HERE COMES THE GROOMER

(574) 220-3760 text is best!

My Favorite Quotes

To err is human; to forgive, canine.

- Chomps McGee

Love is a four-legged word.

- Paws Woofland

Life is ruff. Get a lab.

- Yours truly, Sandy Barkley 

Like most groomers, I have had a life-long love of animals, starting with my family dogs!  When I was a senior in high school, I was thrilled to get a summer zookeeper position at the Potawatomi Zoo.  I ended up working there for 5 years, including weekends during college.  I received a Bachelors of Science in Wildlife Science from Purdue University and thought I would pursue a career either at a zoo or the Forest Service. 
A couple months after I graduated, I found a job at an animal hospital in South Bend.  My first job was taking care of boarding pets and assisting the veterinarians with routine services.  I had no idea I would ever learn so much or meet such wonderful people.  I worked there for 8 years, assisting the vets and technicians, providing services such as blood draws and surgery prep, and learning all I could about pet care and health.  I have a special interest in animal behavior.
In 2006, I began working for Katie's Canine Cuts, the local mobile groomer.  Penny, the owner, not only taught me how to groom, but also invited me to work with her when she started her low-volume salon A Few Good Paws.  Early in 2012, the salon closed it's doors.  With the help of my family, I was able to acquire and convert a van so I could return to mobile grooming.  Here Comes the Groomer was launched in April that year and I am so excited to take the grooming on the road! 

My Philosophy

My approach to grooming is best described as holistic.  I want the dog and his/her family to be comfortable and satisfied.  I use premium shampoos and products that are CRUELTY FREE.  I am fully aware that your pup probably doesn't want to be groomed.  There are about a million other things a dog would rather do.  But I don't want them to be afraid of it.  I don't want them to be over-stimulated by it.  And I limit grooming sessions to 2 hours or less.

By simply having a low-stimulation, low-distraction, low-stress environment, many dogs do much better with mobile grooming than salon grooming.  I also am a person that will listen to your dog.  And I recognize the difference between "I don't like that", "That scares me",  "That hurts" or "I'm TERRIFIED" in dog language.  I will listen to and respect your dog's communication.