Sonny's Spaw and Self Wash

06/26/2024

FYI we will be closed July 4th 5th and 6th. Please keep your pets safe this holiday!

06/25/2024

It's becoming a frequent issue again so I would like to remind everyone of our no show policy.

If you no show and no call or cancel last minute (after the 48 hour window) , you will be required to pay for that appointment. If it becomes a habit I may ask that you pre pay before your next appointment is scheduled.

No shows are hard to fill and as hard to reschedule. Getting upset with the girls for not being able to get you right back in is unfair. For quite sometime we have been booked out at least 4 weeks, so if you miss an appointment it will be that long before we are able to reschedule you.

We make every effort to make sure everyone is scheduled for their next appointment because we are so busy. We also make sure you get a notification of your appointment via text or email at the 48 hour mark for your appointment. Giving you and us plenty of time to cancel and fill that spot.

Please be considerate of our time and give us the 48 hour notice if you need to cancel your appointment.

Above all else, be kind to my staff, it is not their fault if you miss your appointment. They work very hard to keep their four legged friends on a regular schedule, coming in early and staying late to ensure every dog gets the care they deserve.

06/24/2024

06/24/2024

Hey y’all. I know this is counterintuitive, but I’d really like for you all to vote for our friends this year. Jess and her crew have really stepped up to the plate for a lot of dogs in this community. Jess came in wanting to always do what’s best for the dogs in the county. I’d love to have 6 years, but I’d love more for her to have it. Go vote for our friends at Lap Dog Legends

06/21/2024

Can’t you just get it done?
I “can” but I won’t, just because we can doesn’t mean we should.

My last groomer never said anything.
I apologize on behalf of the grooming industry that your previous groomer wasn’t trained in more compassionate grooming techniques. Our industry can do better and is moving slowly in the right direction.

He really needs a haircut.
I agree, but the trauma of just doing it takes 80% more effort to repair than it does to just do it right in the beginning.

He’s fine with the dryer at home.
One of my personal favorites. Our high velocity dryers are 100 xs louder than your personal hair dryer. Not only that but the likelihood you’re getting your dogs bone dry is pretty slim. For the average pet owner anyway.

My number one job is to make sure every dog in our care is safe. Emotionally and physically. Nothing worse for a groomer, IMO, than not having a dogs trust. I refuse to be the cause of that distrust. Manhandling any dog for the sake of aesthetic, is unacceptable to me. As a groomer and an animal advocate.

So grateful to know likeminded groomers are out there making changes for the dogs and the industry.

- photo Credit Kara Richardson MGBS

06/20/2024

Did you know we have a new service in town!!

This is Olympic Pooper Scooper's most frequently asked questions. It's a great opportunity to provide information about the services I offer, and clarify many of the details of choosing our pet waste removal service. If you have still have any questions, or would like to sign up for service. Click h...

06/20/2024

06/18/2024

06/12/2024

I wonder what my dogs think about me using their experiences as opportunities to educate the public. They don’t have jobs so they’re just going to have to deal with it.

Change in behavior… PT 2

Piper is sassy. She has no problems telling me exactly how she feels about anything. Any time. When I get home from my morning gym time, she is waiting at the door. Demanding breakfast. Some might call her naughty, I myself have a time or two. This morning I’m grateful for her sass and potty mouth.

Yesterday I got home from the gym, she did not greet me with her normal antics. Initially I didn’t think too much of it, until she wasn’t in the kitchen with me, supervising breakfast preparations, that was highly alarming. I looked for her and she was trembling on her Aunties bed. All very abnormal behavior.

First thing I did was watch her walk, is she limping? Haunched? Neither. Her tail was down, that’s definitely not like her. I put her food in front of her, nope. I took her outside where she will normally head right to her favorite cat 💩 places. She laid down in the grass instead.

Time to check in with my amazing vet.

If your normally sassy dog isn’t very sassy. Or your normally “well behaved” dog isn’t very well behaved. Pay attention. This is quite often a sign they need medical attention.

Piper ate something she shouldn’t have, kind of hard to stop her sometimes. She had a pretty severe tummy ache. At almost 7 pounds I don’t take anything for granted with her. My vet did some blood work and X-rays. No surgery required, no toxicity. She did have some abnormal readings from her gallbladder. Could be nothing, we will do further diagnostics.

If your dogs behavior changes drastically. Pay attention! This is why I don’t want a robot dog, this is why even as a professional dog trainer, I allow my dogs to have their own personalities. If she were trained to do the same thing every time, I may have missed the signs.

Piper is doing ok this morning. She’s not back to her full self, but she’s not in such pain today. She says thanks for coming to her moms Ted talk 🐾❤️

06/12/2024

06/11/2024

Many wonderful dog guardians go looking for dog trainers for help to change a dog’s behaviour which has become problematic, and if they find a good one, they learn the truth about how to meet their dog’s needs and change behaviour with compassion and understanding.

Sadly, dog training itself is a self-regulated industry, so there are many trainers and behaviourists around who miss out on the dog’s needs to create a behavioural change at the expense of the dog’s welfare.

A common example of this with terriers is anti-bark collars.

An anti-bark collar is a device designed to stop a dog from barking by delivering an unpleasant stimulus whenever the dog barks. These collars can use electric shocks, ultrasonic sounds, or citronella sprays to deter the dog from barking. While they might seem like a quick fix to a noisy problem, they are highly unethical.

The use of anti-bark collars ignores the root cause of the barking, which often stems from needs such as fear, anxiety, boredom, or the need for attention (we all need attention sometimes).

Instead of addressing these underlying issues, the collar punishes the dog for communicating. This punishment can lead to increased fear, anxiety, and stress, significantly impacting the dog's welfare.

Collars of this nature often result in suppression, where the dog stops barking not because the issue has been resolved, but because they are afraid of the results, afraid of what the collar does to them.

This suppression can lead to a buildup of stress and unresolved emotions, potentially causing more severe behavioural problems in the future. The use of such collars can damage the trust and bond between the dog and their guardian.

Dogs rely on their humans for safety and support, and the use of an anti-bark collar can lead to distrust and anxiety, causing confusion and distress for the dog.

A well-educated dog trainer will instead assess the mental, physical and physiological health and happiness of your dog.

They certainly won’t just introduce you to the best way to shut your dog up.

( An excerpt from Living With Terriers - an upcoming book release by Sally Gutteridge)

06/11/2024

Training and grooming clients. I will be in a new demographic. No one will know me. Know my skills. Know my love for the dogs first. So, I will be building a new fb presence in San Jose. I need your help!

Testimonials!

🐾 my puppies, the dogs who will never have a bad experience on the grooming table because you and I worked together to make sure they didn’t.

🐾 my rehabs, dogs who couldn’t get groomed elsewhere. Or were miss treated. Nails trims too!

🐾 my scared dogs who didn’t trust until we showed them we are not so scary.

🐾 even my dogs who will never be ok with the process, but we’ve developed a system that makes it tolerable for them.

🐾 my seniors and my end of life comfort grooms. 🥹

🐾 my approach to dog behavior in general. Training and grooming. Even if I’m not your groomer, I trained my girls the same.

Feel free to talk about my communication style. It’s no secret I am direct. I speak for the dog, what’s best for them. Some of you have stuck with me even when I was appearing to be a little prickly. Talk about it!!

It’s been a long time since I’ve had to sell my skills. I can tell people all I want, but hearing it from the two legged Clients will be far more impactful.

For my pet care professionals, y’all can help too and give your perspectives.

It’s a large metropolitan demographic. I’ll be the new girl again. The new girl with a different approach to grooming. I need your help to let the consumer know that my approach, although not mainstream, works!!

Pictures of your pooches are a plus!

06/10/2024

🐾❤️

What sets our self wash apart?

🐾 Owned and operated by a professional groomer.

🐾There is always an employee there to help you with anything you might need. From showing you how to use the professional grade equipment, to nail trims.

🐾All of my employees are PetTech CPR and first aid trained. They know how to respond if there is an emergency with your pet while at the wash.

🐾 They are all , ensuring your dog has the most pleasant experience possible.

🐾 The room is sanitized between every self wash by a staff member, according to strict cleaning policies. Using an EPA tested pet safe sanitizer. It will kill any communicable disease known to man or dog.

🐾 Electric lift tub, so even the largest dogs can be washed easily without breaking your back!

We don’t claim to be cheapest. As I’ve said before I can’t compete with a multi million dollar company’s pricing. We do offer quality, full amenities with no expense spared. Ensuring the dog has a pleasant experience, and the pet parent doesn’t leave calling the chiropractor.

Here’s what two of our larger dogs mom has to say. Maybe and Livy are both pretty big dogs. Bernese Mountain dogs to be exact. We love seeing these two beauties leave looking and smelling great.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sonny’s Spaw in Sequim is a blessing! We bring our two dogs regularly now for the self-wash. Everything is there waiting for us when we arrive, including cotton balls for their ears an any grooming tools we might need. The bathing space is well laid out making for a seamless transition from tub to dryer. The staff is always friendly and super helpful making the entire experience positive. Look no further, bring your dog to Sonny’s in sunny Sequim!!!!

Heidi Steinbeck

06/09/2024

Update: he is back at his home

Found dog

This little guy has been at my friend's house l up by Elk Creek , Forks since early Friday. Can you share it.
Contact 360-640-0230.

06/09/2024

Just got to work for special dog Sunday grooming. Looked over and saw this reflection. Do you see what I see?