Gentle Paws Grooming
GENTLE PAWS GROOMING
Grooming, the
Gentle Way
were never separate to begin with.
Every dog that comes to me is listened to. Not just handled, not just trimmed. Listened to. I feel what each dog needs to feel safe, earn their trust at their pace, and move at the speed that trust allows.
The goal is simple: dogs who look forward to their groom, and humans who feel the peace of knowing their animal was truly cared for.
I groom from my home studio in Orem, Utah, and welcome families from all over Utah Valley and the south end of Salt Lake County, Draper to Payson and beyond.
The Conditioner Blessing
It Started With Trust
Harvey was one of my first clients. He'd been through hard health trauma as a young dog, and grooming had taken a back seat while his family focused on getting him well. By the time he came to me, his doodle coat had grown six or seven inches long, matted all the way through. He was not okay. He mouthed, he growled, he gave every warning a scared dog has. And he had every right to. So I never forced it.
Every visit, something new was too much. His face. His feet. The sound of the dryer, the sight of the scissors, his nails. It took a full year before Harvey let me complete every step of a groom. We used treats, we used pets, but mostly we used respect, and somewhere in that year, we became friends. Now he's thrilled every time he walks through my door, and on the days he still tells me he's having a hard time, I tell him: I hear you, and we're going to get through this together.
That's the promise I try to keep with every dog on my table.
Because I Trust You
Dodger had been quicked once before he ever met me, and that kind of pain leaves a mark. He wouldn't let me near his nails. Not clippers, not the grinder, nothing. His owner never wanted to force him, so we didn't. We just kept showing up for each other, appointment after appointment, doing whatever small piece we could that day. Slowly his back feet became okay. His front feet were still a fight.
Then one day, not long after I'd come home from an animal communication training, Dodger noticed something different in me the moment I walked in. I did his back feet like always. Then I moved to his front feet, and he let me do one. I stayed quiet. He let me do another, and another, until every nail was done.
I paused and asked him, out loud, what had changed.
I nearly cried right there. We'd been working toward that moment for so long, and somewhere along the way, he'd decided. He has never once given me trouble with his nails since.
SITTING WITH MAGGIE
Maggie came to me as a puppy already carrying a heavy dose of anxiety. Nothing her wonderful parents did, just how she was wired from the start. For her first several appointments, it took me thirty minutes just to get close enough to lift her into the bath. She'd sit in one corner of the salon, I'd sit in the other, and mostly, I just talked to her. Even in silence, I think she could feel that I was willing to wait.
Back when she was still learning to trust the process, she'd try to climb onto my shoulders during the blow dry, seeking comfort in the one part of all this that felt safe: me. Grooming still isn't her favorite thing, and I can feel her anxiety every time she arrives. But these days, when her mom drops her off, Maggie climbs straight into my lap and melts. If you let me do what I need to do, I've always told her, I'll take care of you, and the faster we're done, the sooner you're home with mom.
HOW I GROOM
a relationship built one groom at a time
LISTENED TO
I pay close attention to each dog's energy from the moment they arrive. Nervous dogs are given time. Playful dogs are given play. Every groom moves at the pace the dog sets, because comfort is not a luxury. It is the foundation.
NEVER RUSHED, NEVER DOMINATED
There is no forcing at Gentle Paws. Trust is earned in increments. I do offer an energy of calm confidence to the dog, and I will wait as long as it takes for them to feel that in their own body.
TRULY CARED FOR
Nail and ear care come with every appointment. So does something harder to list on a menu: a groomer who genuinely loves your dog, notices what they need, and shares what she learns with you.
Wondering About Your Newest Addition?
The earlier your puppy meets the grooming process, the more at ease they'll be for life. I recommend starting around 14 weeks, once they've had their rabies vaccine. This is the perfect window to introduce nail trims, gentle handling, bathing, and the tools they'll grow up around.
Every puppy appointment moves at the pace your puppy can handle without becoming stressed. For a first visit, I recommend keeping it simple: a bath, blow-dry, and nail trim. A full haircut can absolutely happen on the first visit, but I've found it's far better to let your puppy's first experience be an easy, positive one, and save the haircut for round two, once they're already comfortable with me.
Pricing is simple and honest: $65 per hour, rounded down to the nearest ten minutes, always in your favor. Whether your dog needs a bath and blow-dry or a full haircut, you pay for the time your dog actually needs - and that's a good thing. Every dog shows up a little differently each visit, so your price flexes to match, and sometimes that works beautifully in your favor.
Bath and BlowDry
Typically for short hair breeds.
Ex. Pug, Dachshund, Pit, Lab, Dane, Dalmatian, German Shepherd etc.
Bath & BlowDry + Brushout
For long hair breeds. De-shedding included if needed. Could also be used as a maintenance appointment for poodle mixes.
Ex. Doodle, Collie, Golden, Aussie, Sheepdog etc.
Bath & BlowDry +
Tidy
For long hair breeds. De-shedding included if necessary. Depending on breed - includes Face/Feet trim OR outline trim.
Ex. Doodle, Collie, Golden, Aussie, Sheepdog etc.
Full HairCut
For long hair breeds. Full body cut.
Ex. Poodle, Yorkie, Shih Tzu, Doodle, Schnauzer etc.
The Proof is in the Pups
Fresh From the Tub
A few recent friends, freshly groomed and feeling their best.
Testimonials
Tasha
Bayley- Harvey
We’ve been taking our dog, Harvey, to Elaine for over three years, and we couldn’t be happier with the care she gives him. Harvey always looks great after his grooming appointments, but what we appreciate most is how comfortable he is with her. He genuinely loves going to see her, which says a lot about the time and patience she has put into building trust with him.
She is patient, caring, dependable, and clearly takes pride in her work. She’s also incredibly easy to work with and always quick to communicate. After more than three years of consistently great experiences, we would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a groomer who will treat their dog with genuine care.
Sandy - Tommy
I am beyond grateful that I found Elaine. She is the perfect fit for my elderly dog, Tommy, who has both anxiety and mobility issues. Normally, he is extremely stressed when going to the groomer. I was amazed at how perfectly at ease he was with Elaine right off the bat. Instead of his usual quivering and panting, he was downright placid!
After his grooming, Tommy was not only very handsome, but also happy and relaxed! Elaine is a wonderful person with special gifts. I can never move because she will always be our groomer!
