Spotlight: Niagara Dog Businesses

Part of the Niagara Dog Community Series

Meet Megan of PoCo Grooming in Port Colborne

At Al’s Country Mutts in Port Colborne, the grooming table is not only a place where dogs receive care and attention — it’s also where knowledge, patience, and experience are passed from one generation of groomers to the next.

Owner Alex created a welcoming environment when she opened the shop at 256 West Street, combining professional grooming services with a retail store offering supplements, enrichment toys, apparel, and other carefully chosen items for pets and their owners. Within that space, groomers are able to focus not only on caring for dogs, but also on supporting one another.

One of those groomers is Megan, owner of PoCo Grooming, who has been grooming dogs since 2010. Her path into grooming actually began with veterinary medicine. After attending school to become a veterinary technician, she realized that the part of the program she enjoyed most was grooming. That discovery led her to pursue grooming as a full-time career, where she could work closely with dogs every day.

Megan greets a client

Over the years, Megan has developed a reputation for working with difficult or nervous dogs. Her approach is based on patience and observation.

When a dog is anxious or reactive, she focuses on being gentle and moving slowly while carefully reading the dog’s body language. The goal is to make the experience as positive as possible so the dog begins to associate grooming with safety rather than stress.

“Take your time,” she explains. “Try to make it as pleasant as possible so hopefully the dog learns that the groomer is his friend.”

Despite their small size, some of the most challenging dogs she encounters are Chihuahuas and Pugs. As she puts it, they often have “big attitudes in little bodies.” Their strong personalities can make grooming tricky, but with patience and experience, they can still have a successful grooming experience.

What truly sets Megan apart, however, is her commitment to supporting the grooming community. Rather than viewing other groomers as competition, she believes strongly in helping others learn the trade.

“A qualified groomer is an asset to the community,” she says.

That belief is one of the reasons she welcomed Holly, an aspiring groomer, into the salon as an apprentice.

Learning the Craft: Holly’s Journey into Grooming

Holly has been working in the pet industry since 2018, beginning in a retail environment where she spent her days helping customers find the right products for their pets. While she loved working around animals, she eventually realized she wanted something more hands-on.

That desire led her to grooming.

Since November 2023, Holly has been training under Megan’s guidance, learning both the technical skills of grooming and the patience required to work with dogs of all personalities.

Right now, Holly is gaining experience working with nervous dogs, and when situations become more complex she works closely with Megan to continue learning how to safely handle reactive dogs.

For Holly, one of the most rewarding parts of grooming is working together with dog owners to create a plan that works best for everyone — especially the dog.

If a dog is nervous or overwhelmed, the goal isn’t always to complete a perfect groom right away. Instead, Holly and the owner may decide together how far to go during that appointment, gradually building trust and comfort over time.

Like Megan, Holly finds Chihuahuas to be among the most challenging dogs to groom, largely due to their strong personalities packed into such small bodies.

Advice for Dog Owners Between Grooming Appointments

Both groomers emphasize that what happens between grooming appointments can make a huge difference in a dog’s comfort and coat health.

Megan encourages dog owners to learn how to properly brush their dog at home. Regular brushing not only keeps the coat healthy but also helps dogs become more comfortable being handled, which can make grooming appointments much easier.

Holly also suggests that many dogs benefit from regular nail trims between full grooming visits, particularly dogs that don’t spend much time walking on hard surfaces where nails naturally wear down.

For breeds whose hair continues to grow — such as Poodles, Doodles, Maltese, and Shih Tzus — Holly recommends grooming every four to eight weeks. Without regular grooming, these coats can quickly become matted, which may lead to skin irritation, infection, and discomfort for the dog.

Both groomers also agree that doodle coats are among the most misunderstood. Because doodles are mixes of different breeds, their coats can vary widely in texture and thickness. That variation means grooming needs can be very different from one dog to another.

A Community Built Around Dogs

The atmosphere at Al’s Country Mutts reflects the same philosophy shared by its groomers — collaboration, honesty, and genuine care for dogs.

Whether it’s helping a nervous dog feel safe, teaching an apprentice the craft of grooming, or helping owners learn how to better care for their dog’s coat, the focus is always the same: improving the lives of the dogs who walk through the door.

And thanks to experienced groomers like Magan and dedicated apprentices like Holly, that knowledge continues to grow within the Port Colborne dog community.