THE MIDTOWNER

8 Reasons to Consider an Audlt Dog Rescue

2010-04-14T11:42:00.004-05:00

1. I can hold it, I'm a grown up
2. No chewing or destroying of your favorite possessions
3. Puppies can be very demanding, Don't be surprised to hear your adult dog snore w/pleasure.
4. Adult dogs sit calmly next to you, while your workday stress flows away
5. Trips to the vet are a breeze
6. What you see is what you get- no wondering how big? how smart? what kind of temperament/personality?
7. Instant companion: just add water.. and food and love
8. Bond...as in Gold

"Used Dogs- Rescue Myths Debunked." Haute Dog 1 Jan. 2010: 26-27

Wilbur is a 4 1/2 year old white pit mix in search of his forever home. He's currently living with a foster and is leash trained, kennel trained and house trained. He enjoys a good walk or jog but is happiest snuggled up on the couch. He's great with kids and even attends doggie daycare at Midtown Groom & Board. Contact Meg at Midtown or by email mgood14@gmai.com

Spring Break!

2010-03-03T17:17:00.003-06:00

Spots are filling up quickly, don't forget about your 4 legged friend while your away; let him have a vacation too!

Midtown is now offering spoil sessions as an upgrade to your dog's boarding experience. While all of our pets get lots of love and attention, sign them up for a spoil session where they will have our complete and undivided attention. Whether they prefer tug-o-war, fetch or just some snuggling- we'll do whatever it takes!

Midtown Yappy Hour!

2010-02-17T11:11:00.002-06:00

Come join us on Saturday February 20 from 4:00 to 7:00pm at Opal Divine's on West 6th Street for a Yappy Hour to benefit Blue Dog Rescue!

Real Ale Brewing has generously donated a keg! Donations are appreciated and will go to benefit Blue Dog Rescue!

We have a reserved section of the outside porch at Opal Divine's and dogs are welcome!

Hope to see you there!

What to Expect in 2010

2009-12-15T14:54:00.010-06:00

As with every new year Midtown will be making some improvements.

Become our fan on Facebook! Check out daily photo updates of your pooch in the backyard, find out who's chasing who, and which dog is king of the castle. We'll even have video updates too!

Follow us on Twitter to get the latest gossip from our pet salon and
find out who's kissing who in the backyard!

Midtown Events:
We’re really looking forward to getting out and about around Austin with our Midtown posse. Expect to see us at Red Bud Isle, Dog friendly happy hours and volunteering at Austin Dog parks.
Red Bud Meet and Greet: Expect them bi-monthly! We had a blast down
at Red Bud in November and we're looking forward to the next visit!

Happy Hour: Enjoy a cold brew with your Midtown friends! Dates/location will be announced soon!
More photo opts: If you missed Santa, expect to see the Easter Bunny in Spring! Also, for private studio sessions or in-home professional photography, check out www.abercrombieandbitch.net

Midtown Friends:
Midtown proudly helps and supports local Austin Animal Shelters. Check out Facebook to see posts and pictures of SPCA and Town Lake before and after shots, read about how the dogs did for grooming and in their kennel and information on how to adopt!
Also, Midtown donates frequently to Blue Dog Rescue and hopes to hold an adoption day in the front yard in 2010!

Midtown Groomers:

It’s a boy x two!!

Congrats to Dawn and Laura Leigh who are both expecting boys in January 2010! Midtown couldn’t be happier for the ladies and their families… plus the addition of two new poop scoopers to our team!

Starting in January there with be monthly updates from our professional groomers, with before and after shots, general tips/advice, and the coolest, hippest grooms around Austin.

10 Questions- Meg

2009-09-04T15:16:00.006-05:00

1.How long have you been at Midtown, and what do you do?
I started working at Midtown in February of this year. When Dawn finished her apprenticeship with the groomers, I took over as Front Desk manager.

2.How did you get started working in the doggie business?
After moving here from Cape Cod, Massachusetts I started working with a marketing company in North Austin. The office moved to Ohio in September and I wasn’t ready to leave Austin so I took it as a sign to look for something new. In the meantime, I started volunteering at Town Lake Animal Shelter and realized that I couldn’t enjoy anything more than working with dogs. a few months later I found Midtown and it was a perfect match!

3.What else do you do besides work at Midtown?
As I said before, I volunteer at Town Lake Animal Shelter doing dog wellness training to help the pups be more adoptable. I also enjoy live music, swimming and painting.

4.Who are your pets? Tell me about them.
I got Shiner when I first moved to Austin; we adopted her from Town Lake Animal shelter. She’s a Border collie mix, maybe a little pit bull/lab in her too.
She loves to come to work and thinks that everyone at Midtown is here for her; she acts like she owns the place! Shiner is known for her speed and kisses.

5.What do you like most about working a Midtown?
I really like putting dogs into play groups and helping them find a new best friend. It’s a great feeling when you find a group of dogs who continue playing the entire time they’re outside and don’t want to come in for naps. I love getting to share the funny daycare stories with the owners at the end of the day.

6.I know you like it here... but everyone has something about their job that they don't like, what's yours?
It’s the poop, hands down.

7.What is your best advice for taking care of your pet?
Give them plenty of exercise; a tired pup is a well behaved pup!

8.What is the funniest story working at Midtown so far?
Zoe is a black pug who’s featured on the wall in the front lobby and a daycare regular. She’s one of our favorites and since it’s too hot for her outside, we spoil her by letting her sit and watch the groomers. When a dog was misbehaving on the grooming table, Zoe would bark/growl at the dog to protect her beloved groomers!

9.When you get your next pet what will it be?
I’d love for Shiner to have a little sidekick, maybe a Boston or a Pug or a little toy poodle, a dog that can have cool haircuts. But because she is the center of attention, it may be a little hard on her.

10.What is the best grooming secret that you are willing to share?
Come in for a tidy up every 2 to 3 weeks, it’s less expensive and keeps them looking good between grooms.

Vaccinations

2009-04-22T16:03:00.006-05:00

Yes, that dreaded term. Vaccinations.

We want to talk about them because they are important. We know it's a hard topic to discuss, but it needs to be talked about, and they need to be given.

There are three vaccinations we require for dogs and cats before they even step through the door at Midtown. We also need to proof of these Vaccinations. They can be brought on the day of your appointment, or they can be faxed from your vet before. Either way, if you don't have them for us, we can't take your dog that day if you are a new client. Lastly, we don't accept owner given vaccinations, there is no real way verify these shots.

Vaccines for dogs include the following:

DHLPPC vaccine: Yearly
o Distemper – A widespread potentially fatal disease that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, pneumonia, brain damage and death
o Adenovirus type-1 and type-2 – This can cause infectious hepatitis, pneumonia, and severe damage to the liver and kidneys which can lead to death
o Leptospirosis – A bacterial infection that can cause permanent damage to the liver and kidneys
o Para influenza – A common respiratory disease that is mild in healthy dogs but can be severe for puppies or debilitated dogs
o Parvovirus – A widespread disease which causes severe dehydration, vomiting and diarrhea, and can be deadly especially for puppies
o Coronavirus – An airborne virus that causes a viral infection of the gastrointestinal tract resulting in vomiting and diarrhea

Bordetella 6 mos, or yearly
This is commonly known as kennel cough and is a highly contagious airborne virus that attacks the upper respiratory tract and results in a loud, severe cough. Serious complications can include bronchiopneumonia.

Rabies 1 year or 3 year
This is one of the most well known diseases, and is almost always fatal. This virus attacks the brain and central nervous system and is transmitted to humans primarily through a bite wound from an infected animal.

Vaccines for cats include the following:

FVRCP vaccine Yearly
o Feline viral rhinotracheitis – A highly contagious respiratory disease characterized by sneezing, loss of appetite, fever and eye inflammation
o Calicivirus – Another respiratory infection that can be quite serious, and has similar characteristics to those of rhinotracheitis, but often accompanied by ulcers on the tongue
o Panleukopenia – More commonly known as feline distemper and is the most widespread feline disease. This is extremely contagious and is characterized by fever, vomiting and diarrhea. It can be especially deadly for kittens
o Pneumonitis – An organism known as chlamydia causes this and it has symptoms similar to rhinotracheitis and calicivirus

Feline Leukemia Yearly
A viral disease that can take several forms. There is no cure and it is a fatal disease. FIP – A complex disease caused by the feline infectious peritonitis virus.

Rabies 1 year or 3 Year
Present in both dogs and cats, it attacks the brain and central nervous system, and the same vaccine for prevention used for dogs is also used for cats.

Wow, these all sound pretty bad. You need to protect your animals from these. We want to make sure that every dog or cat that comes through that door is protected too. So that is why we can't let one slide in with out getting vaccinated. What if we let you slide this time. Then let someone else slide tomorrow, and then the next day someone else slides. Pretty soon we don't know who has had it, and who hasn't. If someone gets sick, we could be responsible.

We also know that there are a lot of arguments about over vaccinating your pet. What we suggest is that you consult your vet, and make sure your pet is protected. There are 1yr and 3yr vaccinations you can get. Please research, but to come to Midtown, you need to have these minimum requirements. Lastly, many pets lives have been saved by these vaccinations, as opposed to not getting them. So please Vaccinate.

10 Questions - Dawn

2009-04-14T17:17:00.007-05:00

A lot has happened at Midtown in the past few months. There is going to be a lot more happening too. So keep your eyes on us. We will try to keep you updated here!

The next 10 questions. As a customer you probably have met Dawn. She is our front desk manager. She will check you out when you come in to pick up your fresh and clean pet. Now you can finally learn a little more about her, and what she is doing here at Midtown.

1. How long have you been at Midtown, and what do you do?

I have been here since June of 2008. I can't believe it's almost been a year! Before this I was a Store Manager for Coach handbags in San Francisco. This was a big change for me! I am currently the front desk manager, and I am apprenticing with the groomers here to learn to groom! Oh, and I write this blog!

2. How did you get started working in the doggie business?

As I said this was a big change. I was very burnt out on the whole Retail Biz, and I wanted a change. Well, I got one! I knew that I always wanted to work with animals, and I want to open my own Business. The Grooming Business seemed a good choice. So I am learning a lot here and I love it! So to learn the most a bout the Grooming Business I am also apprenticing as a groomer.

3. What else do you do besides work at Midtown.

Well, I am a big knitter as well. I learned a while back and then just quit for no good reason. Then when I started working here I got inspired to make dog clothes! Hopefully soon you will be able to purchase my creations through Midtown! I also love the Austin music scene, so I am trying to figure all of that out. Which places to go and what bands I like to see. So if you have any suggestions you can always let me know!

4. Who are your pets? Tell me about them.

I have two pets currently. The first one is Viola the cat. She was an amazing find at the San Francisco SPCA. After my last dog died I wasn't ready for another dog, but I thought that a cat would fill a little of the void. So I went to the SPCA and saw her. My boyfriend Aaron was with me and I don't think that he expected to bring home a cat that day. But that was my agenda the whole time. Luckily I have a great boyfriend! She is a petite little Tabby cat with a crooked tail, and she has a little wart on the top of her head that I call her unicorn horn. She's a mess but I love her!

Then there is Kiku (which means Chrysanthemum in Japanese.) She is a Heinz 57 mix breed. I was searching for a while to adopt a new dog and I just couldn't find the perfect match. Then one day I went to the laundromat, and across the street Paws Match was set up with a tent and a bunch of cute puppies. Well Kiku was sitting there looking at me across the street, and I was looking at her, and by the time my Laundry was done I wanted to take her home with me! She has been a big muse for me with photography and with the knitting thing. Thank goodness she loves sweaters! She is also the ruler in the back yard at Midtown. It's like the mafia back there, so don't cross her. I think she could put a hit on you if you did.

5. What do you like most about working a Midtown?

I just love seeing the before and after of the groomed dogs. Some dogs come in looking horrible. I can't imagine them looking good ever again. We have such talented groomers, that they will take the most matted, dirty, smelly dogs, and make them absolutely beautiful! They really see the beauty where I could not even fathom it. I hope to have that talent one day!

6. I know you like it here... but everyone has something about their job that they don't like, what's yours?

It's a toss up... Anal glands, and Scooping the poop. Just horrible.

7. What is your best advice for taking care of your pet.

Let your dog be a dog. I see many a dog come here and they don't know how to go outside to go to the bathroom, much less play with other dogs outside. Dogs are dogs, and they need to play with other dogs, and walk on a leash, and smell other doggie butts, and bark, and swim, etc. Even if they are small, or large, or whatever. They are doggies!

8. What is the funniest story working at Midtown so far?

There are many things that have happened since I started working here. Most of them deal with gross things. Hmmm... Which one to tell you. Well I can tell you one that happened to me personally. It was my first week at Midtown. I started as a bather. I was really nervous because I had never done anything like this in my life. I thought I was doing really well though. So much so I wanted to be smart and go faster.
When we give a dog a flea bath we have to let the dog soak for a little while for the shampoo to work, and to do that they sit in a soaking kennel. There were two dogs from the same family, so they could go in the same kennel, and they both needed flea baths. So I started one, and put him in the soaker. Then I started the next one. I decided to take out the first one when I was done and just sort of switch them out. Well, the first one was adamant about not getting rinsed off, and he was very slippery with all of that shampoo on him. He got free from my grasp!!! So we had a soapy, slippery dog running around Midtown. It was like trying to catch a greased pig at the county fair. He finally went to the front door (with a customer there! How embarrassing!) and just stood there.

9. When you get your next pet what will it be?

I will want to adopt again, but I would love to adopt a small dog. Like a Pug, or a Frenchie. Pretty much anything with a squishy face. I would like to do it sooner rather than later, so if you see one for adoption let me know!

10. What is the best grooming secret that you are willing to share?

Brush your dog. That's it. If you want to keep the costs down for grooming it's the biggest thing you can do. If your dog comes in and it's matted, guess what... you get a shave down, and it's more expensive than a trim. It also let's your dog bond with you, and they are more comfortable. Less itchy skin and hot spots too. Brusha, brusha, brusha!

Makeover-Hannah

2009-02-09T09:31:00.007-06:00

Here at Midtown we get lots of Puppies! There is a lot that goes into grooming a puppy for the first time. They can be wiggly squigglies, so patience is a virtue. We have to train these little guys to sit still on the table so they can look good for their parents. They might also be going from their puppy coat to their adult coat, and so matting can occur. Brushing out the matts isn't easy for young ones so a shave down could be in order.

Last week, however; we had Hannah. She was a complete doll! She was a little wiggly when she was getting blown dry, but after that she was a natural. And she looks so gorgeous after her first groom. We didn't have to shave her down at all. Her owners brush her every day so all she had to get was a little trim and nice bow on top! Voila! Instant Glamor!

Before:

After:

Now she can see what's going on around her. No more hair in the eyes. She was so happy!

The fact that her owners brush her every day prepared her for the grooming process. She wasn't scared or nervous when we started brushing her and even when the clippers were on her body she didn't mind one bit. She was used to being handled and touched in that way. Also, because she wasn't matted she didn't have endure the shave down.

So let this be a lesson in brushing and grooming your puppy, or even your older dog. It helps you and helps us take better care of your pet. It will also save you money in the long run. We won't have to charge you the "de-matting" fee, or the larger shave down price.

The Austin Humane Society

2009-01-27T14:23:00.011-06:00

How many of you know that we help the Austin SPCA? We do! Every week. Yes, every week. Laura Leigh whom you know from our 10 questions post, has been helping out the SPCA every week for the past year.

What she is doing is great for the animals. The SPCA will bring in a dog every Monday that needs our help. They get an extra special bath and a groom if they need it. Lastly they get a spiffy new bandanna around their neck.

Almost all of the dogs that have been to Midtown have been adopted within the week. I think it's mostly to do with the spiffy bandanna!

Yesterday we had a truly amazing dog come in to the shop. Her name is Chickpea. She is a pit bull mix. She is about 10 months old and a sweetheart! She is a special case because she is deaf. This doesn't stop her from being the best dog that you could possibly adopt. She also has a congenital defect in her left eye so she will probably need surgery and lose sight in the eye. So if you are reading this close to the date posted please go adopt her! You would not regret it at all. Here is the link so you can check her out yourself, or you might find another dog to fall in love with.

www.austinhumanesociety.org/adopt/available_dogs.htm

Recontruction Part 2

2009-01-14T16:19:00.007-06:00

So it's been awhile. We hope everyone had a beautiful holiday season and everything is getting back to normal. We had a very busy season. We were filled to the brim this season with lots of boarding dogs, and also doggies coming to get gussied up for all of the celebrations going on.

Now that it is the new year we are starting to get reorganized and make big plans for the year. You will have to check in on the blog often to see what is happening and what your dogs are up to!

With new years come new projects. We have a big one underway right now in our bathing room. As you have read before the house that we are in is old and needs some upgrades. The bathing room was a major one. We will put up some photos a it progresses. Here are the first few ones that we have now.

We hope you New Year Resolutions are going well. There is always one that we can help you with at Midtown. That one is helping keep your pet clean and looking pretty all year long! So come by and see us soon!

Makeover-Angel Baby

2008-12-09T13:54:00.004-06:00

Angel... What can we say about Angel. She is one of the staff favorites here at Midtown. She is a tiny little Maltese but she has the attitude of a Great Dane. She loves attention, and just wants to sit in you arms all day long if she could. She might even rough house with you if she is in the mood.

Well, Angel usually comes in every Saturday to get a bath and brush out, but she has missed the past couple of weekends. She came in last weekend looking like a hot mess. She had a matt the entire length of her body that would not come out. It was time for a hair cut. Here is the before:

See? Not so pretty.

Now she is looking adorable:

After the cut she did not know what to do with herself. She has never had short hair before. She kept doing little twirls and looking at her body like it wasn't hers. Then should do a little huff. I think it was a huff of satisfaction. I am sure she felt a lot better. She did look adorable in long hair so I am sure it will grow back fast. Until then she will have stylish little pixie cut!

Reconstruction

2008-12-03T11:38:00.007-06:00

When customers come in the door, what they see is a beautiful new front room. Behind that first new room however, the rest isn't so pretty. Don't get me wrong... It's interesting. There was carpet on the ceiling, Laura Ashley flowered wallpaper that was stained on the walls, and more bright orange, swirly, shag carpet on the floor. Who couldn't admire that? So reconstruction is badly needed. It's an old house, what do you expect?

So we would like to keep you informed about what happens. You will be able to follow the transformation from beast to beauty!

The last thing that happened was tearing down that awesome Laura Ashley flowered and stained wall paper off the ceiling in the grooming room. Well actually, there were tiles, and when those came down we found the wallpaper. Then under that there was a beautiful wood ceiling. It's absolutely gorgeous! They don't build them like this anymore, that is for sure.

It was not a fun job. Dirt, years of dog hair, dust and flakes of wallpaper were every where. Protection had to be worn. You can see from the beautiful pictures that Laura Leigh was ready for battle. Yes that is a dog bandanna on her head!

Now we have a beginning to a great grooming room. We will let you know the next steps and how it goes. Fun, Fun, Fun!

10 questions: Heather

2008-11-26T08:42:00.003-06:00

Our next profile is Heather. She is one of our grooming experts, and our resident cat groomers. It's an amazing sight to see her cat grooming process. She is methodical when she does it, and the cats love her still. She makes them feel good, and she makes us all laugh even on those busy dog filled days.

1. How long have you worked at Midtown and what do you do for them?

It’s hard to believe but about 2 yrs. Time flies so fast. I’m sure I could come up with a joke of what that is in dog years but I’m just not that quick. I’m one of the dog groomers and I also specialize in cat grooming.

2. How did you get started in the doggie business?

I grew up in the Virginia countryside surrounded with dogs, cats, the occasional cows and horses. My brother and I were always catching something and bringing it home, so I’ve always had affection for animals. When I moved to Austin a few years ago I was excited to get into the dog grooming world and start a new chapter in my animal life. Through my work with dogs I also moved into grooming cats before I realized I was one of the few in town that enjoyed it.

3. What else do you do besides work at Midtown?

I was an art director in Virginia so I still do the occasional graphic design job for friends and old clients. I oil paint and have a few of my pieces hanging in the shop. My latest project is restoring my 31' 1975 Airstream and Chevy Suburban tow vehicle. Oh it’s my baby!!

4. Who are your pets? Tell me about them.

My current kids are P.D. a 12yr old yellow tabby, Coby an 8 yr old grey and white tabby, and Nina my youngest, a dark grey tabby. All kids are short haired and cuddle bugs. PD is my man of the house, very sweet but very shy with a little kitten face. Coby thinks he’s the man of the house but really differs to PD on most manners. Nina is my little girl who
wants to be the princess but is pretty rough and tumble when it comes to play time.

5. What do you like most about working at Midtown?

The dogs and cats are always great and I Iove to hear clients say their dogs get excited to come in and see us. There are some kids I just can’t wait to see each month because when they first started coming they were grumpy old men and now they get the biggest smiles on their faces to see us. I have one guy named Bentley that took me months to get him to trust me fully because he’s had so many surgeries on his ears and they can still be pretty painful. Now he lets me do whatever I want and even plays if I can get him in a silly mood.

6. I know you love your job... but everyone has something they don't like. What's yours?

I have to say I’m not the best morning person. Much more of a night owl with my perfect schedule being up at 9am and to bed about 2am, but this job just doesn’t work to that schedule. By the time I get to work I’m up and running with the help of caffeine. I just hate, hate, and hate waking up in the dark. I run on the theory that if the birds aren’t up yet neither am I.

7. What is the best advice that you would give clients
about taking care of their pets?

SOCIALIZE. Do the best you can to get your dog out into the world at an early age. Let them have play dates with friends, sleepovers at grandmas and grandpas, and all the dog park fun they can handle. And that goes for the little kids too like yorkies, toy poodles, pugs and chihuahuas. The more comfortable they are with other dogs and people the better their life experience is going to be and your life will be much easier too. Also play with their paws, ears and mouths from an early age. It will make it much less stressful for them at the vets and groomers because by then it won’t be a big thing.

8. When you get your next pet what will it be?

Probably an American bulldog or a Doberman. I just have fallen in love with both breeds over the past few years.

9. What is your funniest pet story working at Midtown so far?

This was about a year ago. Another groomer that had the station right next to me was grooming a large male German
shepherd on her table. She ended up losing her footing and went straight down onto her butt. Once I realized she was ok we both started giggling. Then I realized that the dogs head was bobbing up and down and he couldn’t make eye contact with her. HE WAS TOTALLY LAUGHING AT HER! I completely lost it and so did the other groomer. It seemed like after that he couldn’t directly look her without this goofy grin on his face and his head bobbing. Oh it was so good.

10. is there one grooming secret that you would be willing to give up for our clients?

Brush early and often. I hate having to tell an owner that I have to shave their dog down due to matting and see the look of disappointment on their face. If you can brush them before any matting starts then it can be an enjoyable experience for both of you that will lead to even greater bonding between owner and pet.

That's Heather. Who knew a dog could laugh at you? I would have laughed too! Ha Ha.

Spanky and Belmont

2008-11-17T16:05:00.014-06:00

Spanky the Boston Terrier, and Belmont the White Doberman are our comedic wonder duo. They come everyday for our daycare and just about every day there is a story to tell their parents. Like the time they both tried to fit into the smallest kennel, it was like watching the clowns at the circus fit into the tiny car. Or when they have they daily race to see who can get to the door to come inside first (Belmont usually wins, but lets Spanky think he won) Or the times when Spanky is wide awake yet he is still snoring, and Belmont reacts to this with non-chalance. They are brothers, not by birth but by actions. They argue and play and are polar opposites. Belmont is the shy introvert, and Spanky is the funny outgoing one. I am not going to try and describe them in this paragraph any more, I am going to list their likes and dislikes, and I think it might be enough so you will understand who they are.

Spanky

Likes:
Swirling his head in a hole in the dirt
Throwing up in the car on the way to day care
Rolling in the grass at home, then tracking it through the house
Always keeping one eye open while asleep
Full body massages
Bossing his brother around
Standing on his mom while she is driving
Snoring

Dislikes:
Anybody waking him from a nap

Belmont

Likes:
Tip-toeing through the house at midnight for a snack
Hiding in the bedroom when company comes over just like a teenager
Prancing around the backyard
His girlfriend Ivie
Getting confused when you try to put in him in his kennel, and then trying to fit between the kennel and the wall
Rapping the freshest jams (see halloween picture below)

Dislikes:
Being bossed around by his brother
Hotspots
Having his picture taken

Halloween Pictures

2008-11-11T19:20:00.004-06:00

The 10 Questions-Laura Leigh

2008-11-06T12:08:00.008-06:00

Our next 10 question victim is Laura Leigh! She is our head groomer here at Midtown, and she has a hard job. If there is any kind of issue Laura Leigh is on top of it, and helps us solve it. We depend on her and she always comes through!

1. How long have you been working at Midtown and what do you do for Midtown?

I have been working at Midtown since December 2007. I am a pet groomer, manager, but my favorite job is to go play with the pups in doggie day care.

2. How did you get into the doggie business?

If you take a look at my childhood photo's, just about every picture is me squeezing a dog, goat, duck, horse, or cat. Those poor animals.... No, but really I can thank my mom for getting me into animals. She is a dog trainer with 25 years plus experience. I just always tagged along with my mom to obedience shows, sheep herding trials, and things of that nature. I dabbled in dog training off and on since I was a kid. To support myself in college, I learned how to dog groom. ....And 10 years later I still love my job!

3. What else do you do besides work at Midtown?

Let's see... I just adore Austin! Usually, my husband and I go to Town Lake with our 3 dogs. Sometimes I go out to watch local music or you might catch me having a cocktail at Botticelli's. But my favorite thing is riding our scooter down to Alamo Draft House to catch a movie.

4. Who are your doggies? Tell me about them.

I have 3 special dogs. All are adopted. My oldest dog is Mikie, a 13 year old Border Collie. When I think of my best friend, I think of Mikie. My next dog is Page. She is a 3 year old Boxer/Hound/Pit mix. The best way to describe Page is, if she had a theme song it would be Cyndi Lauper's "girls just wanna have fun"! Last is my big old meat head Tyson. He is my 4 year old Pit Bull/Bull Terrier mix. He was abandoned at the Vet Hospital I used to work at. I think it was love at first sight! He has brought me a whole new love and understanding to the American Pit Bull. Because of him, I am now very active in APB rescue and education and bringing a voice to a very misunderstood breed.

5. What do you like most about working at Midtown?

I have to say the people I work with, just a cool bunch of strong women. I can't say enough nice things about them. We all support one another....sisterhood.

6. I know you love your job... But everyone has some thing they don't like about their job. What's yours?

I have to go to the chiropractor once a week. Dr. Ron works miracles!

7. What's the best advice that you would give to clients about taking care of their pets?

This is very basic advice. Good nutrition, exercise, and training. Research! Research! Research! The most important thing is let your dog be a dog, no matter what size she/he may be.

8. When you get your next doggie what kind will you get?

We will adopt of course! I would love to have a smaller dog, like a mini bull terrier, pug, or a french bulldog. But, I have to say, it might have to be another pit bull, they really need people to give them a voice.

9. What is your funniest pet story that you have had working at Midtown so far?

I would love to talk about the owner's dog Birdie.... she is a goof ball! But really anytime the backyard is muddy and the dogs in daycare roll around like piggies in the mud! It is so cute! They are having the time of there lives in the mud pit! But it isn't so cute when you have to bathe them later.

10. Is there one grooming secret that you would be willing to give up for our clients?

Yes! To prevent long coated dogs from getting matted, you must brush and comb them out every day! Never ever bathe them when they are matted....this causes even more matts!

There is Laura Leigh! We didn't know that Page had a theme song! Now it all makes sense! It goes to show you that you learn more about the people you work with every day. I hope you learned something too! Keep checking back to read about our amazing staff!

Incredible Makeovers

2008-11-05T19:39:00.004-06:00

Today we had an amazing dog come in. His name is Boo, and he is a Lowchen. He hadn't been to the groomers in a while, and he needed it. He got a true makeover! He was proud to show it to his Dad when he came to pick him up, so he just pranced around and flaunted his new look!

Shiner

2008-10-31T11:42:00.006-05:00

Another reoccurring article that we wanted to start was a pet profile on some of our clients that come in often. We will choose these animals because we love them and want to share our experience taking care of them. They might have a special background, or something funny that they do, or they might be so cute we just die every time we see them.

The first one is our friend Shiner Lovoi. Shiner has been coming to Midtown Grooming for a long time. Yes, she is named after the beer. She is very special because she is a Coyote mix. Very Rare! As you know coyotes are wild animals, and to have a mix almost never happens. Shiner's parents found her on the side of the road, and have tamed her wild side. She is now the Grande Damme of her parents hearts, and ours. She is getting a little older now, so when she stays with us we are very careful with her. We get to take her on walks and she gets excited to go. When we take her out and someone is walking by they are always fascinated by her and ask questions. She also likes to make sure that she stops at every bush and flower to smell (and sometimes the trash cans). She has taught us a lot of things, the biggest thing is to stop and smell the roses.

The 10 Questions

2008-10-30T11:38:00.005-05:00

As one of features of this blog we would like to start is "The 10 Questions" In this article we will ask one of our employees 10 questions (obviously) and they will have to answer each and everyone! We will try and put them on the spot so we can get to all of their secrets. Now you can get to know our groomers, bathers, and managers.

So here is the first one: This person is very special to us. We wouldn't be here without her! It's Karen Ryan the Midtown Owner, Operator, and all-round tough girl (not really!).

1. How did you get in to the doggie business, and why?

My entry into the doggie business began with pet photography. I studied studio art/photography in college and discovered, after graduating, that I enjoyed photographing animals. I am a life-long animal lover. I was heavily involved in 4H when I was a young girl. I competed in equestrian events and my best friends, since childhood, have been my dogs. Having started my photography business, I eventually went into the grooming business with my family.

2. What do you do for Midtown grooming?

I am the owner. As the owner of a small, local business, I wear many hats. My primary responsibilities are the oversight of day-to-day operations, accounting, human resources and community relations. I am also Head Poop Scooper.

4. What is your big dream for Midtown grooming?

I want Midtown Grooming to become the premiere grooming/boarding facilities in Austin, and the state of Texas. My goal is to grow our specialty services while keeping our focus on a personalized experience. I pride myself on Midtown's reputation for having a staff that truly cares about each animal that walks through the door and our insistence on gentle, loving care. I intend to continue and improve upon our high-end services. My ultimate goal is to allow Midtown Grooming to grow, and it's staff members to advance their careers, as we add services and features to the business.

5. What do you like the most about working at Midtown grooming?

The animals! I love getting to know the interesting characteristics of the different breeds and the wonderful personalities of individual dogs. I also love seeing a pet that was in need of grooming come out looking, and feeling, like a million bucks. I am proud when I see daycare benefit a dog that seemed hopeless. I am thrilled to be able to brag to friends and associates about the wonderful care that my staff gives to the animals. Lastly, I love learning from the innate wisdom of animals.

6. I know you love your job, but every job has something about it you don't like.... What is yours?

A tie between being on the phone with IRS and emptying the poop-trashcan.

7. Who are your doggies? Tell me about them!

Gus is a Blab; a custom, one-of-a-kind Bassett Hound-Labrador. He is my sunshine. In my mind, he's a lot like the character, Brian, from the show Family Guy. I rescued Gus from the Town Lake animal shelter when he was 2 years old. That was 8 years ago. He has been my dream dog since the day I brought him home. He is very mellow and his strange appearance is a great conversation piece. Gus brings a smile to everyone he meets. He is very gentle and sweet.

Birdie is a little pitbull. She brings me absolute joy and laughter. She is the most affectionate and snuggly creature I have ever encountered. I rescued Birdie from Town Lake Animal Shelter this past summer. She has many cat-like qualities; Birdie likes to hide under the bed, sit on my lap when I type, jump up on the nightstand and drink my water, and she can practically climb trees. Birdie is an almighty terror, but I am so smitten with her that I just can't get mad at her. Little Buddha that she is, she is helping me overcome attachment to material things by destroying everything in my house. For example, see assisted in breaking me of my shoe fetish by chewing one shoe from many different pairs. Now, I keep only enough shoes to fit in the closet with the door closed.

8. What else do you do besides work at Midtown grooming?

I am a pet photographer. I enjoy doing artistic animal photography more than anything. I think my love for it comes out in the images that I make. I don't see much difference between photographing a human and an animal. Animals communicate very easily with their eyes and their bodies. And... there is no better feeling than hearing that a client is so thrilled with their photos and how much it means to them. One woman brought me a bouqet of flowers to say "thank you" and it meant the world to me. I also like yoga and running. I live a very quiet life with my dogs. Pretty simple. Nothing fancy.

9. What is the one piece of advice you would give to your clients about taking care of their pet?

To remember that there is great dignity in being an animal and to let their little animal be just that.
This is one of those "do as I say...not as I do" gems of advice because I put sweaters on my pitbull and bumble-bee costumes on my bassett-lab.

10. When you get your next doggie what will it be?

That's a tough one. A french bull dog, possibly. I also love pugs and chihuahuas. A catahoula if I had land. But, I think that pitbulls are in desparate need of loving, responsible owners... so I might go that route again.

11. What is the funniest pet story that you have had working at Midtown so far?

A client, who will remain unnamed, told me that her golden retriever sleeps in bed with her. One night she thought her dog had gas so she turned away from him, annoyed. Well, the smell didn't go away. When she turned back over, she almost rolled onto his poop. The funny part was how irritated he was with his owner when she had the audacity to turn on the lights (in order to kick him off the bed and change the blankets). Apparently, he did not take kindly to having his slumber disturbed.

OK... That was really 11, but we had to get as much info out of her as possible. You should be happy about the extra one!
I hope that this gave you little more insight to our mighty owner and her thoughts about Midtown.

Please come back often and check our blog. The posts are going to keep coming!

Welcome!

2008-10-15T16:57:00.005-05:00

Hi, and welcome to our new blog for Midtown Groom and Board. We are excited to start this blog to tell you about the exciting things going on at Midtown.

We are starting this blog is for many reasons. The biggest one is for you, our customers. We always get the questions from you about how the day went, what happened during the groom, and general curiosity about the daily goings on. Here we will let you in on some (definitely not all) of our secrets.

You are going to see posts about our staff, so you can get to know them a little better. Reports about the biggest doggie or kitty makeovers. Musings on the backyard playtime with our boarding dogs. Tips from our groomers on how to keep your pet looking good between visits. Lastly there will be pictures and maybe even a video or two.

So, you should suscribe to our RSS feed so that you can be updated as soon as we update the blog. Just click the RSS button to the right to sign up.

We look forward to sharing our days with you, and hopefully you will have fun keeping up to date with our daily wild animals. Who knows, you might even see your loved one here on this blog!