Local Entrepreneur Starts Mobile Grooming Service for Anxious Pets
MONROE — When Jenika Isenhart adopted her rescue dog, Bo, it marked the beginning of her journey into pet grooming. Understanding Bo’s anxiety led her to realize that traditional groomers were often incompatible with his needs.
“I needed to give him the one-on-one attention that he required,” Isenhart recalled, prompting her to learn grooming basics through a beginner’s course. It wasn’t just her dog that needed help; she began assisting friends with anxious pets as well.
Following her mother’s cancer diagnosis, Isenhart sought a flexible career that would allow for caregiving. This led her to earn an advanced grooming certificate and business license, eventually establishing her mobile grooming service, Bo’s Nose Best Pet Care, in 2023.
The mobile aspect of her business allows her to bring grooming directly to clients’ homes, reducing anxiety for pets during car rides and in crowded salons. “It helps when I show up, and I’m on their turf,” she explained.
Isenhart focuses on dogs and cats that are anxious, elderly, or otherwise unable to visit conventional grooming salons. She aims to empower pet owners to feel confident in caring for their pets between appointments, likening it to how people maintain their own hair until their next visit.
Jennifer Crouse, a client and executive director of the Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce, described her Shih Tzu, Tika, as having severe separation anxiety. Crouse’s attempts to groom Tika were challenging until she connected with Isenhart. “Jenika has been endlessly patient and positive,” she noted.
Crouse shared a similar story about her father’s Goldendoodle, Annie, whose matted fur was rejuvenated by Isenhart’s skilled grooming. “I was in tears to see Annie race around the yard in happy zoomies after Jenika finished,” she added.
Establishing trust with her furry clientele involves more than just grooming. Isenhart emphasizes communication with pet owners and employs calming techniques that cater to each pet’s unique personality. “People say their dogs know when I’m gonna be there 10 minutes before I am,” she said, noting that these are dogs that previously resisted car trips.
She serves the Snohomish, Monroe, Everett, Lake Stevens, and Sultan communities. However, a recent accident involving her grooming van has caused some appointment rescheduling. Thankfully, with community support, she expects to be back on the road soon.
For more information about her services or to see before-and-after photos of her furry clients, check out her social media account, Bo’s Nose Best Pet Care.
For inquiries, contact Jenna Millikan: 425-339-3035 | jenna.millikan@heraldnet.com | X: @JennaMillikan.
