Bark Side of the Groom

01/05/2025

We were supposed to compete today at the windy city grooming show, but I made a major mistake when doing Vera's pre-show prep.

I did her clean feet as part of her prep, but that is only allowed in poodle class, not freestyle. I realized my mistake after I had already completed 3 of her feet🤦‍♀️

I do believe it was meant to be though, or we'd be driving home today in this snowmageddon.

So although we were disqualified, I learned a very valuable lesson, and made it home before the crappy weather. And, I still gave Vera a haircut since I had my equipment with me!

01/04/2025

We're hiring!!!

01/04/2025

This ragamuffin made it to her first hotel for her first competition tomorrow! 💜🖤

Just kidding! I messed up and gave Vera clean feet as part of her pre-show prep work, which normally would be allowed, but only if we were in poodles. It's my own stupidity and I see this as a lesson learned.

On a more positive note, I think it happened for a reason, so that we could make it home before the storm. So there's that!

Thank you Dennis Brooks for Sharpening my shears, even though i didn't end up competing. You're so appreciated🖤💜

01/01/2025

Happy New Year! This year, we will be focusing on furthering our education, the growth of our business, and working on a better work/home life balance. Thank you all for your support for the last 10 years, you are appreciated so dearly🫰

I look forward to sharing the new additions with you, and to see what 2025 has in store for us.

Cheers to the new year!

12/25/2024

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

12/22/2024

12/18/2024

Spaw days just hit different around here💜🖤

12/16/2024

Nail care is an often-overlooked aspect of dog grooming, but it plays a crucial role in your dog’s health, comfort, and overall happiness. Regular maintenance of their nails is a simple but essential step in ensuring they lead a long, healthy life.

The first picture shows filed nails on the left, and the before on the right, While the second picture shows the difference between just clipped and filed. Can you tell which foot was just clipped versus which one was clipped and filed?

12/12/2024

Every year, I feel like I make boss moves, but 2025 has many big things happening😍 As some of you have seen when coming in the salon, it's been a disheveled mess. The reason being, we're going to be expanding and adding about 250 more square feet to the salon! We will also be hiring a front desk person and a groomer in the new year! Please bare with me the next couple months, cause my brain is already overwhelmed with working on top of everything, but I'm so excited for everyone to see the growth! Thank you for your amazing support helping my small business grow💜🖤

12/08/2024

🐾 We're Hiring a Dog Bather! 🐾

Location: Bark Side of the Groom
Job Type: Part-time (up to 30 hours per week)

Do you love dogs and have a passion for providing them with top-notch care? Join our team at Bark Side of the Groom as a Dog Bather and help us keep our furry friends clean and happy!

Responsibilities:
• Gently wash, rinse, and dry dogs of various breeds and sizes
• Ensure the safety and comfort of pets throughout the bathing process
• Follow grooming protocols for special needs dogs
• Assist with general salon maintenance and cleanliness
• Provide excellent customer service to pet parents

Requirements:
• Previous experience in dog bathing or grooming (preferred but not required)
• Strong love for animals and ability to work with all dog breeds
• Ability to lift and handle dogs of various sizes (up to 50+ lbs)
• Team player with a positive attitude and great communication skills
• Detail-oriented and focused on quality work
• Must be comfortable working in a fast-paced, hands-on environment

Why Join Us?
• Competitive pay and tips
• Opportunity for growth within the grooming industry
• Fun and supportive team environment
• Flexible scheduling options

If you're ready to make a difference in the lives of dogs (and their owners!), we want to hear from you! 🐶❤️

Interested? Please send your resume and a brief cover letter telling us why you would be the perfect fit for this role to [email protected]

11/28/2024

We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

11/21/2024

Thank you to everyone for their interest, we have filled the position and can't wait to introduce you to our newest team member!

🐾 Now Hiring🐾

Are you passionate about dogs and enjoy providing excellent customer service? We’re looking for a friendly, organized, and enthusiastic ** Part-Time Receptionist** to join our team! This is the perfect role for someone who loves working in a fun and fast-paced environment, with the added bonus of being surrounded by adorable dogs all day long!

**Key Responsibilities**
- Greet and check in customers and their furry friends with a warm, welcoming attitude.
- Answer phone calls, emails, and messages to schedule appointments and answer inquiries.
- Maintain and update customer and pet records accurately.
- Process payments and handle transactions.
- Assist groomers with coordinating schedules and special requests.
- Ensure the front desk area is clean, organized, and well-stocked.
- Provide excellent customer service and address client needs with a positive attitude.

**Qualifications**
- Previous experience in customer service or administrative roles is a plus but not required.
- Love for dogs and knowledge of basic dog breeds, grooming, and care.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to multitask in a busy environment.
- Friendly, approachable, and able to work well alone, with people and pets.
- Basic computer skills (using scheduling software, processing payments).

**Why Work with Us? **
- Be part of a passionate, dog-loving team!
- Competitive pay with opportunities for growth.
- Flexible hours and a fun, dynamic workplace.

**How to Apply**

Interested? Please send your resume and a brief cover letter telling us why you would be the perfect fit for this role to [email protected]

We can’t wait to meet you and your love for dogs!

11/07/2024

As 2025 quickly approaches, please be mindful of the extra stress and chaos that the holidays bring.

I am tirelessly working on revamping the scheduling system and moving everyone to pre-booking their own appointments online.

With added shows, preparing for a class, working in the salon, and being a mom simultaneously, it's becoming a bit stressful and I need to delegate where I can!

You can book out for the entire year, choose your preferred date and time, and change your appointments at barksidegroomer.com

We are still not accepting new clients, so any new client requests will be declined. Thank you for your continued support while I navigate these new ventures!

10/29/2024

We had special visitors today, here's how it went😆

Whitman's Sharpening is on their way to Texas for the Pet Pro Classic , but made a pit-stop to visit me at work today!

10/22/2024

Scan the QR code to check out our website, sign up for updates and special offers, and have the luxury of scheduling your appointments when you choose! If you haven't pre-booked your appointments, the sooner the better as times are filling up fast!

If the website is down, it will only be temporarily. I am working to make it even easier to navigate and schedule, and plan to finish it by this evening.

Please note, this is only for returning clients, as we are not currently accepting new clients. Any new client appointment requests will be denied.

10/18/2024

Vera had her first long road trip (7hrs) last week, and she did so freaking good! She met new friends, both two and four legged, and had the absolute time of her life walking trails(thanks to Canine Athletics !) She hung out and learned how the diamagrooves were made, among many more adventures! Thank you Whitman's Sharpening for having me!

Enjoy these pictures of our adventures the past week!

10/16/2024

The holidays are fast approaching, and there are very few appointments left. Don't forget to pre-book your appointments today! Check out barksidegroomer.com for all of your appointment needs.

10/15/2024

We are updating the website, so you may not be able to access it for a bit