WAYNESBORO – Professional dog groomer Sydney Willard has a simple wish for clients. “If their dogs leave happy, that makes me very happy,” noted Willard, owner of Mutt Cuts Dog Grooming in the Boro Plaza in Waynesboro.
Willard said she has been “very busy” since opening the shop April 1. “It’s going super well. I’m getting booked up rather fast,” added Willard, who formerly operated the business in her Sabillasville home. “My clients followed me from there to here, and I have a lot of new clients.”
Willard, who earned a degree in dog grooming from Hagerstown Community College, previously was a vet technician and surgery technician for about five years. “My passion carried over from vet medicine to the grooming world. I started grooming during COVID and had a small shop in my house for two years. I saved and decided to open my own shop.”
She also is fear-free certified, “which means I know how to handle each dog differently based on their behavior … how to work with a dog who is super anxious without them being stressed or scared. I read each dog’s body language and then base how I handle them on that.”
Willard said what makes Mutt Cuts special “is because I hold a one-on-one environment, devoting as much time as possible for each client to limit crate time. Each grooming is customized to each dog’s specific needs.”
Feedback from customers has been positive, she added. “They love how spacious the area is. And they like that it’s clean and welcoming.”
Willard’s offerings include:
–Full grooming kit: Bath, skin and coat conditioning, all natural blueberry facial, fluff dry and brush out, nail trim, nail grind, ear cleaning, paw pad, clean-up, haircut or thorough de-shedding
–Bath kit: Bath, skin and coat condition, blow out, brushing, nail trim, ear cleaning, paw pad clean-up
–Add ons: Hair dye, teeth brushing, nail polish and ear hair removal
Willard, who has a golden retriever, Max, and Shiloh shepherd, Freya, said she is advertising her business through social media. “I use Facebook and put cards at local businesses.”
Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and some Saturdays.
For more information, readers may call 717-387-0140 or email: [email protected]
