01/08/2026
AN INTRODUCTION AND STORYTIME
✨Knox✨
This dog bit me the first time we met! Knox was my neighbor, and when I opened my salon he was one of my first clients. He was so scared and defensive of his mama that we had to reschedule his appointment, to give him time to calm down, and to give me time to bandage up 😆😫
In between appointments, his Mom told me that the year before he had gotten out of their yard, was caught by a neighbor, and then mistakenly given to someone who was NOT his family! His mom finally found him at the Humane Society (thank goodness) and they were reunited for good! After hearing that story, it made complete sense why little Knox had such a reaction to me trying to take him from his home and his Mama! The stranger danger was strong with him!
So, we tried a different approach. Mom brought Knox all the way into the salon, and we spent some time together, the three of us before she left. I put a cone on him, just to be safe. I put on my bite gloves, again just as a precaution. We even started his groom on the floor instead of my table, so Knox would have freedom to move away if he got scared.
Pretty quickly, I realized that he wouldn't need any of these things. He was happy to jump into my arms, into my lap; anywhere he needed to be to plant kisses on my face. We were able to get him a haircut, a bath, he even let me clip his nails! He went home so proud of himself that day, and these pictures are the proof.
This switch-up from Knox wasn't by accident. It was a series of very intentional steps taken by me as his groomer, and his mom, to set him up for success.
I live for dogs like Knox. Dogs that need some extra attention, time, reassurance, or space to feel comfortable. Dogs that can't or won't thrive in a large-scale grooming environment (because let's face it, the groomer can be a scary place for a dog, even in the best of circumstances). Dogs that are scared of kennels, or loud noises, or other dogs! Those dogs deserve to be clean, too.
Which is why I started Awkward Paws Grooming. All of my services are 1-on-1, pet-focused, force-free and kennel-free! My philosophy for grooming is the same as my philosophy for life; I treat all living things the way I would want to be treated. I love my clients as if they were my own.
This became quite the novel for a first post, but I couldn't imagine a more fitting way to introduce myself and my business.
So hi! I'm Jesse, your friendly neighborhood groomer.
Can I pet your dog?
