After running her own dog grooming business in Fairbanks, Alaska, for more than three decades, Gidget Hagan was looking for something a little more different when she came to Kansas.

Before COVID, Gidget’s business had expanded to a staff of 12, seeing about 60 dogs in a day in a six-day week. When the pandemic arrived, “we shut it all down,” she said. 

As the pandemic wore on, however, she found she missed seeing the furry clients she had been grooming. She also was looking to be closer to her daughter and four grandsons who live in Hoisington.

So, she packed up and came to Barton County, bringing her certification as an AKC Breeder of Merit of Alaskan Malamutes, and ruminated on how her new venture could be more dog-friendly.

Also a home-based realtor, she found a farm just outside of Great Bend, where the pieces began falling into place. “I am an AKC Dog Show Judge and I also breed my own dogs,” she said. “My whole life has revolved around dogs and real estate. You do need a place where you can raise your dogs comfortably.”

A more relaxed approach

But the thought of so many people and so many appointments weren’t as appealing as it once was. So, she began thinking of a typical grooming session from the dog’s point of view.

She decided on a “fear-free” approach, because dogs, like their human caregivers, can experience anxiety when exposed to unfamiliar surroundings.

 “Dogs are people, too. Dogs have wants and feelings and needs and we need to listen to them,” she said.

She opened her Dazzle Dog Spa in August, where her clients are in for a relaxing experience, she said. Customers notice a different look and feel at the shop at 2606 10th St. in Great Bend, from the first time they come through the door.

“We use dog pheromones to give the dogs a more relaxed atmosphere,” she said. There’s also a rubberized floor, “so the dogs don’t slip and slide.” She keeps a stock of cookies and treats, and there’s a rubber ball and a squeaker toy to play with.

Return clients have been known to walk right past the humans in the room to the massage table.

“They walk right past me and go straight for the table, like ‘I’m ready!’” she said.

The massage begins with a conditioner for their skin, and they get a towel wrap, just like a human spa. They get a brief massage and then a shampoo, which restores their fur and skin in comfort. “One client I had recently fell asleep standing up, he was so comfy,” she said.

If , at any time, the dog becomes anxious, “we stop,” she said. “With fear-free, we don’t hurry up and get things done, if a dog is stressed, we’re done, for the dog’s sake,” she said.

After the session, dogs have “fear-free spaces” that are open-air, open at the top, to wait in. “We don’t have cages,” she said.

A ‘really nice present’

Right now, “we’re steady busy, but we don’t push things,” Hagan noted. “When I started I wanted things to be different. I’m not young, so I don’t want to do 40 dogs in a day. I want this to be about the dog. Prices are a little higher, but some people care how their dog is handled and moved around and what we’re doing has the dog in mind.”

Currently, Hagan helps the Golden Belt Humane Society getting their dogs ready for their forever homeowners with a free grooming.

She’s currently building her return client list, with a suggestion for the holidays. “It’s easy to see that humans can get stressed out during the holidays,” she said. “But dogs can, too. A day at the spa would be a really nice present for the furry member of the family.” 

Business Insight is a regular feature of the Great Bend Tribune, showcasing locally owned businesses and encouraging folks to shop local as we near the Christmas holidays. Contact news@gbtribune.com for more information.