After 22 years of catering to dog owners keen on carefully coiffing their pooches, David Ulery-Hart was surprised to learn his pet grooming business was named one of Ohio’s 10 best.
"It’s kind of weird how it happened," Hart said. "I was just scrolling through Facebook and ran across a post from, I believe, Ohio’s Best website. The site tagged me and my business in the post.”
Hart doesn’t know how his pet salon, Professional Pet Grooming on Wooster Road, earned the accolade, but he's not complaining.
“It’s nice to get the name out there and tell people where I am,” he said. "And you know, we do feature the self-serve dog wash, unlike any other one here in town."
Hart launched his dog grooming career in Westerville, where he stayed for 16 years.
“So, I got to groom all the dogs that other salons would send to veterinarians to groom for sedation or, you know, different issues that animals may have,” he said.
When Hart moved to Mount Vernon, he ran his own grooming business from home before moving to his current, more spacious location.
Hart cautions that learning the trade of dog grooming takes years of experience.
"The hardest part about being a groomer is being able to gain the ability to read a dog," he said. "You know, it’s [about] the back room with the biting, snapping and dogs that are scared or timid. You must be able to read a dog to understand its special needs."
According to Hart, dog grooming could be considered a high-end luxury. The process is multifaceted and usually starts with cutting the hair and bathing, followed by nail filings, ear cleanings and, to top it all off, teeth brushing.
"It is a luxury service because you are providing an extra service for your pet by a professional," he said. "But there are grooming salons out there that are very affordable for everybody across the board."
Grooming prices at Professional Pet Grooming depend on the dog breed. Costs could run from $45 to $300, depending on the kind of haircut you want for your pet. Learn more at professional-pet-grooming.com or call 614-260-0834.
