Training, respect, love: Dog groomer sets up shop in old animal shelter

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Diane Brubaker was searching for a local dog groomer in 2010 when she decided to take matters into her own hands — literally.

She found the price range for grooming to be about $50 per dog, but with three furry pets of her own, the cost added up fast.

So, she ordered some do-it-yourself dog grooming DVD’s and started to groom her own pets in her kitchen.

Word spread and she started grooming other pets.

Then a spot opened up in Gnaw Bone about eight months later, so she set up shop.

“That’s when it took off for me,” she said.

For 12 years now, Brubaker has built up a faithful base of local clients while working out of different locations.

Her first location, other than her home, was at the Kritzer’s Feed Store in Gnaw Bone. She groomed there until owner Kendall Kritzer passed away in 2012. Then she groomed at home for six years when she could not find a place to rent.

Brubaker has worked closely with the Brown County Humane Society since 2014, volunteering grooming work for rabies clinics, nail trims and more for dogs that find their way to the shelter.

Last year, the new humane society shelter opened its doors. The old location next door was going to be converted to storage space and be used for spay and neuter clinics.

Brubaker asked if she might be able to rent one of the front rooms for her grooming business. The answer was yes and the doors to Brown County Pet Grooming opened once again.

“It was a long wait, but it’s the best spot I could have asked for,” she said. “I got the most perfect spot that I can get. It doesn’t get better than this.”

The front room where she grooms had water hookups to it, so not much converting needed to happen. She pays utilities so the shelter is able to make some money off of the space.

Brubaker said that 75 percent of grooming is actually handling the dogs.

“If it was something hard I’d pop in the DVD,” she said of being self-taught.

“This isn’t (dogs’) favorite thing. That’s why a lot of groomers don’t last. I love them a lot, treat them with respect and they trust me.”

Brubaker has groomed many dogs that have been kicked out of other groomers. She has never had problems with any of them. She has never been bit or hurt any dog in the grooming process.

“I’ve never sent any dogs to the vet and it scares me to death that I’d send them to the vet. I get them when they’re puppies and I train them how to get groomed. When you train them they’re confident in knowing what to do,” she said.

Brubaker does not groom cats. She did three in the very beginning of her career, but decided they were not for her after each one bit her in the process.

Brubaker works alone in with the exception of her significant other, Chad Bybee. He is a painter by profession, but on Saturdays he helps Brubaker when big dogs are scheduled for a groom because she cannot lift them herself.

The small room is suitable for one pet at a time, which is the way Brubaker likes it. The way she grooms dogs are able to get one-on-one attention, she said.

“It’s quiet. It’s calm,” she said. “It needs to be calm.”

She does not require veterinary records because her furry clients are do not mingle with each other.

She also gets dogs in and out as quickly as she can. Bybee said that pets sometimes get dropped off at other groomers and are there for six or eight hours.

Clients to Brown County Pet Grooming come in at their appointment time, get groomed and go home.

In addition to full-service grooming, Brubaker offers $7 nail trims and anal gland cleaning. Pet pick up and delivery is also available if certain clients are not able to make it in for an appointment.

Even though you need an appointment, Brubaker prides herself in availability, not having two month waits.

She said that grooming is as important as a visit to the veterinarian.

Her current customer base is loyal with some clients having been with her since the very beginning. She even grooms local police dogs.

“I train them, I love them,” she said.

“And I treat them with respect.”

Make an appointment

Book an appointment with Brown County Pet Grooming by calling 317-413-8004. The groomer is located at 128 State Road 135 South in the former Brown County Humane Society shelter. In addition to full-service grooming, the grooming business offers $7 nail trims, anal gland cleaning. Pet pick up and delivery is also available if certain clients are not able to make it in for an appointment. 

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