was about 15 or 16 years old when I just walked into a shop and said, ‘Hey, I like dogs,’ and they took me under their wing,” recalls Scottsdale, AZ-based mobile groomer Heather Finegan.

What started as a simple introduction quickly turned into something much bigger, with an unexpected turn. Within a year, the grooming shop owner suddenly left the business behind.

“At 17, the owner actually left her shop to me,” Heather says. “Obviously, I was too young.”

Still in high school, she adapted the opportunity to fit her life, moving the operation into her home and continuing to groom while finishing school. It was an unconventional start, but one that shaped her career and her future.

“I’ve always had a really strong work ethic,” explains Heather. “I chose to work instead of going out with friends. I just loved being around the dogs.”

That early dedication carried through her 20s as she continued learning in different shops, refining her skills and gaining experience. Heather also consistently sought out new knowledge, learning from other groomers, trade shows and her own hands-on experience.

Heather’s journey through the grooming industry has been anything but linear. Over the years, she has even helped others open grooming shops and build businesses from scratch, gaining insight not just into grooming, but into operations and growth.

At one point, however, burnout caused her to step away from grooming entirely. After years in the industry, the pace and pressure of shop environments began to take a toll.

“I actually quit grooming for a while,” Heather confesses. “I didn’t think I was going to go back.”

Luckily, the pull of the profession and the connection she felt with the animals proved too strong to ignore. Heather’s return to grooming came through an unexpected opportunity in mobile grooming, a segment of the industry she hadn’t previously explored.

“I had never done mobile grooming before,” she recounts. “I didn’t know what I was doing.”

After joining a mobile company and retraining herself for the new format, Heather began to see the advantages firsthand. But when that company eventually closed, another door opened, this time with DapperTails, founded by Chris and Emily Elias.

“I was grooming a client’s dog, and she connected me with the owners,” explains Heather. “We started DapperTails here in Arizona from the ground up.”

Beginning with a single van and no clients, the business grew quickly through a combination of persistence and grassroots marketing, and within a year, they were up to four vans. The rapid expansion reflects both the demand for mobile grooming and Heather’s ability to connect with clients.

“It’s taken off in a way I didn’t expect,” she adds enthusiastically.

In the early days of DapperTails, growth depended less on traditional advertising and more on direct outreach and community engagement.

“It was a lot of social media,” Heather explains. “I would go into local groups and post anytime someone needed a groomer.”

That hands-on approach helped DapperTails establish a client base quickly, supplemented by word-of-mouth referrals.

“A lot of it was just putting myself out there,” Heather says. “And then once people found us, they stayed.”

Today, many of Heather’s clients feel more like extended family. And that personal connection is a hallmark of mobile grooming, where appointments are one-on-one and often take place right outside the client’s home.

“I know so much about my clients,” she shares. “You build real relationships in this business.”

For Heather, the mobile grooming setup offers a level of control and comfort that traditional salons can’t match. Each van is fully self-contained, equipped with water, electricity and climate control, allowing her to operate independently throughout the day.

A typical appointment begins with a brief introduction at the client’s door, followed by the grooming process inside the van—from bath and dry to haircut and finishing touches.

“I take before and after pictures and send them to the owners,” Heather says. “They love seeing the transformation.”

The experience is streamlined but also highly personalized, with each dog receiving her full attention. And one of the biggest advantages of mobile grooming, Heather notes, is the reduced stress for animals.

“There’s no loud noises, no other dogs, no cages,” she adds. “It’s a calm environment.”

That setting allows Heather to work with dogs that may struggle in traditional salons, including seniors or pets with behavioral challenges.

“I have the patience to work with older or nervous dogs,” she says. “I can take my time and help them get comfortable.”

Over time, Heather has seen significant changes in some of her clients. And that transformation is one of the most rewarding aspects of her work.

“I’ve had dogs that were impossible to do their nails,” she shares. “Now I can do them without any struggle at all.”

Beyond the benefits for pets, mobile grooming has also improved Heather’s own quality of life by allowing her to make her own schedule. As a mother of 15-year-old twins, the flexibility allows her to prioritize her family without sacrificing her career.

“If something comes up, my clients are understanding,” Heather says. “Family comes first.”

The contrast with her previous experience in salon environments is stark.

“In a shop, there’s so much pressure to get through a certain number of dogs,” explains Heather. “By the end of the day, you’re exhausted.”

In mobile grooming, however, she has found a pace that works better for both her and the pets.

“I don’t wake up dreading work,” Heather expresses. “That makes a huge difference.”

Operating a mobile business requires careful scheduling and route management—something DapperTails has streamlined with the help of technology.

“We use a system that helps with routing,” explains Heather. “It tells us the best days to schedule clients based on location.”

While she services a wide area across the Valley, she tries to keep travel time manageable.

“We don’t like to drive more than 30 minutes,” Heather notes. “But we’ll go further if needed.”

Even after more than two decades in the industry, Heather remains committed to improving her skills. She regularly attends trade shows, takes classes and keeps up with trends in grooming styles, products and techniques.

“I’m always researching,” she shares. “Whether it’s new styles like Asian fusion or the best shampoos to use.”

That curiosity helps her stay current in an industry that continues to evolve, particularly with the growing popularity of doodles and other high-maintenance breeds.

For Heather, though, grooming is about more than appearance—it’s also an opportunity to support pet health. Over the years, she has identified lumps and other concerns that owners might not have noticed, allowing them to seek veterinary care sooner.

“That means a lot to me,” she explains. “You’re helping in a bigger way. I really do enjoy being around the dogs. It’s what makes me happy.”

With DapperTails continuing to grow, Heather sees plenty of opportunity ahead. The Arizona operation has quickly scaled to multiple vans, with plans for additional growth and potential franchise opportunities.
“I’d love to continue expanding and be part of that,” she shares.

At the same time, Heather remains focused on maintaining the quality and care that have driven the business’s success.

“I have an incredible team,” she adds. “That makes all the difference.”

After more than 20 years in grooming, Heather still finds joy in the work she does every day. From her early days walking into a shop as a teenager to helping build a fast-growing mobile business, her journey reflects both resilience and passion.

“At the end of the day, it’s about the dogs and the people who love them,” concludes Heather.