New grooming service offers dogs VIP treatment

Cheryl Hentz

Contributor

July 7, 2025

STEVENS POINT – A new option for canine pampering is now available in Stevens Point with the recent opening of Blink Dog Pet Grooming. 

Owner Karen Higgins said her one-on-one service helps ensure that the relaxing, personalized, extra-special treatment that is her trademark will leave all her furry clients looking – and feeling – like top dogs. 

One-on-one grooming, Higgins said, means she works with one dog all the way through – from start to finish.

“I am the only groomer working on that dog when they’re on the table, and they are the only dog I am working on at that time,” she said. 

Though she sets aside 90 minutes or so for each dog, Higgins said she also leaves 30 minutes in between appointments to make certain each dog is picked up before another is brought in. 

“I use as many tools as I can to make the dogs comfortable, including a paw mat, which is an extra-thick material kind of like a yoga mat,” she said. “It cleans well, and it makes it really comfortable for a dog with joint issues. Sometimes, dogs may have sensory issues and don’t like the slipperiness of the table, so this works well for that, too.”

And though designed for all dogs, large or small, Higgins said Blink Dog Pet Grooming pays extra attention to those canines who may be elderly, anxious or have special needs.

“Sometimes, it’s a lot for them to fight through the stress or anxiety they might be feeling,” she said. “It can be exhausting for a dog. It’s about being an advocate for the pet in front of me and doing whatever I can to make them comfortable and enjoy grooming, while making it safe for everyone involved.”

Higgins said geriatric or anxious dogs aren’t a good fit for corporate grooming salons because they may require too much time.

“I understand dogs like that often need more breaks during grooming appointments and need some extra pampering,” she said. “They’re kind of my favorite ones, because I get to spend some extra time with them.”

‘They deserve to be pampered’

Prior to having her own salon, Higgins said she worked for nearly eight years in both private salons and as a groomer/manager for a nationwide pet store and grooming chain. 

There, she said she was doing 10-13 dogs per day and felt like she was on an assembly line. 

“I saw so many dogs struggle with that kind of grooming that I wanted to take a step back and really give the dogs the attention they deserve – the kind of attention I would want my dog to have,” she said. “They deserve to be pampered.”

Working for herself, Higgins said, allows her to give her furry clients that time.

“I can take my time with each dog, as much time as that dog needs,” she said. “I give extra stroking or petting and a lot of reassurance in a very calm tone, if a dog seems super anxious. Over the years, especially having worked in a corporate setting, I’ve become an advocate for the pets.”

Part of that, Higgins said, is learning and understanding what each dog likes and doesn’t like.

“Maybe a dog doesn’t like being brushed and isn’t letting me brush them or tolerating being brushed,” she said. “I’m not going to push a dog through that. With an anxious or geriatric dog being groomed, I’ll put realistic expectations out there for the owner and the dog. If the dog is 14 years old, he is not going to stand two hours for me to [brush him into a fluffy dog]. That’s not realistic.”

Higgins said Blink Dog’s services are all-inclusive. 

“All the shampoos, conditioners, nail trim and buffing, nail painting, ears being cleaned and plucked, any trimming or shaving – everything is included,” she said. “The only thing I would up-charge for would be creative grooming, such as dying of hair. I have to use pet-safe dye, so I up-charge to cover that cost.”

A winding journey

Higgins said she has worked in the grooming industry for a little more than eight years, but her interest in working with animals goes back to when she was a kid. 

Growing up, she said she was told she needed to have a four-year degree to earn a decent living.

So, she said she attended and graduated from Purdue University with a degree in wildlife management, with intentions of working at a zoo, caring for animals and educating visitors.

But, Higgins said that didn’t work out.

When she moved back to the Fond du Lac area, where she was born and raised, she said she couldn’t find a job at first.

Higgins said her husband at the time had a good-paying job, so she decided to apply to be a dog groomer for a national chain.

During that time, she said she also worked part-time at the local animal shelter. 

After about four and a half years, and having been promoted to salon manager, Higgins said she became tired of the corporate world and made the decision to go back to school to get a degree in automotive collision and repair.

Before long, she said she returned to the grooming industry, working for a private salon.

“But, I got really burned out, because it wasn’t managed by a pet professional,” she said. 

So, the now-divorced Higgins said she took six months off and moved to Stevens Point.

“I got a job at another private salon,” she said.

Though she loved it, Higgins said the urge to be her own boss wouldn’t go away.

So, last October, she said she decided to step out on her own and opened Blink Dog Pet Grooming.

Picking a unique business name

When choosing a name for the business, Higgins said she wanted to choose something that had special significance to her, while having it be unique to help her stand out.

To accomplish this, the tabletop gamer said she tapped into Dungeons and Dragons (D&D).

“In the D&D world, a blink dog is a fey creature that is always known to be a helpful companion,” she said. “I had a list of several names, but I just kept coming back to blink dog. There was something in my gut that told me to go with that.” 

Furthermore, Higgins said she wanted to create a brand and space that was “authentically me.”

“I wanted to make it a fun, nerdy space as well,” she said. “Also, the D&D community is full of LGBTQ+ people, and I really wanted that aspect of myself to be part of this and to make sure that everyone’s included at the table. All are welcome.”  

Though she found a commercial space to set up shop in last year, Higgins said missteps – by no fault of her own – put that plan on pause.

So, while she looks for a new location for Blink Dog Pet Grooming, Higgins said she is leasing space at The Downtown Dog, located in downtown Stevens Point (1332 Strongs Ave.). 

“Thankfully, my good friend who owns Downtown Dog, which is another grooming salon in town, graciously offered up space that I could rent,” she said. “That was a lifesaver. Just being associated with them has helped ease some of those new business woes that can so often happen.”

Even though she’s been developing her own clientele, Higgins said Downtown Dog sometimes has more work than its three groomers can handle, allowing her to catch some of their overflow.

It’s a win-win for everyone, she said.

The plan for the future, Higgins said, is to be open and settled into her own space by next spring.

To keep up to date on her progress, find Blink Dog Pet Grooming on Facebook and Instagram.

Other business hurdles

Getting a new business off the ground, even in the best of circumstances, can be challenging.

So, to help understand the ins and outs of filing for an LLC, getting the proper kinds of insurance, marketing oneself, handling all the business-related paperwork, etc., Higgins said she has relied on the Small Business Development Center on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

“They were a godsend and fantastic to work with,” she said. “They helped me figure out profit/loss statements, all the tax stuff and so forth. They’ve helped me with so much that I cannot sing enough praises about them.”

Though she’s getting the hang of most business-related necessities, Higgins said a hurdle she’s still trying to navigate is setting boundaries between work time and personal time. 

“I am my own worst enemy when it comes to that,” she said. “I have to learn not to try squeezing in one more dog, which is sometimes hard because I love what I do. I don’t want to get burned out. So, I have to learn that to be more productive, I have to learn to relax.”

Finding the right groomer

Since the grooming industry is unregulated in Wisconsin – meaning there is no state law requiring dog groomers to be licensed or certified – Higgins said she recommends asking lots of questions, gauging their qualifications and experience.

“You should ask how long they’ve been grooming, if they’re insured and what other continuing education or certifications they have,” she said. “Have open communication with a prospective groomer and trust your gut. Find someone you click with.”