Doodle Doos owner Lauren Mitchell always looked forward to managing her own grooming business in a way that would demonstrate her artistry in the craft and her thoughtful care for animals. In the early years of finding the right niche, she went to grooming school, worked for a mobile groomer for three years, and groomed for a chain store for three years. Winning an important grooming competition was a valuable boost to believing she could do more. After six additional years working alongside an experienced groomer in a busy two-person shop, Lauren had the opportunity to open Doodle Doos in the grooming space within Horses and Hounds.

Lauren works on a variety of dogs throughout the day – some with fur and some with hair. She works in predictable steps that minimize stress, using thoughtful routines the dogs learn to recognize and anticipate. She is masterful at sculpting breeds like poodles, doodles, and terriers with beards. Carefully placed powerful blow dryers are efficient for seasonal blowouts for dogs who shed heavily or deep drying of dogs with thick hair. The shop is equipped with a wide array of specific tools that refine grooming and reduce drying time while dogs rest. When you ask Lauren what she is most proud of, she says, “What I really love is that the dogs learn they can trust me.”