somewhere else. Your comfort comes first, always.

What Happens During Your Groom

Okay, so here's what Mom does that's different from other groomers (and trust me, I've heard stories from my friends!)

You get Mom's full attention. It's just you and her. No other dogs. No cages. No chaos. Just calm, patient grooming at YOUR pace. She'll show you the tools first. The clippers, the brush, the dryer - she lets you sniff them and see them before they touch you. No surprises! You get BREAKS. This is my favorite part. If you need to stop and play for a minute, or take a little walk, or just chill - Mom's cool with that. We might groom for 15 minutes, then play ball, then go back to grooming. It's not a race!

She watches your body language. If your ears go flat or you look stressed, she'll pause. She's really good at reading what we're saying without words.

Your Human Gets Updates!

Oh, and here's something your human will LOVE! Mom sends photo updates during your groom! Yep! Your person will get texts with pictures of you looking adorable (which, let's be honest, you always do). It helps them feel connected to you, and it's pretty cute. Sometimes Mom sends pics of me too. 😎

The Best Parts (According to Me)

🦴 Treats! SO many treats. Quality control is part of my job.

🦴 Belly rubs! Mom gives the BEST ear rubs and belly rubs during grooms.

🦴 You leave smelling AMAZING. Everyone will compliment you after.

🦴 You get a cute bandana! Fashion, friend. Fashion.

A Day with Milo (One of My Friends!)

Let me tell you about my buddy Milo! He's a Goldendoodle who's been coming to Happy Tails for a while now, and he's the PERFECT example of how Mom adapts to what each dog needs.

When Milo first gets here, we always start with a walk! It helps him settle in and get those wiggles out before his groom. Then it's bath time, which Milo tolerates, but he's not writing home about it, you know? 😂

Here's the cool part: Milo is a BIG boy, and he doesn't love being up on the grooming table. So Mom does a lot of his groom from the ground! Yep, she gets down on his level and makes it way more comfortable for him. See? YOUR comfort, YOUR way.

Between grooming steps, Milo LOVES:

🦴 Playing with toys (he's got favorites!)

🦴 Belly rubs (same, Milo, SAME)

🦴 Bully sticks (honestly, who doesn't?!)

And you know what's the BEST part? When Milo first started coming, he was a little unsure. But after a few visits? Now he gets SO excited when he arrives that he literally pulls his mom on the leash to get to the door! That's when you know grooming is a good experience.

Milo's a true sweetheart, and watching him go from nervous to EXCITED is exactly why Mom does what she does! If you're nervous about your first visit? Just remember Milo. He figured it out, and so will you! 💙

Ready to Book? 🐾

Your human can book by call/text Mom at 910-338-9525, or email happytailsbydani@gmail.com. Before you come, Mom will send your human some quick forms to fill out - just so she knows about any special needs you have. Takes like 5 minutes!

And then? You'll be on your way to your spa day!

I hope I get to meet you. And if you're one of those instant-belly-roll dogs like me? We're gonna be best friends.

See you soon! 🐾

Your friend,

Koah 🐶

Chief Fluff Officer & Furry Co-Founder

Happy Tails Pet Salon

Happy Tails Homework:

Hey humans! Before you book your pup's first appointment, make sure you've completed the Intake Form and Liability Waiver, and have proof of rabies vaccination ready. Mom can't see your pup without those first two - it's the law! It also helps Mom make their spa day perfect!