Good Neighbor Podcast: Mississauga

From Corporate To Clippers: How Pooches N Pals Became A Trusted Mississauga Groomer

• Alanja Simmons

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A quiet salon, a steady hand, and a plan built around your dog’s comfort can turn grooming from a chore into genuine care. We sit with Tanya Ellis, owner of  Pooches N' Pals  in Port Credit, to explore why one-on-one appointments, quick turnarounds, and close attention to detail can change a pet’s health journey for the better.

Tanya shares how she left corporate life to take over a local grooming shop and build it into a trusted Mississauga staple over thirteen years. We talk through the practical side of grooming that pet parents rarely see: tracking coat and skin changes over time, noticing new lumps or sensitivity around joints, and communicating clearly with veterinarians when something seems off. While groomers aren’t vets, the best ones act as early spotters and stress reducers, creating a calmer experience that helps dogs return happily. Tanya explains her low-stress model, from one-on-one sessions to a quick pickup call, often within minutes of finishing, to keep anxiety low and trust high.

We also get explore the breadth of services beyond dogs, including nail trims for cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs, as well as into the breadth of services beyond dogs, including nail trims for cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs, plus how mindset and routines outside of work shape the way a team cares for animals. Tanya opens up about her upcoming online grooming course, designed for aspiring professionals seeking practical techniques, safety protocols, canine body language, and Client communication all in one place. For locals looking for a groomer in Mississauga or Port Credit, and for anyone curious about what excellent grooming really means, this conversation offers a clear, human look at care, craft, and community.

If this story helped you rethink pet care, follow the show, share it with a fellow pet parent, and leave a review to tell us what resonated most.how one-on-one appointments, quick turnarounds, and close attention to detail can improve a pet’s health journey

Tanya Ellis

Pooches N' Pals

+19052782275

www.poochesnpalsinc.com

"We are a pet grooming salon services dogs and cats, small animals such as Rabbits and guinea pigs. We focus on one on one with each pet in our care. Safety is of utmost importance and is the main focus, we make sure your pet has a safe grooming experience. We also want to make sure the pet parents experience is calm and felt cared for. We love every pooch and pet parent that we meet who let's us ensure their pet has the best experience for their needs!"



intro :

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

Alanja Simmons :

Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Are you in need of a pet groomer? One am I be closer than you think? Today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, Tanya Ellis, with Pooches N Pals. Tanya, how's it going? Great. How are you, Alanja? I'm good. Thank you for asking. Thank you for having me here. I appreciate it. We're excited to learn about you and your business. Tell us about your company, Pooches and Pals.

Tanya Ellis :

We're a local pet groomer in Mississauga Port Credit, located at 356 Lakeshore Road West. And we've been doing this for about 13 years. Friday is our 13-year anniversary.

Alanja Simmons :

Congratulations. Thank you so much. And how did you get into this business?

Tanya Ellis :

I used to work for a few different companies and then decided when I was a lot younger that I wanted to be an entrepreneur. It was just a matter of finding out where I was. I worked for a large corporation for a little while, and then I decided that before the five-year mark, I would end up owning my own pet grooming salon. One came about and I took over a location, which is the one that I have now. I decided that this was the right thing to do. So I jumped into entrepreneurship 13 years ago.

Alanja Simmons :

Tanya, that's such a great story. What are some myths or misconceptions in your industry?

Tanya Ellis :

I think a lot of people don't really understand the importance of a groomer and what we provide. We really do get to know your pet on a personal level. We see all the things that are happening throughout their life, and we're able to work alongside vets in helping pet parents understand if there's any differences in their coat change or behaviors or anything medically, even finding lumps and bumps. We're definitely not vets, but we can definitely help in the process of the care of the pet.

Alanja Simmons :

Perfectly said. We know marketing is at the heart of every business. Who are your target customers and how do you attract them?

Tanya Ellis :

Our target customers are dogs and pet parents. We also do small animal nail trims like guinea pigs, rabbits, and cat nail trimming as well. So those are our target clients. Anyone with a pet, really.

Alanja Simmons :

And have you ever thought about doing your own podcasts? I thought about it, yes. I just don't know how to go about it. I see. Outside of work, what do you do for fun?

Tanya Ellis :

I love working on my mindset. It's a big part of my life. I love hiking. I love going on family vacations and hanging out with family and my dogs. Also, we love traveling. Me and my husband travel quite a bit. So we just got back from Europe not too long ago. We did Paris in Italy, which was on our bucket list. So yeah.

Alanja Simmons :

Good for you. Thanks. Amazing. So, Tanya, please tell our listeners one thing they should remember about pooches N pals.

Tanya Ellis :

We do one-on-one service, and safety is really important to us. We're going to work with your dog and make sure that they have a great experience. It's a quicker service so that the dogs don't have to go through as much stress. Someone who wants that sort of an experience would come to us and they come in and get their pet groomed, and we call them within 20 minutes, and then they can come and get them right away. We're going to treat them very well. They're going to get the best ,care and we stand by what we say. I'm in the process of putting together a dog grooming course. Someone who might be interested in becoming a groomer, it's going to be an online program that's very unique. It's not like what everyone else has out there. It's very different. So if anyone's interested in that, they can send me an email to information at poochesandpalsinc.com. I really look forward to it launching. It's in the stages of being put together now. So might not be ready until the new year, but it's going to be great stuff coming soon.

Alanja Simmons :

On that note, how can your listeners learn more about Poochis N Pals?

Tanya Ellis :

We have a website, PoochesNPalsinc.com. And we're also on social media, Instagram, Pooches and Pals. And I'm actually doing a dog trivia every Tuesday. If anyone wants to tune in to that at 5:30, just to test your dog knowledge on Instagram. I'm also on LinkedIn under ,my ,name Tanya Ellis. And our phone number is 905-278-BARK. And we're located in Port Credit, Mississauga, on Lake Shore.

Alanja Simmons :

Tanya, I really appreciate you being on the show, and I wish you and your business pooches N pals all the best moving forward. And thank you for being a good neighbour.

Tanya Ellis :

Thank you for having me. Happy to be a good neighbour.

Ontro:

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favourite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnpmississauga.com. That's gnpmississauga.com. Or call 365 362 9780.