What started as a garage operation in 2016 has evolved into a thriving salon with 16 groomers, a specialty cat grooming room and plans for continued expansion. After all, for Tracy, the business has always been about more than grooming dogs.

“I think the biggest thing about our business is that we really try to keep it feeling like a family business,” she shares. “When people come to us, we care about their dogs and we care about their families.”

Growing up around dog shows gave Tracy an early appreciation for both grooming and breed presentation.

“I learned to fluff-dry and do nails, and I enjoyed it because I got to go to the dog shows too,” Tracy recalls. “I would see the dogs afterward and see them on the show grounds, so I always wanted to groom.”

Still, her mother made her wait until she was 18 before teaching her how to groom professionally. By the age of 20, Tracy moved to California with her two children and started working as a groomer because it was the skill she knew best. But even with her years of experience, she quickly realized there was still much to learn.

“When I learned to groom, I learned pet grooms, and I didn’t really know the difference,” Tracy admits. “Then I moved up to San Francisco and worked with a groomer who showed Wheatens, and he told me my grooming was awful.”

Instead of discouraging her, however, the criticism motivated Tracy to improve.

“He helped me and guided me and taught me how to properly do breed cuts,” she explains. “That’s when I really got engaged.”

Over the years, Tracy continued seeking opportunities to expand her skillset. She worked for PetSmart managing salons and training groomers throughout Southern California, and later wrote educational materials for a large grooming franchise and taught in their training program. But even after years in the industry, she still wanted to push herself further creatively and competitively.

“I decided I wanted to learn more, so I went up to L.A. and met with a breeder in hand stripping,” Tracy shares. “I went to a show and was competing, and my judge told me I needed to go find someone to train me because I wasn’t going to win doing what I was doing.”

So, she did exactly that. Tracy began training under a Fox Terrier breeder and AKC judge, driving hours every week for six months to improve her grooming techniques.

“I went to Vegas that summer and took first place,” she exclaims. “After that, I thought, ‘Oh, I’ve got to learn more.’”

Today, competition grooming remains a major part of Cali Pets’ culture.

“We train really hard throughout the year to get to those competitions,” Tracy says. “We come in on days off, find dogs, get clients to let us use their dogs, and practice.”

Though she no longer competes herself, Tracy now coaches members of her team.

“When they go up there and compete and win, it’s amazing,” she proudly shares. “That’s probably my favorite part now.”

Cali Pets officially started in Tracy’s garage. And with help from her husband and son, she built the space and started taking clients.

Building a customer base required nonstop effort, though. Tracy leaned heavily on social media, flyers, mailers and local outreach. But that persistence paid off. At one point, she had four groomers working in her garage in addition to herself.

Eventually, her husband encouraged her to move into a commercial space, and in April 2018, Cali Pets opened its first brick-and-mortar location. However, they quickly outgrew that space and relocated, which gave Tracy the opportunity to rethink how a grooming salon should look and function. Today, the salon includes 16 groomers and four front-office employees.

“We all make mistakes, and I had to reinvent myself so many times because of poor planning in the first shop,” she shares. “With this one, I knew exactly what we needed.”

The new space reflects both Southern California culture and classic Hollywood style. The salon features epoxy flooring designed to resemble ocean water, surfboards and a California sunset aesthetic near the entrance.

“We kind of wanted a ‘Beach Boys’ vibe,” Tracy describes. “Then inside the salon, we made it feel like an old-school 1950s Hollywood salon.”

The grooming area includes large vanity-style lighting stations inspired by old Hollywood dressing rooms, while waterproof drying stations and rubber flooring improve functionality and comfort for employees.

Tracy also created dedicated employee areas, including a retro-style break room complete with snacks, coffee and lounge space. Outside, the team can relax while overlooking nearby mountains.
“We really tried to make it comfortable for everybody,” she adds.

One of the salon’s newest additions is a separate cat grooming room— something Tracy says has become increasingly important as demand grows. They currently handle around a dozen cat grooming appointments weekly, many involving more extensive grooming services than simple nail trims.

While Tracy is proud of the salon’s physical space, she believes the people inside it are what truly make Cali Pets special. Many of the company’s groomers have stayed with the business for years.

“I think we have a really good atmosphere,” Tracy shares proudly. “If somebody is struggling, another groomer will go help them. They really take a lot of pride in what they do.”

That culture became especially evident during the salon’s recent relocation. The team closed one location Thursday evening, moved equipment Friday, rebuilt the salon Saturday and reopened Sunday morning.

“It took a lot of manpower to make that happen,” Tracy says. “But the team pulled together because they all wanted us to be successful.”

Even with the company’s growth, Tracy still views Cali Pets as an evolving business. The salon is currently rolling out seasonal spa packages, updating its website and expanding online ordering capabilities for retail products. Next on the horizon, though, is doggy daycare.

“In January, I plan to start the buildout for the doggy daycare down below,” Tracy shares enthusiastically.

Still, no matter how much the business grows, Cali Pets’ core mission remains unchanged: creating a safe, welcoming environment for both pets and people—which is the kind of experience that larger corporate stores often can’t replicate.

“When people come to a small business, we really care about your family. We care about the dogs, we care about the clients, and we care about making sure everybody feels welcome,” concludes Tracy.