Photo by Ron Burkett.
Pup Scrub owner Erin McIntire puts pets first in her mobile grooming business.
From stay-at-home moms who are juggling kids and household responsibilities, to senior citizens unable to easily drive their pet to a groomer, Pup Scrub mobile pet grooming owner Erin McIntyre said most of her clients are home while she handles grooming in the driveway.
“I’m not just a groomer, but a personal solution,” McIntyre said.
In addition to convenience, McIntyre said the consistency that comes with mobile grooming has several benefits. Where larger settings have a team of stylists that may vary in skill, customers will work directly with her for each mobile grooming experience.
“You know who you’re dealing with every single time. Just like we do with a salon stylist for ourselves, a relationship is built over time,” she said.
According to McIntyre, this relationship is beneficial not only for owners who know what to expect, but also for dogs that may have mobility issues or anxiety around the grooming experience.
McIntyre said the extra focus she’s able to give the dogs also contributes to decreasing the pet’s stress. Dogs who have difficulties in a regular pet salon can grow to enjoy the process through mobile grooming.
“This is a more relaxed environment where the dog receives one-on-one attention without the distraction of other dogs barking and adding to their anxiety. This might be the right answer for those pets that struggle with grooming in salon settings. I can offer a different experience,” said McIntyre.
“If a dog has separation anxiety, being left alone for an extended period of time while they wait for their owner to pick them up after a grooming session can be traumatic for them,” she said.
For some dogs, the anxiety stems from the time spent in a crate during that waiting period.
“There are no cages inside my grooming van. And the dogs aren’t with me all day because they get to go right back inside their home when we’re finished,” she said.
Comfort for the dogs tops her priority list, above client desires or income. For example, McIntyre avoids the common grooming practice of charging extra for time spent detangling and dematting a dog’s coat because she knows it can be uncomfortable or painful for the dog.
“I will not put a dog through a more stressful experience by tearing at his coat for an extra hour. You could cause injury or brush burns. There are some cases that what’s best for the pet isn’t the best for the owner. I want to provide the best experience for both the pet and the client as possible and I’m not going to jeopardize the safety of a pet,” she said.
Having launched the mobile aspect of her business in early April, McIntyre said, “This is a dream that has been 10 years in the making.”
She was first exposed to the industry through a friend of her mother’s who has been a mobile groomer in New Orleans for over 30 years.
“Lots of groomers get cranked out with just six weeks of training. I apprenticed with her for about a year while she taught me how to properly bathe dogs and to treat the animal as an individual,” McIntyre said.
Though she has over a decade of experience, McIntyre has limited her client list since moving to Trussville four years ago in order to focus on her two young children.
“My children are getting a little older and I feel like I can do motherhood and run a business even better now. I do better when I have more than one thing to focus on. And I now have something to work for — my kids,” said McIntyre.
For this reason, appointments are available on weekdays only, reserving weekends for family time.
“People are busy. This just encompasses convenience for the pet and the person,” she said.
A complete listing of services starting at $75 per hour can be found at PupScrubLLC.com. To schedule an appointment, contact 352-8776.
