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| Tracey and Pup |
Here's her story from an email she wrote me>
Hi - My business is at an address. I don't travel for grooming. The address is, 15328 Church Street, Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17214, the phone is 717-765-4900. I'm on Facebook as Puppy Spa Day.
I grew up in PA and MD. We moved around a lot when I was a kid, so making and keeping friends was hard. I had much more meaningful relationships with the animals we had. I never realized I had a gift and still doubt myself most of the time if someone asks about it. I NEVER doubt what I'm getting from the animals though. I am positive I'm understanding their needs. I'm working on learning how to get more precise answers from them, but for now, I'm understanding their body language mostly. At times, I feel like I can hear them speaking to me. I usually do a voiceover when I have dogs in my shop. I'll ask them a question, then talk like they are answering me. LOL!
I can read their body language on TV, or in a picture, and especially in person. I feel their sadness and pain, their happiness and glee, but can't always understand why just yet. I can usually figure out their quirks and triggers and help them through the grooming process. I can tell if they'll be good with other dogs, with my employee, with strangers, with certain types of noises. I can tell why they hate the blow dryer, or why they hate their nails done. I can tell if it's harder for them to cope with mom or dad around, or kids, or high energy doggies. There's so much I can see in a dog, almost immediately. A lot of it stems from their owner at the other end of the leash, so I get a better understanding as they spend more time with me at the shop. A dog will tell you everything, if you'll listen.
I can't explain why or how I understand these things, I just do.
I learned how to ride horses at age 2 and started horse shows shortly afterwards. I always liked riding bareback, because I could feel their feelings, anxieties, calmness, etc. I knew pretty much right away, whether or not the ride was going to go good, or if I was going to to be thrown as soon as possible. Haha!
As I got older and headed out of high school, I worked as a waitress. The restaurant had a big Bassett hound that would spend a lot of the day, in the back, dishwashing area. I didn't realize it, but I was reading him. I felt sad when he was sad and so happy when he was happy. As he got older (I worked there 9 years) I started feeling his pains and weaknesses and tiredness. It was sometimes too sad for me to even look at him. It hurt me. I didn't understand it then, but I know why now.
I worked a few different jobs, feeling my way around, trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I figured out that I didn't like people so much. People can be so mean. I did so much better and understood animals way more than people.
I got a job at an animal hospital in Westminster, where I learned so much, medically. I did receptionist work, vet assistant, helped in surgeries, helped deliver puppies, help with euthanasia and emergencies, learned vital signs and a few typical meds, also boarding/kennel work, cleaning runs, walking, feeding and medicating dogs, bathing, and eventually, grooming the dogs. It was a very fast paced animal hospital and I didn't always enjoy that. I wanted more time with each individual dog.
After a job switch again to people, I realized, that I definitely, wanted and needed to work with animals. A friend of mine (groomer friend) nagged me until I broke and I went for an interview with a highly talented, perfectionist, groomer...in business 20 years at that time. I learned tons more than I ever imagined I would. Not just grooming, but doggie language. I knew this was what I wanted to do. Now, I have my own grooming salon. Pretty successful, too! Open 2 years this coming January, 2020, and almost 500 clients!
I have helped many dogs over the years with their grooming and behavior issues. I love what I do!
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