Puppianos

04/08/2024

We are fostering this sweet dog, so please share so we can find him a home!

09/06/2024

Good afternoon, I see that I have had a number of page views lately, so I just wanted to give everyone an update. Puppianos is closed, but I am continuing my love of pets by working with Indian Rivers Humane Society as the Canine Chair, designing and publishing their newsletter, attending fundraising events, and currently fostering two sweet kittens. Please go to the Indian Rivers Humane Society page to see updates on our latest endeavors.

I am aware that there are people that need referrals to groomers in the King William, King and Queen, West Point, and Essex County areas. Text me if you would like a referral. (804)370-0332

Have a great week!

Bekah Davis

03/11/2022

Dear clients,

I hope to talk to you all personally, but I wanted to give you prior notice that I am closing my business because of my recent injury and continual strain grooming has on my body. This has not been an easy decision, and I will miss you and your dogs!

I make it a policy not to refer anyone to other groomers unless I absolutely trust that groomer, and usually the skilled and careful groomers are booked out months in advance. My suggestion is to ask friends with whom they have had a good experience.

Thank you so much for bringing your precious and well-loved dogs to me for grooming. It has been a wonderful experience! ❤️🐾

21/09/2022

We are in need of food donations for our Pet Food Pantry that helps our citizens in need! We are extremely low on ADULT DRY CAT FOOD. Donations can be dropped off at, or shipped to, Regional Animal Shelter 20201 King William Rd. King William, VA 23086. PLEASE SHARE & THANKS IN ADVANCE! :)

16/09/2022

⏰🐾 Good morning and Happy Weekend!

I would like to remind my clients of one of my important policies. Be on time to drop off and pick up your dog. As you know, I do not have the ability to board dogs for an unlimited time. If the habit of being late continues, I will charge extra. I work out of my home, but that does not mean I do not have errands to run, family obligations, and another dog might be arriving right after your dog is supposed to be leaving. Please plan accordingly.

I do appreciate all of my clients, and I know this is a busy time for all.

Thank you, and have a safe and happy weekend!

🐾Bekah

02/09/2022

Happy Labor Day weekend! 🌽🍓🍹🌭

30/08/2022

Bentley and Coco ❤️🐾

26/08/2022

Happy Dog Day!! 🐾

24/08/2022

I loved grooming this sweet Morkie today! He got a fresh start with a short haircut, and with this heat, I’m sure it makes him feel good! 🐾

17/08/2022

Good afternoon! I hope everyone is enjoying the last of the summer days!

I’m offering some tips about nail trims:

1. Nail trims are very tricky. They should be done in a calm environment by a qualified, kind, and experienced person. Yes, feel free to trim your dog’s nails every 3-4 weeks if you feel like it is a positive experience for your dog.

2. Start young if possible! While petting your puppy, you could have the nail trimmer positioned close by, and when the puppy is relaxed, trim off the tip of one nail. Continue with the others unless the puppy starts getting stressed. Then wait for the next relaxed moment.

3. If you don’t know how to trim a dog’s nails, there are many videos on YouTube you can watch to learn how. If your dog tries to snap or bite while trimming nails, ask for help from your groomer on how to avoid this at home.

4. Not to be facetious, but groomers do not have magic wands or are able to work miracles. But it is quite amazing sometimes to see the transformation take place in your dog’s personality when an experienced professional handles your dog on the grooming table. If it is impossible for you to trim your dog’s nails between grooms, you are very welcome to come between visits and get your dog’s nails trimmed here.

5. If you feel like your dog is stressed at the veterinarian’s office, refuse a nail trim there and come to your groomer instead. A veterinarian’s time is precious, so most practices cannot take the time to put your dog at ease before the nail trim, so the process might be rushed. But if your groomer says it is even impossible for he or she to trim the nails without receiving a bite, then consult your veterinarian about sedation or an anti-anxiety med you can administer before visiting your groomer.

6. Don’t feel bad. Many dogs do not like their feet touched. You can additionally help your dog with this fear by not allowing anyone to tease your dog by grabbing at his or her feet as a game.

7. Groomers make the best effort not to quick your dog’s nails. There is more of a chance if nails are not trimmed every 3-4 weeks.

Talk to me if you need help. I’m here to make every dog’s grooming experience a positive one.

❤️Bekah

01/08/2022

Puppianos got yet another face lift today! I did have lighter color rubber floor mats, but my kitties like to sharpen their claws on them, and with all the doggie traffic, they were worn out. The best part is that I was able to turn them over and now it looks like a faux wood floor...well, kind of. 😂 Rubber mats help me when I have to stand for long periods of time, and it also protects the dogs if heaven forbid, one tries to take a flying leap off the table. Knock on wood 🪵 that hasn’t happened.

On the other side of the curtain, just in case you were wondering, is our exercise area, safe room, dog and cat food containers, and last but not least, our bunny, Peanut Butter, hops around in a corral exercise area during the day.

Come and see it before my kitties pluck holes in the faux wood mats! 🐾🐈🐕‍🦺

28/07/2022

Look at these Cutie Patooties!! Finn ❤️ and Fiona 💕

26/07/2022

2 Befores and 2 Afters of this hairy beast! Angus, our Rough Collie’s hair makes him look so much bigger than he really is, which is 45lbs. I would love to let his coat grow longer, but in the country it’s not practical. Collies are a lot of work, even for a groomer! BTW, I didn’t change the color on the after pictures…he was actually that dirty! 😆

26/07/2022

🐾 By Virginia law, every dog and cat are required to have a Rabies vaccination. I require proof of a Rabies vaccination by a qualified veterinarian before I groom your dog. Even if your dog has never been outside before, or rarely walks outside without supervision, or has never been around other animals, or if you are a friend of mine, and even if I have seen you walk into a veterinarian’s office, I must see written or typed proof of a Rabies vaccination with your dog’s name on a licensed veterinarian letterhead and/or signed by a licensed veterinarian. If you cannot find your paperwork, then call your vet and ask them to scan the record and email it to you or ask them to make you a copy so you can bring it to me. 💉

Absolutely no exceptions. 🐾

Thank you to those clients that have brought a physical record of their pet’s vaccinations. I also strongly encourage clients to ask the veterinarian to administer all other recommended vaccinations, such as Distemper/Parvo, Leptospirosis, and Bordetella amongst others.

19/07/2022

Buddy and Sugar 💕

19/07/2022

Stella and Max ❤️

09/07/2022

Happy Saturday!

I am thankful of and appreciate my clients and their dogs, and I appreciate everyone who has liked and/or followed my page! 😊 Please feel free to share your dog’s photo post from my page to your page, and referrals are always welcome, so if you would like to invite others to like my page, I’d be very thankful! Even though summers and holidays are very busy, there are down times during the fall and after holidays, because clients are either letting their dog’s coats grow to keep them warm, or many think their dog doesn’t need a trim until the spring.

I encourage you to keep regular visits throughout the year for many reasons:

⭐️ Depending on your dog’s coat, dead fur or hair will accumulate and retain moisture over time, which can cause skin irritation and matting.

⭐️Regular grooming can expose and eliminate parasites and pests that might be hiding underneath the coat.

⭐️Even though many dogs have major seasonal shedding twice a year, keeping that coat maintained every 6-8 weeks will greatly reduce your dog’s discomfort before that time, and less hair will be blowing around your house, which will lessen the chance of human allergenic reactions.

⭐️Dogs with double and triple coats should have regular grooming, but shaving those dogs down is not necessary, even during the summer. If a groomer reduces the accumulation of dead hair, your dog will keep itself cool by panting. That is not to say that I let my triple-coated Collie stay outside during the hottest part of the day, but he is much more comfortable if I brush out that extra fur regularly.

⭐️Growths on dogs can pop up at any point in their life. A groomer can detect these and make clients aware of their presence. A high-powered dog dryer blows the hair aside to expose the skin, so I can see warts, ticks, growths, and fleas. This helps the groomer to avoid those spots during the grooming process, and I can alert the client to their presence.

Another note:

🐾 If your dog really suffers from heat, whether it has fur or hair, make sure there is not another medical reason for their excessive panting, purple tongue, or throwing themselves on the ground after excitement. Dogs can show stress, whether it be a strange situation, smell, another dog, a scare, new people, and most importantly, a heart condition, by panting. I am happy to shave a dog, but when I hear that a dog with thin or short hair is suffering in the heat, it raises alarm bells in my head.

🐾 I was trained at a very young age to observe and detect behavioral changes and signs in dogs and cats, but a drastic behavioral change in a dog can point to many causes. The first action a client should take is veterinary advice. Groomers are not qualified to diagnose your dog’s health issues, and if a groomer tries to diagnose, run away quickly!

☀️I hope you, your family, and your pets have a wonderful weekend!

Bekah Davis 🌸

08/07/2022

Buddy ❤️
1st photo: Before bath and trim
2nd and 3rd: Posing for his after photo and wagging his tail because I put his collar on him. They always know they will be picked up soon!

08/07/2022

Magnum is stylin’ and profilin’! ❤️

07/07/2022

Chloe is a beautiful and sweet girl! This was only her second trim after being rescued, and she was comfortable with every part of the groom. 💕

06/07/2022

💕Siri in my satellite location
1st photo: After the pre-trim and bath
2nd, 3rd, and 4th: Modeling her new do and over-the-collar reversible bandana 🐾

01/07/2022

❤️ Rocky at my satellite location.
1st photo: before the bath
2nd: after bath and blow dry
3rd and 4th: Smiling because he is clean and about to go home!
Note: I remembered to trim his nails after I took the photos, whoops!

29/06/2022

It’s not too late to get your pet’s anti-anxiety meds refilled and to take precautions to protect your pet from the alarming noises of fireworks. My Collie never showed fear, until this year, of loud noises, so now during thunderstorms and fireworks, we play with his favorite toy and fetch as much as possible before (outside), during (inside), and after the event. I will be doing the same thing with my kitties (inside) this year since my 4-year old cat is starting to hide during storms. If you can’t be at home during these times, try to anticipate the event, and make sure your pet is in a place they feel safe, preferably inside the house. There are many aides for helping with dog and cat anxiety. Two years ago, we had a dog show up at our house who had bolted from her owner’s house during fireworks. She had never exhibited this fear in the past, so the owner was surprised. Dogs and cats can develop fear stages and episodes later in life. Fortunately, with social media, the owner found her dog, but every dog may not be that lucky. There are shooting sounds frequently here in the country, but many are not as loud as fireworks, and certainly don’t cause bright lights in the sky. Your dog is capable of hearing sounds 4 times further away that a human and cats about 3 times higher. A dog or cat can also react by fear biting if a human tries to hold them still when they want to get away from the loud sound. The best ways of protecting them are distraction and/or placing them in a crate or room in which they can’t try to claw at the blinds or bite at the door trying to get out of the house. Some animals will react in a frenzy, so keep small children away from your pet if you think there is any danger.

This advice is all from personal experience and observation throughout the years. Call your vet if you need advice about preventative meds. I would not trust Benadryl or store-bought CBD remedies unless your vet advises you to use them and the correct dosage. Honestly, I have never seen a stressed dog relax on the grooming table if a client gives them Benadryl beforehand. Some CBD meds cause many side effects, one being diarrhea, and a stressed animal may have loose or bloody stool anyway from extreme stress, so you can imagine what the combo would cause.

All of my clients are responsible pet owners, so this is just a friendly reminder and info just in case anyone needs an additional perspective.

27/06/2022

26/06/2022

Thank you, Melissa Shearwood, for working with me to promote Puppianos on her online publication, https://rivercountrynews.com/. Check it out if you haven’t already! I had no idea how to create an ad, so from years of experience, she designed it for me, and I love it!

23/06/2022

Good morning! When you visit Puppianos, please bring your dog on a collar and leash. Do not trust your dog will stay with you if you let them out of the car without a leash. There are many fascinating smells in the country, and your dog might take off and follow the scent of a 🐇 , 🐿 , 🐢 , 🐍 , 🦌, 🐕, or 🐈, or he or she might just enjoy their freedom and want to run without being caught! And I just don’t want to see your dog get hurt or worse by running out into the road. 🐕‍🦺 🦮

22/06/2022

Here are some helpful hints on how your small to medium-sized dogs will better adjust to the grooming process. I have been working with dogs most of my life, have taken my own dogs to obedience and agility classes, socialized them in day camp for dogs and taken them to stores, events, parks, other peoples’ houses, taught obedience classes, and like most groomers, I “train every dog to the table”. I help the puppy or dog feel comfortable standing on a tall surface by constantly using positive reinforcement and reassurance that they are safe in my care. They learn how to face forward and stand still just by gentle encouragement and handling. However, if a dog exhibits behaviors that are out of my control, I encourage the client to seek training.

Believe it or not, a meek and easily stressed or scared dog will increase that behavior if a person encourages him or her by overcompensating through empathy. For example, when my Boykin Spaniel started to exhibit fear later in his life, by shaking when we attended public events, and I bent over him feeling sorry for him, he shook even worse. When people would say, “Aww, look at him, he’s scared”, his fear would increase. When I acted as though nothing was wrong and kept walking, he would eventually stop shaking.

I would highly advise teaching your dog to wear a collar and walk without pulling on the leash. I have to use grooming loops, and if a dog has rarely used a collar, the dog will most definitely object to being restrained on a table. This will cause stress for the dog, then most likely he or she will dread coming to the groomer.

I hope this article helps you understand the importance and complexity of training your dog. I like the Whole Dog Journal since many of their articles are based on scientific, medical, and behavioral evidence and practice.

Whole Dog Journal‘s mission is to provide dog guardians with in-depth information on dog food, training, behavior, health, and more.

20/06/2022

Jasmine and Piper before and after photos…I remembered to take a before of Piper after I had taken out much of her undercoat, so her first photo is more of a middle of the process picture.

Another note: Why do I use 2 grooming loops? Because I work by myself and want to keep the dogs safe by securing them the best way possible, and it also keeps me safe just in case a dog might object to the nail trim or any other part of the process. The dogs in these photos behave excellently in every part of the grooming process. The only reason I secure them is because they are getting used to the rotating table and might sidestep out of nervousness. ❤️

17/06/2022

Good morning! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! This is a post about requesting last minute grooming appointments. On the rare occasion, I might be able to schedule a dog for a spot in the near future, so do request, and if I can’t at that moment, I’ll put you on a waiting list. Sometimes I do have cancellations. If at all possible, try to schedule your appointment at least 3 weeks in advance. I am welcoming new clients for the sad reason that some of my senior dogs have passed on to the next life. 😞

If there are specific days of the week you are free, please let me know, and I will keep that in mind when scheduling. 🐾

15/06/2022

Before and After photo of Noodle (terrier mix), and a smiling and wagging photo of Pixie(Chihuahua mix)! Can you believe Noodle is Pixie’s baby?! ❤️ Their Mama does a great job rescuing dogs and cats, and she didn’t realize Pixie was pregnant when she rescued her. These dogs found a wonderful home!

And as an aside, I am selling these over-the-collar bandanas soon on Etsy! Let me know if you’re interested!