I have two dogs and a cat, and whenever it’s time to bathe, clip or clean them, they usually run around the house trying desperately to escape, jump out of the bath tub three or four times and shake smelly dog water all over the house, which is why I make my husband do it. So when I went to Karen’s Grooming Parlor on Tuesday, I was expecting a long day of chasing animals and trying to avoid the wet dog smell.
Luckily for me, I learned that Karen Crowell is one of those people that animals seem to instantly like, and she had the dog grooming routine down to a science.
Our job for the day was to groom two Pomeranians. I arrived just as the dogs and their owner were walking in the door. The owner sat with Karen and described the temperament of the dogs and what she wanted done for each. It reminded me of my own conversations with my hair dresser. 
When the woman left, we went to work. (Well, I guess it was more like Karen went to work, while I played with her Cocker Spaniel, Max.) She placed the older Pomeranian, Smiley, on a small work table and began to brush his coat. While she worked, she told me about how she started in the business. “I’m basically a dog too,” Karen said with a laugh. “I can read them, and I talk to them.” She explained that she had always loved animals and knew that she wanted to do something with them.
In 1991, after attending the Pedigree Career Institute in Boston, Karen opened her first shop out of her parents’ basement. For the last three years, Karen has been operating her grooming parlor out of her home on Crandall Street.
When the combing process was finished, we placed the dog in the bathtub, which was equipped with a small hook on which to clip leashes. Karen explained the leash helps to keep the dog standing while in the tub.
I helped Karen hose down the little dog and get washing. Karen shared a couple tips, like if you hold onto a dog’s neck, it won’t shake off all that excess water, and if you have multiple dogs, you should always use the same soap on all of them.
While long-haired dogs make up most of Karen’s clientele, she also grooms short haired dogs, and even cats. She explained that the time between groomings really depends on the owners and how much they are able to do on their own.
After the bath, Smiley was dried with a forced air dryer and a hot air dryer, before Karen went to work cutting the dog’s coat. I didn’t try to help with that part, since I’m far too clumsy, and I’m sure Smiley’s owner wouldn’t have appreciated it.
Karen explained that in addition to the washing and cutting, she also takes the time to clean the dog’s ears, since many can develop infections, and clip their nails while they are in her care. In addition, she is currently taking courses to become a veterinary assistant. “That way if I find something while I’m taking care of a dog, it would give me an idea if something was wrong,” she said, explaining the courses wouldn’t qualify her to make diagnosis, just to be aware of potential situations.
While Karen enjoys what she does, there are some issues that go along with the job. The potential for an animal to bite is always a problem. Karen explained she has been bitten on a few occasions, but was never seriously hurt. “It happens, unfortunately. You can’t put a muzzle on a dog when you’re working around its mouth.” Despite those few instances, Karen still enjoys her work.
Currently, Karen’s Grooming Parlor is open on an appointment-only basis. She generally takes one dog a day; however if a family has more than one dog, she generally tries to take them at the same time to save the owners some time. She usually takes appointments Monday through Saturday. For more information about Karen’s services, call her at 334-5831.