Sheboygan, are you ready for National Pet Day April 11? Here are ways to pamper your furry friend.
SHEBOYGAN COUNTY – Everyone needs a little “me” time.
From spa days to spending time on a favorite hobby, it’s important to set aside time for activities that improve overall well-being and mood.
That goes for furry friends, too!
Not only is regular grooming important for cats’ and dogs' physical well-being — ensuring healthy skin, hearing, eyesight, teeth and gums, and paws — but it can help them become more comfortable around people and reduce stress.
More: Dogs are welcome at more Sheboygan parks and a beach as the city looks to be more pet-friendly
Pets come in all shapes, sizes and species, but the resources below focus on dogs and cats.
Here are local groomers and ways you can pamper your pooches and felines on National Pet Day April 11.
Punky Pets ensures comfort and style for furry friends
Ashley Moore, owner of Punky Pets Grooming, a one-on-one grooming salon, wants to make sure every pet feels comfortable.
Pets are brought in one at a time, with exceptions for families, so they don't have to wait in a kennel like some groomers have.
"They're actually able to run around and interact with me," Moore said. "I play with them, and they follow me around. I think they are a little more comfortable. They don't really feel trapped."
Moore, first a cosmetologist, started her dog grooming career at a PetSmart in South Carolina as a bather/brusher to save up for dog grooming school.
After working at several groomers across South Carolina and Wisconsin for nearly 18 years, she decided to open her own shop last June.
Some dogs may dislike getting groomed, but Moore said she puts in time to work and develop trust with them. She doesn't always win, but she hasn't had to turn anyone away yet, she said.
Building trust with the animals is the most rewarding part for Moore, she said.
"I don't want them to be fearful," she said. "I want them to have a good experience and I want them to look good, too."
"You know if a child is scared of something and you yell at them because they react in a fearful way, it only makes them more fearful," Moore added. "And it's the same with dogs."
Moore has seen some nervous dogs' attitudes completely change after coming to Punky Pets.
"Once I get the haircut done and they're off the table, they are so happy and they're running around, and it's like they just feel different," Moore said. "I think they really do feel good. And they know that they look good."
Moore's full-service grooming includes a bath with a double shampoo and single condition, full blow dry and brushout, full-body haircut, ear cleaning and nail trimming. Services, like nail trimming and paw trim, can be done separately. Ear hair removal and anal gland expression can be done upon request.
Punky Pets also offers fur coloring with vegan, non-toxic and made for dog OPAWZ hair dye. One color for full-tail or full-ears dye is $15 and one color for both is $25. Multicolor dyeing is $5 extra. The dyeing process will add about 30 to 40 minutes to the normal grooming time.
Punky Pets offers services primarily for cats and dogs, but can receive inquiries for grooming treatments, like nail trims, for small pets.
Retail will be 10% off the rest of April. Punky Pets will also offer $3 off for walk-in nail trims from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on National Pet Day.
Grooming is by appointment only and cash is preferred. Punky Pets is at 819 New York Ave. and can be reached at 920-917-9890 and punkypetsllc@gmail.com.
Sheboygan groomers offer variety of salon and spas services.
Central Bark offers salon and spa services, including baths, haircuts, nail trims, ear cleaning and teeth brushing. Grooming packages start at $35 and individual grooming services range between $10 and $30. Central Bark is at 3513 S. 32nd St. It be contacted at 920-457-9663 and sheboygan@centralbarkusa.com.
Happy Tails Pet Grooming offers dog grooming (clipping, bath, ears, nails and anal gland expression) and cat grooming and bathing. Grooming appointments can be made between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. No appointment is necessary for a nail trim walk-in. Nail trimming and anal gland expression is $12, and all proceeds go toward the Illinois Bird Dog Rescue. Happy Tails Pet Grooming is at N7894 State 42. It can be contacted at 920-912-6066.
Here Comes the Groom Dog Salon offers full grooming services, nail trims and ear cleanings. It is in the town of Sheboygan and is by appointment only. Here Comes the Groom Dog Salon can be contacted at 920-457-5982.
Can’t make it to a groomer? Here are ways to pamper your pet at home.
Start the day with a fun exercise or game your pet likes to play.
Give your pet a head and shoulder massage to relax them.
Give your pet a pedicure by clipping. If your pet is comfortable and tolerable, you can paint their nails with dog- or cat-friendly nail polish. They are usually water-based and odor-free, unlike human nail polish, which is acetone-based. Make sure pets' paws don’t have abrasions.
Use a pet-friendly soap for a foamy bubble bath. Shampoo, condition, rinse and the brush.
Share a pet-friendly treat!
Whatever you choose to do, make sure your pet is in an environment that is calming and comforting, especially for pets who may get anxious or dread groom time.
If you're unsure about the safety of products or treatments you plan to use, consult with a veterinarian.
Contact Alex Garner at 224-374-2332 or agarner@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @alexx_garner.
This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Sheboygan groomers, at-home tips to pamper pets on National Pet Day
