New pet care shop open for business in downtown Sturgeon Bay

Judith Munson

Contributor

April 6, 2026

STURGEON BAY – Local entrepreneur Christine Carstens said she knows firsthand that pets don’t always welcome a trip to the groomer.

After years as a professional groomer, Carstens said she set out to change that – opening Paw Spa Grooming in downtown Sturgeon Bay.

Carstens said her goal was simple: make grooming something pets – from dogs and cats to even the occasional rabbit – actually enjoy.

“I don’t want them to stress,” she said. “I wanted it to feel more homey here, so it’s almost like walking into a spa.”

Carstens said the space has an open-concept layout, allowing customers to see the grooming tables as soon as they walk through the front door.

“I have a chaise [lounge] in the back for the dogs to sit on, so it kind of looks like a spa,” she said. “There are no kennels here.”

Carstens said dogs at Paw Spa Grooming are welcomed into an open waiting area with fresh water, toys and seating, rather than being taken out of view.

A large viewing window and a TV, she said, accommodate owners who choose to stay, and aside from safety gates, dogs are allowed to roam freely.

Though owners are welcome to stay, Carstens said many opt not to because their dog is more likely to “be naughty and refuse to get on the table.”

“They are like kids,” she laughed. “They start whining when they see Mom and Dad in the big bay window. But as soon as Mom and Dad leave, that’s over, and they’re my best friends.”

Having worked at other grooming facilities, Carstens said many dogs become anxious when they are dropped off and placed in rooms with other animals. 

Furthermore, she said some shops overbook appointments, which can lead to long wait times before dogs are groomed.

“Sometimes, you drop your dog off at 8 a.m., and you don’t get your dog back until 4:30 p.m.,” she said.

Carstens said clients appreciate that grooming appointments at Paw Spa Grooming do not require all-day stays.

“I want the dogs to feel comfortable,” she said. “Most of the time when the dogs come here for their second or third visit, they’re like, ‘Oh, I remember this place. I love this place. I get groomed and loved, and then I play and have treats.’”

Carstens said Paw Spa Grooming operates on a one-on-one model, with only one dog groomed at a time, rather than handling multiple animals simultaneously. 

“It’s only me here doing the grooming, so it’s all one on one, unlike having to have a ton of dogs getting groomed all at once [where] they’re left wet and waiting before getting put in a cage to dry,” she said. “I hated seeing some poor little dog shivering in the corner, cold.”

Carstens said one client’s therapy dog – typically calm and well adjusted – would still tremble during grooming appointments.

“She’s a mini Schnauzer, and she goes to schools, hospitals and nursing homes but was terrified of going to get groomed,” she said. “Ever since she started coming here, she’s so open and doesn’t shake. Her owner can’t believe how happy she is, and that makes me feel really good.”

Early boost, steady business

Carstens said several longtime clients followed her to Paw Spa Grooming, which also received an early boost in visibility after “Let’s Go Door County” produced a video feature highlighting the new business.

“That really popped,” she said. “It was extremely helpful, because [Let’s Go Door County] has so many followers,” she said.

Carstens said the holiday season quickly accelerated business, as well as pet owners preparing for family photos and gatherings.

“I was very, very busy for Thanksgiving and Christmas,” she said. “I was just swamped. My hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., but I wasn’t getting out of here until 9 p.m. many nights, because I didn’t want to have to turn people down.”

Carstens said business remained steady after the holidays, driven by word of mouth.

Paw Spa Grooming, she said, is now booking several weeks out, with some summer appointments already filling, including clients traveling from outside the area.

“I got a call from some people who winter in Florida and have their summer homes here,” she said. “They needed appointments in July, August and September, so that’s kind of fun.”

Carstens said Paw Spa Grooming offers a full range of services for dogs of all sizes, including bathing, haircuts, nail trimming and specialty treatments – such as “pawdicures.” 

The business, she said, also prioritizes animals that may be more difficult to groom.

“I have an electric washtub, which raises and lowers and is easier to get in for the older dogs with arthritis,” she said. “I also have a walk-in shower. Some dogs don’t like baths and prefer a shower. It’s great for the bigger dogs, like a Bullmastiff or St. Bernard mix. Most places will not take these bigger dogs, because it takes too much time to wash them, or they don’t have the walk-in shower.”

Carstens said the spa is also equipped with tools designed to support pets with unique health considerations.

“I have a four-year-old rottweiler with dysplasia [that comes in, and] he knows when he comes [in] to walk right onto my table, which drops all the way down to the floor before I raise it to start grooming,” she said.

Cat grooming services, she said, are also available and include nail trims, haircuts, bathing and shaving in cases of matting.

“I’ve done three cat baths since opening,” she said. “Some cats actually tolerate it fairly well.” 

Carstens said Paw Spa Grooming has also welcomed some rabbits onto the grooming table.

“Angora and Lionheads get that really furry mane, and it needs to be trimmed once in a while to keep it manageable,” she said. “I was in 4-H as a child through high school. Ever since I was a little girl, I was always the one to clip all the rabbits’ nails at the fair.”

‘It’s my passion’

Growing up on a farm, Carstens said she has been around animals her entire life.

As a child, she said she raised sheep, rabbits and turkeys for show at the Door County Fair, earning recognition for an award-winning turkey.

Today, Carstens said her work with animals extends beyond the spa, as she also cares for horses, chickens and guinea hens, along with her own dogs, cats and rabbits. 

“As an adult, I show rabbits in the open class at the fair,” she said. “I have won World Champion for a Best of Breed rabbit three years in a row.”

Carstens said she started grooming pets as a hobby for herself, friends and family before turning it into a career.

After working for other businesses for several years, she said she decided to open her own shop on Maple Street in Sturgeon Bay to offer more personalized care.

“We’re right downtown, right by the bridges, so it’s a very nice location,” she said.

In addition to its appearance on Let’s Go Door County, Carstens said Paw Spa Grooming maintains an active social media presence.

Before-and-after photos posted on Facebook, she said, have generated positive feedback and attracted new clients.

Carstens said the downtown business community has been a strong source of support since opening Paw Spa Grooming.

“We are right across from the Nicolet Bank, where I opened a business account, and the ladies there are just amazing,” she said. “A lot of the neighborhood has come by – all super nice people. That really means a lot.”

Carstens said the business has also gained support from Up A Level K9 Academy in Sturgeon Bay, whose owner refers clients to Paw Spa Grooming.

That partnership, she said, has brought in additional business and reflects a shared focus on patient, attentive care for dogs.

“She boards and trains dogs and has brought me plenty of business,” she said. “She is an amazing woman – very loving and caring with dogs. And she knows I am very patient.”

Carstens said though the shop’s front entrance has steps, a rear entry accommodates pets with mobility challenges.

She said she also offers curbside assistance, meeting clients at their vehicles.

“I love doing this,” she said. “It’s what I’m good at, and it’s my passion – so I guess it was time to make a career out of it.”

For more, check out Paw Spa Grooming LLC on Facebook.