We have a new groomer!

Ladies. Gentleman. Dogs. Cats! I am excited to introduce you to our new groomer, Brandi! Brandi is Sharon’s daughter, she’s moving here to be closer to her mom. And lucky for us, she LOVES dogs as much as her mom. The lines are open, we will be scheduling her with dogs starting this week. She’s also a cat groomer. Brandi will be working Saturday’s and Monday’s right now, maybe Thursdays, and taking my Fridays where possible. Please do not worry. I will still be doing some of my more special cases, but if I ask you to give Brandy a try, know that I trust her, you should too. Please […]

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When Is It Too Hot For Your Dog?

The Simple Way for Knowing When It’s Too Hot For Your Dog With such unprecedented hot weather this summer, following are a few simple guidelines to keep your dog safe. When Is It Too Hot to Take Your Dog In the Car? When it comes to deciding whether to leave your dog in a hot car, the rule couldn’t be simpler: do not do it—even for a few minutes, even on a mild day. The Simple Way for Knowing When It’s Too Hot to Walk Your Dog The Five Second Rule: Place the back of your hand on the sidewalk, pavement, or whatever outdoor surface your dog would walk on. If […]

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Top Ten 4th of July Pet Safety Tips

Many pet owners don’t realize just how terrifying fireworks can be to a dog or cat. The safest and best bet for celebrating this Fourth of July with your pets is to exclude them from holiday festivities. Instead, find a safe, secure spot in the home for your pets while you go out and enjoy the loud bangs, bright lights and spectator fun. Your pets will appreciate the quiet a lot more than you’ll enjoy the noise. Here are ten excellent tips on how to keep your pets safe this 4th of July. If this will be your first Independence Day with a new puppy or kitten, please don’t leave […]

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How to Calm Your Dog Naturally

Behavioral changes are a good indication your pet is stressed by something. Sometimes the changes you notice are caused by a medical problem, but just like us, pets can experience purely mental or emotional stress following a change in routine or exposure to loud or new noises, among other causes. Instead of simply relying on medication to mask symptoms, why not try a few natural remedies to calm your pet’s anxiety? It may take time to figure out which one(s) your pet responds to the best, but is worth trying, for their comfort. TIP: If you know your dog will be placed in a situation that might feel stressful, such […]

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5th Annual Customer Appreciation BBQ

I’m so excited. 5 years is huge and we are so grateful to this community. There’s no other way to celebrate this milestone than with the people who have made it possible. For our Fifth annual customer appreciation pawty we will be holding a #raffle to benefit Prison Pet Partnership, a program near and dear to my heart. RAFFLE tickets are $2 each. We have local small businesses donating products and gift cards – if you would like to get in on that, please let me know. Essence Coffee Roasters will be donating a very generous basket with some of their locally roasted coffee. Cynthia from Best Friend Nutrition – […]

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No, And No In Pink

A friendly reminder: if I won’t do it to my own dogs, I’m not going to do it to yours. If your pet is experiencing symptoms of illness, or they have suffered an injury, and the vet has not diagnosed them, please keep them home. Can you imagine sitting in the salon chair getting your hair done, while your tummy was upset? Or being forced to stand up if your leg hurt? When dogs come here, sometimes that in itself causes stress and tension in their body, so a sore leg is going to hurt more just by simply coming in the door. If we do not know what the […]

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New Policy Effective May 1st

If any appointments are cancelled due to weather, injury or illness the following will apply: If you are on a yearly grooming schedule of every 6 weeks or less, you will have to wait for your next appointment. If you are not on a yearly schedule, you will be rescheduled at the next available appointment. Please note that will most likely be 4-6 weeks out. I understand this may seem harsh. I understand you all believe your pet to be the most important pet, and while I agree, I have to consider the mental well being of my staff too. There are many factors that play into our job, one […]

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It’s Okay To Say No

So many things can go wrong on-leash. I can say from experience it’s always my fault if there’s an on-leash incident with one of my dogs. The leash causes tension, can get tangled and creates an unsafe space if there is an issue. Don’t even get me started on flexi leads. If you want to properly introduce your dog to another it should be done in a secure area where they can be free to walk away if they choose. I also want to note, my dogs are under no obligation to meet every person or dog they come in contact with. Just yesterday on the ferry a family insisted […]

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Welcome Michele!

We are thrilled to welcome Michele Feris to the Sonny’s Spaw family. She starts April 1st and Sharon and I are verrry happy to have another groomer on board. Meet Michele: “I am from Everett, WA. I have a fiance and a sweet Blue pitty named Louis (pronounced lou-ee). I have been grooming dogs going on two years, I was a bather for several years before that. I was asked to come bathe for a friend’s shop and I fell in love with the environment and working with dogs all day. Becoming a groomer was the promotion I worked hard for, learning as much as I could to achieve my goal. […]

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Use your Manners!

This might sting a little. A dog’s nose can smell a Q-tip from across the room. You don’t have to force yourself on any dog, it’s actually rude. They are not obligated to be friends with every human or dog they meet. This is good information. The sniff test – Stop doing this! The sniff test is a badly engrained habit that society has been taught, without a clear understanding of what they’re actually doing. When you reach out towards a dog, you are using body pressure at them, giving them no time to assess whether you are safe and whether they require further investigation to pick up your information. […]

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