SARTELL — To work at a dog grooming and doggie day care business, you have to love a little chaos.
On an average day, the 10 groomers at Knotty Paws in Sartell will see four to six dogs a day. Doggie day care serves 25-31 dogs per day. All of this in a building the size of a gas station. (Literally, the building used to be a gas station.)
Besides the cuteness overload, the smell of wet dogs and the numerous puffs of hair lingering in the air, the employees spend their day listening to an ongoing chorus of barks, yelps and whines. So don’t be surprised if you see some of them wearing ear protection, said owner Kelly Thompson.
“When day care is (inside) in the winter, it's very loud in here,” Thompson said.
Some of that noise is alleviated in the warm months, when the dogs can romp and play in the additional 4,000 square feet of outside space, Thompson said.
It’s clear the staff are animal lovers. The staff page lists the breeds and names of their numerous pets — well over 50 between Thompson and her 18 employees — including dogs, cats, horses, goats, chickens and ducks.
One favorite perk is that employees can bring their dogs to work every day. Thompson had her Dachshund Marvin and Maltipoo Marge under the desk as she was talking to St. Cloud LIVE on Tuesday, Jan. 7.
Stephanie Dickrell / St. Cloud LIVE
In 2013, Kelly Thompson was looking for a change. She had been working in a salon. After talking with a friend who was a dog groomer, they decided to start a business.
“Sandy was going to teach me how to groom dogs,” Thompson said. “I was not a fan, so I started hiring people instead. … I mean, I love pets. It’s just that people stand still, and they don't poop on me.”
That friend died four years ago, and now Thompson runs the business with the help of general manager Larissa Aumock.
In 2019, the business moved to its current location, and they finally had enough space to open a doggie day care.
They’ve grown a lot during that time: from four employees when Aumock started in 2014 to 18 today, which includes six people in the day care.
Stephanie Dickrell / St. Cloud LIVE
They don’t just shave your dog. They offer a full range of services for health and aesthetics, like facials, haircuts, massages, blow drying, nail trimming, ear cleaning, de-shedding, teeth brushing, coloring, anal gland expression, nail “paw-lish” and flea baths.
They even have special handling techniques for puppies, senior dogs, high-anxiety dogs and dogs with “spicier” behaviors, such as biting. The shop also sells animal food, treats and toys.
Knotty Paws recommends that their clients get groomed regularly for the health and comfort of each dog.
As a kennel-free groomer, dogs are allowed to wander around the grooming area before and after their spa treatments.
The staff gets to know the dogs pretty well, seeing them once a month or so
“I also think that dog makes a connection with the groomer … just like you make a connection with your hair stylist,” Thompson said.
Aumock has trained many of the groomers that work at Knotty Paws and she’s always looking to mentor new people.
“It’s definitely on-the-job learning. Some people come in, and they have a knack, and you can see it right away,” Aumock said. “We're always learning as we go. Continuing education is very, very important here.”
Doggie day care looks very similar to a child’s day care, complete with cubbies for each dog’s belongings and special treats, numerous totes of enrichment activities, and various cots and dog beds for the dogs to take a nap.
As social pack animals, a day care environment is good for dogs.
“A lot of people like to get them out of the house because, for various reasons, whether they work long shifts and they can't do it themselves, they like to pick up an exhausted dog,” Thompson said.
Thompson said many dog owners prefer day care as a way to socialize over dog parks, because of the unknown at the dog park.
Stephanie Dickrell / St. Cloud LIVE
The dogs come to love their time at Knotty Paws, including the routine and the furry friends they make.
“The dogs who come every day also view it as a second home,” Aumock said. “You can tell that this is their second backyard.”
Their owners appreciate it, too.
“The people who become regulars really sort of view you as a really important part of the family, Aumock said.
Employees need more than a love of dogs
The doggie day care requires more skills than people might think, beyond just the love of dogs and the willingness to clean up after them.
“You could be the one that wants to hug and cuddle and play and all that, but there's more to it than that,” Thompson said.
You need an understanding of dog language and how to community with them, Aumock said. You also have to understand that each one has it’s own unique needs.
And of course, you need to be willing to break up a dog fight or fish something out of a dog’s mouth.
“You find out real quick that you need more than just the love for them,” Aumock said. “You need a really deep understanding of how they work, what makes them tick.”
Stephanie Dickrell / St. Cloud LIVE
What: Knotty Paws
Where: 600 First Ave. NE in Sartell.
Hours: Grooming: 8 a.m.- 7 p.m. Monday; 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Doggie day care: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Contact:
320-774-1056,
Online:
knottypaws.net
ST. CLOUD LIVE BUSINESS STORIES
