

Photos by Madi Nornes



“I realized when I looked for apartments that I had never seen any pet amenities,” she says. “Buildings would say they were pet friendly, but that was where it ended. Dogs still need grooming despite COVID, and it’s hard to wash your dog in the bathtub without the right equipment.
And that was the start of Balanced Dog. The business grew quickly, and within a month, the sisters bought a grooming trailer, hired a groomer and got their licenses together.





The trailers are custom-made, and one has solar panels. “We’re trying to grow positively and get away from using generators,” Torina adds.

With the trailer parked in one location, the pet parent can bring their dog to the trailer a little before the groom and pick them up right afterward. Balanced Dog also offers concierge services for dogs who need pick-up and drop-off service.
Knowing that many dogs are fearful of pet grooming, the sisters have even created a rehabilitation program to build confidence. “Grooming is an important part of wellness; we want the dogs to know it’s something good,” Anndrea says. “So, if they are already coming in anxious, we don’t push them. Instead, we help them get comfortable. The rehab program is a weekly appointment, and each week, it grows and grows to push their boundaries a little more, but in a way that keeps them comfortable. It’s reward based.
“We start off with a consultation,” continues Anndrea. “So, our first appointment is just to see what their fears are. We ask them not to put them on any medication to calm them. We want to see their fear level, and then we will base a plan on the goal and where they are currently with their fear. The average time frame takes about two months. Some dogs get comfortable quicker, and some take longer.”
After partnering with the apartment communities, it seemed like a natural extension to work with a hotel chain. “It’s still in construction, so we haven’t started yet. But with all this experience now, when it is up and running, it will be so much easier to have the idea explode onto the other big chain hotels,” Torina says. “Our concept will catch someone’s eye, and hopefully, we’re the ones that implement it.”
The sisters started Balanced Dog to help others, and that community spirit extends into everything they do. “We really just want to be of service and be very helpful,” explains Torina. “We’re not just a grooming salon, but a community. We have partnerships with rescues, with low-income veterinarian hospitals, and others.”
Opening a pet grooming business was a natural extension of their love for animals. “We grew up with animals, so we thought, how hard could it be to wash a dog?” Torina quips. “Well, we found out how hard it is to wash a dog. But we had confidence in ourselves, and in who we hired at the beginning to help us become fluent in what we’re doing now.”










This community spirit translates into good vibes every day. The team comes to work happy, the clients are pleased and the love of animals keeps everyone united.



Kindness and integrity are at the heart of Balanced Dog, and the sisters look for continued growth with the right partners to maintain these core values. “We want to make sure no matter how much we grow, it always stays a family. We want to create an environment where people and animals feel valued and safe,” concludes Torina.