From handy hardware to pet passion

Rita Pontiff never thought she’d be in the pet grooming business. She was happy where she was – working at Morrison’s Home Center. Pet grooming was the last thing on her mind. That is until her sister-in-law, Liz Scott, asked her to work at her shop, Shaggy to Chic.

Rita turned down the job, but Scott persisted. She told Rita she’d train her to groom and teach her everything she needed to know to run her own business. Then in 2007, Scott said something Rita couldn’t ignore. She was retiring and looking for a buyer for the business. Rita decided to buy it as an investment but continue work at Morrison’s.

“I thought I’d just hire people to run it for me. I thought I’d come in and learn the business, but I still wanted to keep my other job,” Rita said.

As soon as the final sale was complete, Rita’s husband Brian went to work on the building’s eye-catching exterior. He added double gates for safety and painted a Poodle in a bathtub and a seven-foot Yorkshire Terrier. “When I first saw it I said, ‘Oh boy, if I could just get a paint brush on that building. We may not get everybody’s business, but we’ll get their attention,'” Brian said.

Rita apprenticed with her sister-in-law and has attended National Dog Groomers Association of America seminars to learn standard breed grooming. She earned the designation as a professional National Certified Master Groomer.

“When I first started I was told to learn the Poodle, Shih Tzu, Schnauzer, Bichon Frise and Yorkshire Terrier cuts. I was told if you can do those dogs, you got it licked,” she explained.

Rita worked part-time at Shaggy to Chic for three years learning the pet grooming trade, then decided to switch to full time. “The store needed a regular face so I figured I had to quit my job at Morrison’s and be the face everyone sees,” she explained.

Now Rita works in her pet salon seven days a week. Monday through Saturday are bathing and grooming days and Sunday is devoted to the boarders.

Her morning starts with taking care of the boarders then going to work on the day’s appointments. “I try to get everybody here in the morning which makes everything work out smoother and faster,” she said.

Once the pets are checked in and settled down, she starts bathing and grooming. Each dog takes its turn in the tub then it’s off to the grooming table.

“On an average I’ll take five to eight grooming jobs a day and three to four baths. Thursday, Friday and Saturday are my busiest days,” Rita said.

Occasionally a customer will bring in a dog that will challenge Rita’s experience and training. That’s when she turns to her groomer’s reference book on breed standards. “I do four Cairn Terriers. It’s the same thing as a West Highland Terrier cut except the inside of the neck is longer. Everything else is pretty much the same – you just have to be somewhat creative to know the different cuts,” Rita said.

To become a professional groomer, Rita had to learn the tools of the trade – scissors, clippers, de-maters, brushes and combs. Rita uses clippers the most. “I use the clipper blades 40, 10, 7 and 5. The higher the number, the closer to the skin you cut,” she explained.

What a groomer does with those tools is where the expertise and artistry of the trade comes in.

Five is Rita’s favorite blade. She uses it when a customer tells her to trim their dog short but not too short. If it’s a short cut that’s called for, Rita uses number 10. Not too short but not too long is a seven and 40 takes care of the down-to-the skin cut.

Speed is of the essence when grooming. Rita said she only has a certain amount of time to get the job done without the dog losing patience.

“Not all dogs are calm about grooming. A Schnauzer bit my finger and when I pulled back he just about pulled my knuckle off. I had to go to the emergency room,” she said.

Getting bitten is a job hazard that Rita takes it in stride. She keeps muzzles handy but doesn’t use them unless she has to. She believes the reason why dogs snap is because they can become defensive, so she tries to make them feel at home.

That’s the idea behind Shaggy to Chic’s free-roam philosophy. Once the dogs are safe inside, the leashes come off and the dogs have the run of the shop.

“Customers bring in dogs that don’t even need a bath. They come in for the play time with other dogs,” said Brian.

The informal atmosphere is a hit with the customers as well as the dogs. “I have only two customers who don’t like it. I respect their wishes if they want their dogs to be picked up, but most everybody wants them to play because it’s like being at home. The interaction is good for them,” Rita explained.

Keeping the shop clean and the dogs healthy is a priority for the couple. Each grooming table is cleaned immediately after a dog is finished as is the yard when nature calls. Veterinarian shot records are required regardless of whether the animal is there for the day or for boarding.

The kennel area is set up to board just about anything. Rita has taken in cats, dogs, ferrets, parrots and even squirrels. All the owner needs to bring is the food to board for days, weeks or months at a time.

Rita is frequently asked if she’s sure pet grooming is what she wants to do for a living. “Everybody should have a job like this. I really think I’m much happier here and I found my niche. How could you not love this?” she responds.

After the day’s grooming is complete and the shop is clean, Rita watches movies while waiting for owners to pick up their pets. “There’s always a dog in my lap. I quit my real job and it worked out. I’m happy,” she said.

Brian explained, “After air, food and water, one of God’s greatest creations was the dog. You need the other three to live but the dog will make you happy.”

Rita Pontiff, owner of Shaggy to Chic, runs the business full-time with a free-roam philosophy. Once the dogs are safe inside they have the run of the shop. The building’s eye-catching exterior is all thanks to Rita’s husband, Brian. * Photo by JENNIE CHILDS