All Paws On Deck

08/12/2025

The best boy came in for a surprise visit all the way from SC today and totally made our day!! Stanley was a boy I fostered many years ago. He was abandoned in the woods when he was around 10 months old and he definitely gave me (and the adopters) a run for our money when he was young! Stanley is now 15 and still thriving and full of wild boy energy! I haven't seen him since he moved 7 years ago, so seeing him today was the best gift ever. This boy will always hold a piece of my heart ❤️

08/05/2025

Your 🐶 DESERVES to enjoy the simple joys. Your 🐶 DESERVES peace & grounding. Your 🐶 DESERVES to be allowed to just be a dog. Your 🐶 DESERVES nature, clean fresh air, sunshine & the all the elements. Using the great words of Mel Robbins, "Let them. Let me." If you haven't read The Let Them Theory, here's your sign to go out & get it.

Your dog not only deserves all of the above but it also NEEDS all of the above & so do you. We're always running around with the chaos of the day, rushing things along and micromanaging that we sometimes forget about the simple things that make a major difference in our lives.

Giving your dog the space to just be themselves & freedom to make choices within safety is necessary. This may look different for every dog. It may not be riding in a Jeep with the top down but Franklin sure enjoys it! Here's some examples:

🔹️Let them sunbathe wherever they choose. Don't move them because they're in your way or force them to come inside because YOU think it's too hot. Your dog will come in when it's ready.

🔹️Let them feel the wind in their fur & enjoy the scents that come with the breeze

🔹️Let them stare at the sky & watch the birds without disturbing them

🔹️Let them hang in the rain if they choose. Who cares if they get wet. You can wash your floors another day

🔹️Let them plop down in the snow for however long they choose. Don't rush them because YOU think it's too cold. Your dog will know when it's time

🔹️Let them lay & roll in a mud puddle. There's no amount of mud that a garden hose (or your favorite groomer) can't fix. Your floors will be fine.

🔹️Let them have sniff time on hikes and walks. There's a time & a purpose for controlled walking & a time for sniffies. Let them take it all in for however long they need

Let them and let you!! Give up the control for a little bit. Give them space. I love laying by Franklin sunbathing but I do it respectfully. There's no baby talk, no excited voice because he looks so cute, no kisses, no hugs & cuddles. We just exist, live in the moment, enjoy each other and the peace it brings. Your 🐶 deserves to be a dog & just do dog things. LET yourself SLOW DOWN for you & your 🐶

07/17/2025

But can I boop that snoot?!?!

07/16/2025

Little Lucy's first spa day! 🥰

06/30/2025

Walking dogs in the summer is still necessary!! When I walk Franklin mid day in the heat, I always make sure he's safe and protected!!
Some things we do 👇

🔸️ Wet his whole body with cool (not freezing cold) water.

🔸️ Soak his bandana in water to keep his neck cool

🔸️ When on hot pavement, he wears shoes!! Here he is wearing our favorite summer shoes, WagWellies by

🔸️ Carry drinking water so he can have a drink or so I can re wet him or his bandana if necessary.

🔸️ If going for more than 20 minutes, I bring a rescue harness in case of an emergency!! is our favorite and they're a NE company based out of NH! We found them while hiking out in the White Mountains and it's definitely a staple during our adventuring! The reality is that anything can happen and if your dog gets injured or developes heat exhaustion then this is a simple way to get your dog to safety as quickly as possible!

It is also important to make sure you know your dog's limits and early warning signs of heat stroke! Franklin and I have spent the 5 years we've been together conditioning so what he can tolerate may not be the same as another dog!

Have fun, be safe and enjoy all the time you spend with your dogs!!

06/17/2025

Does your dog need a deshed treatment?? Your dog does not need to have tufts of fur coming out to need a proper deshed and undercoat treatment! Coat removal is important to keep your dog happy and healthy! Jackie loves her spa day and getting her pre summer deshed!

Watch, follow, and discover more trending content.

05/23/2025

📢 🗣 Special announcement!!!

We're so excited to announce that Mikayla is back!!! Woo hoo!! She's officially making her debut one Sunday a month starting June 8th!!

Mikayla has been part of the APOD team for a very long time now and we are so happy to have her back. On top of working with us, she is also a full time Certified Veterinary Technician (we do not offer medical services at APOD) and full time momma, wife, fur momma and my very own person who tells me to calm the F down and stop over reacting when I call to tell her that Franklin blinked different, I'm worried and might need to go to the ER (yes I panic over silly stuff too) 🤣

So, need your kitty's murder claws tamed, full kitty grooms or pup bath appointments? She's here for it! Spots will fill up fast so call the salon to make your appointment!

05/13/2025

I feel like if you watched the reel then no caption is needed here.

If you need more help understanding what you should be doing at home, how to teach your dog or advice as to how often you truly should be coming in to get your fluffy dogs groomed, then please reach out!!!

05/13/2025

Here's my side note hot take...If y'all didn't know, the pet grooming world is totally unregulated. Now, I'm not a fan of government money grabs and them breathing down the backs of small businesses. I'm also not a fan of government regulation for most things in general (I've always been quite the feral human 😝) but there's literally zero standard for groomers. None. I personally feel that it's insane to be able to work on living, breathing unpredictable beings with sharp objects and a lot with health conditions without any sort of certification.

🐩 Moving on to tools for in between grooming. This goes for all dogs except double coated and short hair dogs

🔸️ Any slicker style brush will do. You will want to brush over the entire dog and it's top coat first. If you have a poodle or doodle mix and want to go all in and get the best brush in existence then black or coral slicker is the way to go. The brush costs close to $100 but if you use this correctly, your dog will have the most beautiful brush out that you'll ever give.

🔸️ Next, any fine tooth metal comb will do. You'll want to comb through immediately after brushing so the comb gets to the bottom layer of hair to prevent matting. Don't forget the tail and ears! Make sure that you purchase a comb where teeth do NOT spin. The combs with spinning teeth is equivalent to combing your dog with a spoon

🐕 short coated dogs (boxer, beagle, Doberman type coats)

🔸️ Kong Zoom Groom rubber curry type brush will be your best friend. This is the most gentle and safest way to pull hair out of the coat and the rubber attracts it like a magnet.

🐶 Double coated breeds (husky, golden, St Bernard etc)

🔸️ A basic slicker to brush all over the dog first to loosen fur

🔸️ A de shed rake immediately after brushing. This will help get that undercoat that's hidden away under their top coat and will prevent the coat from packing in!

🔸️ A metal comb for the ears and tails if the dog has long fur. This will prevent matting!!

If you want your dogs kept in long coats, this should be done multiple times a week, if not daily in between grooms!!

Stay tuned for Part 3 of this series!!

05/13/2025

Happy Tip Tuesday!

📢 First, let me be clear, this set of 3 part videos is meant for dogs that have significant matting, not a simple little matt in the ear or tail.

I wish I could've been trained to like my hair being brushed like we train dogs. Like if I could have just stuffed my face with donuts while my mom brushed my hair as a child then maybe I'd feel different today about brushing my hair!!

My mom did her best, I'm not easy now, let alone when I was a child (surprise surprise). This picture shows what went on daily in my house (unless my big sister felt bad and took over), but even as a child I could comprehend that my hair needed to be brushed or else my mom would have to cut it. I had a CHOICE. I understood the choice and I made it. Dogs do not have the comprehension to make this choice. Not only do they not have a choice but every dog is different, just like you and I. You may enjoy getting your hair brushed and I just don't. Dogs are the same way. We can make the experience the best we possibly can but they still may not always enjoy it.

We stand by the phrase "humanity over vanity" in our salon and that is not going to change. We want what is best for your dog. We are grateful for you humans and choosing us to take care of your dogs but the dogs are more important to us. They can not speak. They can not tell us what's going on in their brain, so it's up to us to be able to figure it out. It's up to us to put a hault on a grooming even if we think the dog is just "off" and we can't put our finger on why. We build a relationship with your dogs so your dogs are understood and their needs are met. Your wants and your dogs needs may be inherently different and they deserve to have their needs met.

In part 2 I will advice on what to use to brush your dogs in between grooming!

Also, shout out to my bestie .hadala for always putting up with my ridiculous antics and Kayla for being the Queeeeeen of wax artists. I would literally not trust anyone else 💋

04/29/2025

Let's talk pet insurance 👇

Is it worth it?? Yes. I hope you never need it but when you do, it's worth every single penny. Having a dog is expensive and we want the best for our dogs and it isn't always easy!! Living in NE, we have some of the most expensive vet care (and general cost of living) in the country.

I've been a fan of pet insurance over the last 20 years and it's honestly been a life saver for all my dogs. Between accidents, injury, cancer, heart issues etc, I would not have been able to completely take care of my dogs without it (especially today's 7k surgery). I'm able to take better care of my dog and not wait when an issue arises because I know I have the insurance protection.

I chose these top 3 because they all have very clear cut policies as to what they actually do and don't cover. They cover the most out of all I've researched. Some other companies say they will cover something then secretly cover a smaller portion then what's lined out in your policy. You can choose your deductible and the percentage they pay out to you. Your choices will effect how much you pay monthly. Thes companies also cover alternative therapies like acupuncture, laser and holistic vet care.

Companies will not cover pre existing conditions so getting coverage prior to something happening is key. Most companies will still insure accidents and the premium will be different. I personally choose not to go with preventive care in my plan.

My top 3 are and

When choosing a plan, where you live, age and breed of your pet matter. Some breeds (like boxers) will cost more due to their propensity to do dumb s**t and also because of the diseases they are predisposed to. Getting a quote from each company and finding out which benefits you the most is my suggestion when you start your search for insurance. Starting with a quality company BEFORE any issues arise is important so you're not trapped paying for a scam insurance without the ability to switch to a better one later!

As always, if you have any questions, please ask!