EP 508: How Rachel King Built A Grooming Business That Puts Dogs First

What makes Rachel King with King Canine Grooming a good neighbor?

We talk with Rachel King of King Canine Grooming about a topic many pet owners underestimate: matting. What may look like a tangled coat on the surface can actually cause significant discomfort for a dog, creating constant pulling, pinching, and irritation with everyday movement. Rachel explains why regular grooming is about much more than appearance and how simple maintenance can prevent bigger health and comfort issues down the road.

Rachel shares her journey into animal care, from growing up around horses to building a grooming business centered on patience, compassion, and a genuine love for animals. She discusses the skills required to work with dogs of different temperaments and why creating a calm, positive experience is just as important as the final groom itself.

We also explore the realities of running a local grooming business, including how community referrals and word of mouth have helped her grow. Rachel talks about making grooming services accessible to families and why she believes education is often more valuable than judgment when pet owners find themselves facing grooming challenges.

One of the strongest messages from this conversation is her encouragement to pet parents not to feel ashamed if their dog’s coat has gotten out of control. Her goal is to provide a safe, supportive environment where owners can ask questions, get help, and focus on their pet’s well-being without fear of criticism.

If you want to better understand dog grooming, matting prevention, and what compassionate pet care really looks like, this conversation offers practical advice and valuable perspective.

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Guest Info: King Canine Grooming | 

Transcript

Welcome To Good Neighbor Podcast

SPEAKER_00 0:00

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Sophia Yvette.

SPEAKER_01 0:10

Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Are you in need of a dog groomer? Well, one may be closer than you think. Today, I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, Rachel King with King Canine Grooming. Rachel, so great to have you on today. We are so excited to learn all about you and your grooming company. So let's kick things off. Tell us a little bit more about your company and your backstory.

Rachel’s Path Into Grooming

SPEAKER_02 0:38

Well, um, I've been in grooming all my life. I was in horses first, of course, but you know, that gave me nerves of steel. So as a kid, it's something I always did and I loved. And then, you know, the industry of dogs came along in my 20s. That was really a lot, a lot more. You know, I just became engulfed and just took over my life, and it became a great hobby that um I eventually made money from amazing.

SPEAKER_01 1:07

Now, you know, you could have chosen any hobby. So how did your love of animals turn into this great business that you have today?

When Love Becomes A Mission

SPEAKER_02 1:19

Well, I had come in contact with a lot of people um, you know, through time that just the matting and the things on their dogs, and it just was so horrendous. And all I could think was I could fix that. I can fix that. And so then I do some research and I find out, you know, hey, this is causing circulatory issues, this is causing problems for the dog, like pain. So then it became a you know a personal issue, and so that's what really got me was knowing that something could be causing um you know uncomfort to one of these little angels.

SPEAKER_01 1:51

Yeah, and you know, with all the things that cause uncomfort for these little angels, what is the biggest thing that you come across that causes across uh it would be you know matting, mainly matting.

SPEAKER_02 2:08

Um, anything to do with that because the parents don't understand how bad it really is on the animal. And if you could only imagine, you know, every time you move somewhere feeling like something was pinching you, that's what they feel. It's like you're being stabbed anywhere there's a mat for babies.

Why Matting Causes Real Pain

SPEAKER_01 2:26

Wow.

unknown 2:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 2:28

Now, Rachel, in regards to the pet owners that you're looking to help, you know, we know that marketing really is the heart of every business. So ideally, where are some of your target clients and how are you reaching them today?

SPEAKER_02 2:44

Well, I mainly have just gone

Finding Clients And Pricing With Heart

SPEAKER_02 2:46

word of mouth. I have uh quite a few clients that like to, you know, represent me, they're really good people. Um, I also uh on Facebook Marketplace, I was able to uh make one, you know, little ad out there, and it's gotten quite a few, you know, people to come in and just say, Hey, I want to try this. And a lot of people approach me with um, how much is this gonna cost? And my first question is, How much do you want to pay? I'm here for the babies. Um you tell me how much you can pay. And I I really, you know, I don't have a problem doing something for free if somebody needs it because the dog needs it. I advocate for them.

SPEAKER_01 3:26

I can clearly see your heart for helping these animals. You know, have you ever thought about having your own podcast for the business before?

SPEAKER_02 3:34

I have not, but you know, it would be interesting, it would be something that I could totally probably maybe, yeah. No, I'd love it. I'd love it for sure.

Life Outside The Grooming Table

SPEAKER_01 3:45

Rachel, you have such great energy outside of work. What do you like to do for fun?

SPEAKER_02 3:51

Well, I like to spend time with my daughter, she's uh an advid horse rider, and um, if I'm not doing that, then I'm with uh, you know, my husband, and we're usually just doing something with our livestock animals that we have on the at the home. We have chickens, we have you know, we have everything except for cows. So it works out. So we stay busy all the time, and because of my business, I like to be here for people, you know. Um, if you have a problem with your animal, I don't want to be off, you know, off site. I want to be there. So I try to stay around the home just because.

Grooming As Peace And Focus

SPEAKER_01 4:31

So, Rachel, how do you balance, you know, your love of helping animals with bringing that peace into your life as a business owner?

SPEAKER_02 4:40

Well, helping the animals brings the peace into my life, they go hand in hand. So I really don't have you know any problem at all with that. I mean, I find myself um taking hours sometimes, just really, you know, paying attention to what I'm doing. And when I look up, I I swear I've only been doing this for 20 minutes. Three hours and more, it's like, wow, that's so peaceful. I mean, it's like a zen thing for me. Um I can't ask for more. I really can't.

SPEAKER_01 5:12

That's wonderful.

Growth Goals And No Shame

SPEAKER_01 5:14

And you know, for all the love that you have for these animals, where do you see your business going this year, next year?

SPEAKER_02 5:24

Well, I hope um I hope growing. I, you know, I'd like to be able to just really reach out and touch whoever I can, you know, and let them know that this is this is an open platform and they're welcome to come in whenever they need. And um, you know, never be ashamed. That's that's all that I see is that you know, most of these animals they're they're in the way they are because people were ashamed of the fact that the animal is looking the way they do. Every animal gets that way, and nobody's perfect. It's like, come on, just just don't be ashamed. Bring me the babies.

SPEAKER_01 5:58

It's like that's all. I love that. I think we've had such a heart-centered conversation today, but you know, the final question that I have for you has to be where can our listeners go to learn more about King Canine Grooming?

Where To Find King Canine Grooming

SPEAKER_02 6:13

Well, um, they can of course go on uh Instagram and find uh my Instagram profile, which is under Rachel King. Uh, it'll be under uh rach salazar03 at a o r at gmail.com. That is the uh the email. So if you look me up on Instagram or Facebook, all of those will have me, you know, and then on uh next door app I have King Canine Grooming. So there is that as well. So if you just look that up, you'll find me.

SPEAKER_01 6:43

Well, Rachel, I really appreciate you being on the show today. We wish you and your business the best moving forward.

SPEAKER_02 6:50

Great. Um, just if anyone needs it, 214-469-6589. Call me.

SPEAKER_00 6:56

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnpfrisco.com. That's gnpfrisco.com or call four six nine two two two one nine three four five.