Have you noticed your house getting a little furrier in the last few weeks? All this warm weather and the lengthening days is triggering your pets to start shedding their winter coats. Fear not, there are some things you can do to fight the fur and hopefully salvage your clothes, furniture and sanity. Shedding is normal. First understand that all pets shed, even those labeled "non shedding" breeds. The only pets that do not shed are hairless pets. The reason some pets have earned the titl... Continue reading ...
Posted by Erin McLaughlin on Sunday, January 22, 2012,
In :
Miscellaneous
Came across a show on Animal Planet tonight that I have now set on my TiVo, My Cat From Hell. Jackson Galaxy is the cat world's Victoria Stilwell (from It's Me or the Dog for those of you who don't know, check it out). He is a cat behaviorist who deals with kitty conundrums and helps families live more in harmony with their feline friends. I highly recommend watching it if you have cats, are considering getting a cat, or just want to learn more about how to handle cats. It's obvious from ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Erin McLaughlin on Thursday, November 17, 2011,
In :
Miscellaneous
Here's several blogs that I often frequent. I know many of the people writing these blogs and they are caring pet professionals with a wealth of knowledge that is apropos to both pet stylists and pet parents. Thought I'd share these treasures with you as I enjoy getting lost for hours in their posts and you may too! Pet First Aid and Care written by Mary Oquendo C.M.P.T.I, C.C.S. Mary is not only a good friend of mine, but also a very active player in advancing pet first aid knowledge aroun... Continue reading ...
Posted by Erin McLaughlin on Thursday, November 10, 2011,
In :
Miscellaneous
Follow us on Twitter @LittleShopSalon. Let us know when your baby is in and we will tweet a before and after pic of them! There's also a lot of great info as well as pictures and video of our shop kitties, Audrey and Steve. Facebook is a great place to post pictures of your pet after they're done as well as find out about shop news and specials. Continue reading ...
On a beautiful day in August with the sun pouring in our open doors, a customer asked us who's kitten was walking around the reception area. I looked out to see a tiny orange kitten walking right up to the customer's German Shepherd! No fear, tail high in the air as if to say, "Hi, will you take care of me?" It was love at first sight! I knew in an instant this was going to be the shop cat I had been wanting for years. We took her to the vet for an upper respiratory infection. Within 2 ... Continue reading ...
As the days get shorter and the air gets colder, you decide to go a little longer between your pet's haircuts so as to keep her warm. Oh, and don't forget that chic sweater you bought to help keep the chill off. Then you take her into the groomer and they tell you it's all tangled and the best option is to clip her short and start again, what went wrong? The first problem is that your groomer most likely sets up a haircut that works in your usual timeframe to keep your pet matt free. When... Continue reading ...
Posted by Erin McLaughlin on Wednesday, November 9, 2011,
In :
Miscellaneous
When the house begins to fill up with family, friends and more importantly food, it can get a little hairy trying to keep both visitors and pets happy. Here are some ideas we've come up with to help ease the stress on all involved. - Give your dogs a good walk or romp in the yard early in the day to help tire them out and release some of the tension they've been sensing in you and other family members leading up to the big day. Not only will it help to stretch their legs, but it's a good w... Continue reading ...
 You're invited to the 4th Annual Cut-a thon at Joiya Day Spa and Hair Design to benefit Hamden Happy Tails Foundation. We will be there offering nail trims and pawdicures. Don't miss out on the excitement! Where: 2349 Whitney Ave, Hamden CT (Corner of Whitney and Dixwell) When: 10am - 2pm See the flyer for an itinerary and more information. Continue reading ...
Posted by Erin McLaughlin on Friday, September 30, 2011,
In :
Miscellaneous
- Your hairdresser doesn't wash and clean your rear end and then follow up with a sanitary trim.
- You don't go 6-8 weeks without washing or brushing your hair and rolling in the yard in the meantime.
- Your hairdresser doesn't clean your ears and eyes.
- Your haircut doesn't include a mani/pedi.
- You sit still for your hairdresser.
- Your hairdresser only washes and cuts the hair on your head, not your entire body.
- You don't bite or scratch your hairdresser.
- Your hairdresser doesn't give you a bath.
- Your ha...
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Posted by Erin McLaughlin on Friday, September 30, 2011,
In :
Miscellaneous
While you are always welcome to come visit us and have a tour of our facility, we thought we would make one available to you while in your own home. We will be adding some pictures of the grooming and bathing area soon, but here are a couple shots of the reception area as well as the self serve pet spa. Enjoy! Our front doors and reception area....  Reception desk, viewing areas into the grooming salon and the wall of fame...  Retail section and door to self serve....  Self Serve Pet Spa with a vi... Continue reading ...
Help support local adoption and rescue groups at Branford's Animal Awareness Day this coming Sunday, October 2 from 12 noon - 5pm. Bring your pet along for fun games, food, vendors, a blessing of the animals, live bands, ugliest dog in CT contest, kissing booth, dog walk, professional photographers and more!! Hundreds of pets and parents will be at this event, so not only is this a great chance to show off your baby, but to socialize them with other friendly people and pets. This helps mak... Continue reading ...
Posted by Erin McLaughlin on Saturday, August 6, 2011,
In :
Pet Health Tips
I have always been skeptical about products that claim to solve the world's problems in just 30 seconds...that is until I used Plaqclnz! Ok, seriously though, I recently picked up my 8 year old cocker spaniel from a day at the vet's office having his teeth cleaned and quite a few extracted due to advanced periodontal disease. As you can imagine, the entire procedure (which included 2 office visits, bloodwork, pre cancer screening since we were taking blood anyway, a follow u... Continue reading ...
Been busy with so much around the shop lately that the blog has been sorely neglected. Since the last post, I have been to another grooming competition in Rhode Island. I was entered in 4 classes. In the "All Other Purebreds" class I was competing with Pippin, a curly coated Portuguese Water Dog, loaned to me by a good friend and PWD breeder, Jane Harding of Cutwater Portuguese Water Dogs in Essex. With Pippin, I was given an honorable mention. The judge, Julie Ostoski said of the class a... Continue reading ...
Posted by Erin McLaughlin on Monday, April 25, 2011,
In :
Spa Services
When I first heard about Reiki I was a little skeptical, even more so when I heard people rave about it's benefits on pets. Then Craig, one of our bathing technicians and our in-house Reiki Master, slowly began to change my mind. I asked him to help me dry a cat that had come into the salon for a bath and brushout. Most cats are very tolerant for the whole process, but they are not usually enjoying it as much as we would like them to. Well, Craig began to dry this cat and after a few minu... Continue reading ...
I'm back from an exciting weekend at Intergroom in NJ. This particular show happens to be one of my favorite competitions and trade shows. While I did not place with any of my entries this go round, I was able to gain some very good experience and learn some new tricks for next time. The highlight of the weekend had to be the arrival of my new Kerry Blue Terrier puppy. She is 10 weeks old, and quite the firecracker! Her name has not been decided on as of yet, but we are working on it! T... Continue reading ...
Posted by Erin McLaughlin on Friday, January 28, 2011,
In :
Miscellaneous
While I try to keep 99% of the information posted on here to be pet related, this was just too good not to share. Check out www.CleaningForAReason.com if you know a woman with cancer. This nonprofit organization offers once a month free home cleanings for four months for women who are undergoing treatment. All she has to do is sign up and have a doctor's note verifying her treatment. Please pass the word on to let people know there are people out there that are thinking of even their most... Continue reading ...
Posted by Erin McLaughlin on Wednesday, November 10, 2010,
In :
Little Shop News
I arrived with my 4 dog entourage Friday morning and got right to work. Jackson and Jake were bathed and then once we were all settled into the hotel room, Jackson and I headed back out to the competition ring.  Jackson is an absolute angel on the table, and how can one resist his face?!?  Although we did not place, we learned how to tweak our groom for the next time. Here is a picture of Jackson all finished.  Friday night they had a wonderful new class, Pomadorable. Several groomers enter... Continue reading ...
Posted by Erin McLaughlin on Saturday, October 16, 2010,
In :
Miscellaneous
Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter: LittleShopSalon. Check our homepage for a link to our Facebook page. Continue reading ...
Posted by Erin McLaughlin on Saturday, October 16, 2010,
In :
Pet Health Tips
In the last several years I have been using spot on flea treatments sparingly and only as needed. I have 7 fur bearing pets so fleas are definitely a concern for me as an infestation would happen quickly. However I began to not be so quick to apply the chemicals when one of my dogs would literally run when he heard the packaging open. I would have to physically remove him from under a bed or table to put the treatment on and then he'd spend the better part of an hour moping around the hous... Continue reading ...
We had a great time at our open house party! Our estimate was about 200 visitors who watched our demos, snacked on hot dogs and donuts, visited with their dogs and others' pets, won prizes, and enjoyed the beautiful day we were given. Thank you all for coming out to support us and find out more about what Little Shop has to offer. We look forward to our fall festival next year with even more great attractions! Continue reading ...
Posted by Erin McLaughlin on Thursday, August 19, 2010,
In :
Miscellaneous
Hello Little Shop pets and parents! We are having a photo contest to showcase some of our wonderful clients! Bring us your pictures, either in shop or via email by Saturday, September 18. Everyone who enters is eligible for our grand prize drawing at our open house on Sunday, September 26. You do not have to be present to win the drawing, however if you are in attendance and win the grand prize, there will be a bonus prize. The grand prize is a free grooming, second place is a free spa pac... Continue reading ...
September 26, 2010 we will be having an open house and party to celebrate our new salon. Paws N Effect next door will also be holding some dog friendly events. So far we are planning: BBQ (with vegetarian options as well) Ice cream Grooming demonstrations Private grooming consultations for your pets Nail trims Teeth brushing Agility demos Flyball Lure coursing Healthy diet seminars by local vets Rescue group fundraising Door prizes Special coupons Tours of our salon Self Serve Pet Spa will be open CGC testin... Continue reading ...
Posted by Erin McLaughlin on Tuesday, June 1, 2010,
In :
Miscellaneous
And we all thought they sat at home pining for our return... http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=pkPNa4DBFHI Enjoy! Happy Memorial Day! Continue reading ...
You already are! Your pet's fur is on it's way to Alabama to assist in soaking up the oil spill in the Gulf. Here are some videos on how the whole process works. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwQOD_Ir2vQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj_mna5lckg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHuWyFVo62o Thank you for your help! Be sure to donate your nylons as well, with runs are fine. We are so happy to be a part of something to help our community along the Gulf Coast. Keep bringing us that fur, and we... Continue reading ...
I am back from another great weekend at a grooming competition. Every time I go I am so encouraged and renewed to come back to work and make every pet look and feel their very best. Seeing old friends, winning awards, buying new tools and learning new tricks really does something to the groomer's soul. Well, I was quite successful in this competition. It began Friday morning when I entered the ring with Jake, the Irish Terrier.  He was his usual feisty self, so much so that the judges com... Continue reading ...
Our tubs are in place and awaiting the plumber to hook them up, then we will be kicking off the new edition to Little Shop of Howlers: the DIY dog spa! Please check back soon for updated pictures, hours of operation and pricing information. We are so excited about this new aspect of our salon. Continue reading ...
Tuesday, March 16 was our first day in our brand new salon! It was absolutely wonderful! We are still finishing with some small decorative details, and the self serve section will be up and running in a few weeks. Please feel free to come visit us any time, we love guests!   Continue reading ...
I was asked several months ago to groom a Portuguese Water Dog, Ch. Ebb Tide's Upcountry Titan, aka Sage, for this most prestigious show. Of course I agreed, and so began our journey to "the Garden" (Madison Square Garden that is!). Monday, February 15th, we prepared Sage for our trip down to the city.  Sage snoozing in my lap on the drive down.  The hotel was filled with gorgeous dogs, and we were made to feel like celebrities. Tuesday morning we awoke early excited for our big day. We he... Continue reading ...
We are excited to announce that Little Shop will be moving in the upcoming weeks to a new salon. We will be at the same address, but several doors down from our current location. Construction and painting has taken up much of our time and energy which is why we have not blogged in several weeks. However, we are hoping to be in the new space come March. Don't worry, we will let you know if we have moved. Please enjoy some pictures of our progress.
1: Materials dropped off.
Construction ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Erin McLaughlin on Wednesday, November 18, 2009,
In :
Little Shop News
I competed on Friday with Jackson, a Golden Retriever.  We did not place, but considering it was my first time grooming a Golden for competition, I was quite pleased. The judges commented that it was a beautiful job. I look forward to many more successful competitions with this handsome man. On Saturday morning, Rusty, an adorable mixed breed, and I took the ring. Again, we did not place, but were awarded the Taxi Memorial Award. This award is given to the groomer who has captured the be... Continue reading ...
We want to give you and your pets the best experience they have ever had at a pet salon and spa. Please fill out our forms we have available on our website to improve our services. Check out the VIP page for a link, as well as the Contact Us/FAQ page for the "Fill Out My Form" link. We greatly appreciate your input and hope to bring you even better service in the future. Continue reading ...
Posted by Erin McLaughlin on Saturday, October 24, 2009,
In :
Pet Health Tips
Prepare your body, mind, and spirit for the upcoming festivities, and don't forget to be prepared to be extra careful of your pets as well. With all the treats laying around, our pets are bound to get a hold of something. Here's some foods that we need to keep out of reach of our hungry pets paws: - Nuts: we know for certain macadamia nuts are one of the most toxic nuts for dogs, followed by walnuts and almonds, especially bitter almonds. When dogs get into these delicious nuts, dogs seem to ...
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Posted by Erin McLaughlin on Friday, September 25, 2009,
In :
Spa Services
Effective Oct 1 - Feb 1: Any VIPs who refer a furry friend will receive 50% off their next groom! New customers must schedule and keep the appointment in order for VIPs to receive their discount. For more information on how to become a VIP, click here. Continue reading ...
Posted by Erin McLaughlin on Wednesday, September 23, 2009,
In :
Little Shop News
What a whirlwind of a weekend! I (Erin) competed with a customer's Kerry Blue Terrier, Connor, Friday afternoon, and a friend's toy Poodle, Sticks on Saturday. This was my first time in the A division, the highest level of competition, so I expected to be paying my dues as a rookie. My goal was for personal improvement in both the classes I entered. While I did not place either day, I was able to get some constructive criticism on my grooms to improve my chances next time. After the comp... Continue reading ...
Posted by Erin McLaughlin on Thursday, September 17, 2009,
In :
Little Shop News
We leave tomorrow for the biggest grooming trade show and competition in the country. Groom Expo is hosted by Barkleigh Productions in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The weekend holds much learning, shopping, competing, and fun for all attendees. I (Erin) will be competing with a customer's Kerry Blue Terrier, Connor. This will be only my second time grooming him as he is maintained mostly by his mom. Kerry's happen to be one of my favorite breeds to compete with as you can tell by the numerous ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Erin McLaughlin on Saturday, August 22, 2009,
In :
Pet Health Tips
We all know not to leave our pets in the car when it's warm outside, but I thought I'd add some other pet safety tips for the summertime. Visit MyDogIsCool.com for great tips on how to travel with your pet, info on how hot cars get and how fast and what to do if you find a dog locked in a hot car. If you find a dog locked in a car and can't locate the owners, you can call your local Animal Control Officer for more guidance. Hamden's Animal Control phone number is (203) 230-4080. When travel... Continue reading ...
We want to thank all the parents who have taken in a homeless pet either from a shelter or a rescue organization. Every pet needs love, no matter what their heritage or their past. Please come in to Little Shop and receive any add on spa service* free of charge to help pamper that precious pet even more! We are also going to carry this special through to August 15th as well! And remember, dogs are not our whole lives, but they make our lives whole. *with purchase of massaging bath packag... Continue reading ...
Paws Pet Resort is now hosting a monthly Yappie Hour starting tonight from 5-7pm. Come check out the fun and meet fabulous new pets and their people! We have heard great things about this facility from our furry friends and family. Their luxury suites have webcams so you can watch your pet while away on vacation to make sure they're doing well. Check out their site at www.Pawspet.com. Don't miss next months Yappie Hour: Wednesday, July 15th 5-7pm. We hope to see you there! Paws Pet Res... Continue reading ...
Posted by Little Shop on Friday, May 29, 2009,
Little Shop marched in the Cheshire Memorial Day Parade on May 24th. Unfortunately, due to forecasts of inclement weather, many of our companions opted to stay home and avoid being rained on. However, those of us who did join the fun were pleasantly surprised as the rain held off til much later in the day. Our lead vehicle was bedecked with lovely banners as well as red, white, and blue bunting. Followed by 6 pets walking with family and friends. We cannot wait until next year to get a b... Continue reading ...
Posted by Little Shop on Friday, May 29, 2009,
In :
Miscellaneous
We would like to thank our veterans, soldiers, and their K-9 comrades for all their sacrifice and service both at home and abroad. Please visit http://uswardogs.org/id40.html and learn more about what our four legged friends do for our country. Here is a brief description from their website: "It has been estimated that these courageous canine heroes saved over 10,000 lives during the conflict in Vietnam. Today all branches of our Armed Forces are utilizing Military Patrol Dogs specializin... Continue reading ...
Well, I (Erin) went to Intergroom this past weekend to compete in 3 competitions as well as do some shopping and attend some seminars. I left on Thursday to drive to Somerset, NJ with my Standard Poodle, ZZ, my American Cocker Spaniel, Rip, and a customer's baby, Jake, an Irish Terrier. My first competition was Friday morning with Jake in the Handstripped Terrier class. We did not place because we are still learning Jake's growth cycle and he did not have enough hair to make a significant ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Little Shop on Tuesday, April 7, 2009,
In :
Spa Services
In response to increased interest, we are now offering private appointments to those pets seeking the ultimate Zen experience. Is your pet nervous around other people or pets? Do you want an exclusive styling session with our staff? Come experience the serenity a private appointment can offer. We cater to many pets who are rescued and have questionable pasts. Often these pets are skittish and become withdrawn somewhat when in a new environment. While we keep Little Shop low volume every... Continue reading ...
Posted by Little Shop on Thursday, April 2, 2009,
In :
Miscellaneous
I saw this pet spa game and thought everyone would enjoy spending a day as a pet stylist. Post your results so we can all see who's the cat's meow! http://animal.discovery.com/pet-planet/games/pet-spa-challenge/Careful, it's addicting! Enjoy. Continue reading ...
For VIPs and first time customers: receive $5 off the Deshedding Treatment when you mention this web special! Visit our Salon Services page to learn more about our Deshedding program. Imagine a house without those pesky tumbleweeds in every corner and a vacuum bag not full after three passes over the carpet! Continue reading ...
The latest trend seems to be dogs that don't shed. While some dogs do shed considerably less than others, all dogs shed hair. It is part of the natural growth cycle of each hair. There are 3 phases to hair growth: - Anagen: the active growth cycle of the hair follicle, length of time in this phase is dependant on breed type and other factors.
- Catagen: temporary phase where growth has stopped.
- Telogen: in this phase, the hair is considered dead and ready to be removed from the follicle in order...
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Posted by Little Shop on Saturday, March 28, 2009,
In :
Spa Services
Your pet is exposed to hot and cold temperatures everyday resulting in dry, itchy, and flaky skin. We would like to share some of the benefits of sugar scrubs: - promotes healing and new skin growth.
- exfoliates and deep cleans skin.
- all over body scrub and polisher.
- especially soothing for pets who had to be shaved due to excessive matting.
- alpha-hydroxy rich leaving pet's skin glowing and smooth.
- very safe with no harsh side effects.
- great for all skin types, especially dry to very dry skin.
- hydra...
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Stuffed Adoptions has a variety of brande new soft, cuddly and adorable stuffed animal dogs, cats, and bunny rabbits available for purchase. A large portion of every stuffed animal purchase goes to a real humane society or animal welfare organization. Stuffed Adoptions also make a wonderful gif, birthday, pet memorial gift, get well present, Easter or holiday present. You can even include a gift message! So "adopt" a stuffed pet from Stuffed Adoptions today! Every adoption includes the s... Continue reading ...
If you're thinking of adding a new best friend, don't miss this event in Stamford this weekend. Sponsored by the SPCA of CT, and hosted at Stamford Petsmart, 288 West Avenue Stamford, CT 06902. Check out their video here. Remember we offer 15% off for any pet's first grooming with proof of adoption papers! Continue reading ...
Posted by Little Shop Of Howlers on Tuesday, March 17, 2009,
In :
Little Shop News
Hello and thank you for visiting our new and improved site! We are having so much fun creating this informative oasis for you and your pets to enjoy and interact with. Please visit often as we are continually adding new features and and updating current ones. This page will be our newsletter to you with seasonal grooming tips, competition updates, pet news, and local hot spots for you and your pet to visit. If you have any comments or suggestions, please feel free to leave them here, emai... Continue reading ...
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