Hello World! Let me introduce myself!!!

Welcome to Pawsome Styles by Nikh!! I am your Groomer. But to your lovely Furbabies, I am their Torturer, Violator, Thief and Cheater. I know that they love me and want to see me….. walk back out the door with all my equipment. I also know that they are happy to see me before and after I work with them and feel better for it. They may not like the process and hate being told it’s what needs to be done, but most resign themselves to it for their betterment.

I have been a Certified Pet Stylist from Petco since 2010 after working as a Bather since 2007. I worked at and managed two grooming salons for Petco, first Portage then Battle Creek, before starting my own business in November 2018 after 12 years of service with them. I wanted a way to still help and care for my pups, some who followed me to both salons!

So, let me tell you a but about me. I’m a 70s/80s kid who was raised by my single-parent mom, who was a Corrections Officer for KCSD, along with my older brother and younger sister, and various dogs and cats. I grew up with ADHD and so animals were my sanity and salvation. I struggle every day with keeping on my path and animals have helped me do that. I am ever grateful for that.

I joined the US Navy in 1992 and did 16 years between Active and Reserves and got to see some of the world outside of Michigan. It really helped me grow and get on that path of managing my ADHD. I had my son while I was stationed in California and my mom helped me raise him. Or more I helped her raise my son while I was stationed overseas and then after I got out of Active Duty and came home. At age nine, my son was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome and Bipolar Type II.

Working with him, as well as my own ADHD, helped me become a decent groomer. I became the go-to groomer for the challenging and difficult dogs. I have more patience with animals and their antics and quirk than others did in my salons. Animals can’t help what they feel or be able to communicate verbally. The more stressed and worked up they feel, the calmer and more Zen I become. This is why I love working as I do. Parents can see their loving pets being taken cared for with their own eyes and not just trust what the groomer has to say. I try to always be honest about a grooming session, feeling it helps the pets, parents and myself with future interactions. I believe that the parents are more comfortable with me helping to care for their furbabies.

I have been doing this part for over 6 years now and plan to continue doing for as long as my body can handle it. I want to thank all my pets and parents who have trusted and entrusted me with their babies. I can not express how much that means to me. I am eternally grateful for all of my clients and their pets, even if the dogs want to escort me out the door. I get kisses and snuggles from them and know that, in their own way, appreciate me and what I can do for them.