"Muscles are definitely required for this job," says pet groomer Cori Hansen as she hoists Sienna, a rather large Airedale Terrier, onto a table for a brushing and haircut.
Sienna is a regular customer at 4Paw, Shorewood's newest pet groomer, and is being very patient as tuffs of brown hair fly off her.
"An average grooming takes between an hour and an hour and a half," says Hansen, whose service includes a bath, blow dry, nail trim, ear cleaning and breed specific haircut.
"Some dogs require more time, depending on the breed," she says. Airedales need really good haircuts to prevent matting, which can cause skin rashes.
Even as the only pet groomer in Shorewood, her prices are moderate, ranging between $35 and $60 per session for dogs. "I know people in Chicago who pay $180 to get their cat groomed. I charge $30."
Sienna groans as Hansen passes the trimmers by her tail. "They never like it when you touch their tail. It's a sensitive area."
Still, despite her low whine, Sienna remains statuesque, allowing Hansen to finish the trim with ease.
So is it Hansen's natural affinity for animals -- she and her roommate share their house with five pets -- or just lots of practice that makes these animals to behave so well in her presence?
"I've been doing this a while, and most of my clients are regulars. They're used to me."
Earning certification from the Academy of Dog Grooming Arts in Arlington Heights, Ill., Hansen has been grooming for eight years. To date, her repertoire includes hundreds of dogs, cats, rabbits, and she's pretty sure she groomed a gerbil once while working at a pet store.
"Some animals like it better than others, or I should say, some tolerate it better than others. But either way, it's hilarious to watch them when they're done. It's as if they know they're looking good because they just strut their stuff right out the door."
Hansen used to care for canines at the East Side's Wash My Dog, which has since closed. 4Paw, she says, opened in July, partially as Wash My Dog's new location and partially as a new business. Hansen now runs the place solo and has plans to buy the business from the previous owner so that it can be all hers.
4Paw is located at 4415 N. Oakland Ave. in Shorewood. Hansen takes appointments Monday through Saturday and also offers self-service grooming for $20. "Some people don't have the facilities at home, so I provide the tub, towel, shampoo and everything else you'll need to groom your own pet here." Call (414) 332-4PAW.
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.
As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”
