t’s all about making the dog comfortable,” dog groomer Hannah Ziegler says. “I groom one-on-one and one family at a time. So, if the family has one dog, I work on one dog. If they have three dogs, I have three dogs in the shop.”

Before becoming a groomer, Hannah was a dog trainer specializing in dogs with issues like leash aggression and intense fear of a specific thing or place. She would work with the families on slowly exposing the dog to the thing in question which it would acclimate to over time, causing the dog to become calmer.

Additionally, Hannah was raised around mobility dogs: “My mom is disabled and requires help. Riley was a black Lab and her first service dog. From a young age, I saw how a well-trained dog could help someone achieve what was previously impossible.”

She then became a dog groomer because she wanted to do more extensive work with the dogs: “Grooming feels more intense. It is a lifetime of connection, and I make family connections,” Hannah shares.

In addition to applying her training background to her grooming clients, Hannah also grooms without restraints. The tools that she does use are what she refers to as “The Four C’s;” compassion, connection, communication and consistency. She applies compassion and builds a connection with each individual dog so they trust her. This trust improves communication, and a consistent schedule and order of grooming help the dog relax.

“Restraint-free grooming is all about training,” Hannah explains. “At first, it takes a little bit longer because you’re teaching the dog the steps. If the dog moves from the center of the table, you move them back. If you teach them a clear order of steps (such as nails, ears, bath, dry, groom, and play), they’ll recognize the process and relax. Eventually, they’ll choose a position and sit, lie down, or even go on their back with legs in the air for belly rubs. You adapt your style to the dog. As a result of this training, it takes less time to groom because the dog is relaxed and comfortable knowing what to expect.

“I limit the distractions for the dog,” she continues, “and I can get to know the dog and do what’s best for them. It’s all about tailoring the grooming process to the dog’s specific needs. For example, if they are really nervous and need to get through the grooming process as fast as possible, we do that. Or, if they’re nervous and they want to take time, we do that.”

Hannah adds, “Now, there is a time and a place for restraint-free. It’s not right for everyone or every salon. Not even all of my dogs can be groomed restraint-free.

“As the groomer, you have to be a close observer of a dog’s body language,” she continues. “Dogs may jump off the table or out of the tub. It’s crucial to know what a dog’s body language is so that you can predict a dog’s jump. I keep my table against the wall, and they can look out the window and watch the birds, the squirrels, and the occasional wild turkey. I never force them to stand for an extended period, especially an older animal.”

Hannah gives her dogs breaks as they need them throughout the groom. She also schedules clients with 30-minute breaks between dogs so they don’t overlap.

In addition, she shared why it is important for you, as the groomer, to be calm as well: “A dog will often feed off your energy, so staying calm is super important. Do what you need to do to prepare yourself to be comfortable, which may mean listening to calming music or meditating beforehand.

“It’s a lot of mental work. I work four days a week. They’re not long days, but I start early. Grooming is by appointment only, and I tell the parents how long it’ll take and text them to let them know when to pick their dog up,” says Hannah.

Hannah started her shop, Ziegler Pet Grooming, located in Mechanicsburg, PA, eight years ago with 20 dogs. Now she has over 100, and she’s grown by word of mouth. This year, she booked her clients’ appointments for the entire year.

Hannah says she presented this pre-booking model to her clients with two options: “They could book once a month or every other month. If they choose every other month and they have a curly-haired dog, they need to maintain it in between months, or I’ll shave the dog for the comfort of the dog. Everything I do is about the dog’s comfort,” she explains.

“I started a YouTube channel to show my clients how to brush their dogs at home and do their nails. They love it; some do a great job in-between grooms,” Hannah adds.

In addition, she also set expectations around rescheduling appointments: “If something comes up and they need to reschedule or it’s an emergency, that’s understandable. But if they forget, they have to pay for it like a doctor’s appointment.”

With her behavioral training background combined with her love for caring for dogs, Hannah Zeigler has created a soothing grooming routine for her clients.

“I’m very blessed. My clients are family. And I couldn’t have done this without God and my husband,” she concludes.