Rover Makeovers
Rover Makeovers
Giving man’s best friend the TLC to live their best life
As human beings, we are blessed with the ability to take on the responsibility of fostering animals in our space. Both wild and domesticated animals add so much color and character to our lives, and can serve as great teachers in so many aspects. It’s clear each animal species has its own character, and that each individual has its own personality that we get to witness and befriend as they develop and our bond grows. The unconditional love of a dog is such a wonderful way to get to know the animal kingdom on a personal level. Dogs offer important lessons from which we can glean wisdom in taking appropriate action and for understanding the natural world and ourselves. They offer us so much in emotional support, realizing our ability to care for and be responsible for others, and simple entertainment through their expressions.
When we adopt a dog into our farm or family, it’s important to remember that they speak to us in ways beyond words. Returning some of the good energy from their love and the lessons they offer us by caring for, nurturing and sometimes going the extra mile for them is an important part of being a pet parent. This could mean taking them for a walk at the end of a long day, serving them a special meal, buying them a new toy, taking them to a dog park to meet new friends, or taking them to a good groomer who wants them to feel their best.
Regular hygienic maintenance is as important for our animal counterparts as it is for us. Clearing out dander to allow them to cool themselves easier in the hot season, keeping their nails trimmed so their feet fall correctly, and giving them the appropriate food and supplemental support they need for overall health are just a few examples of things to keep up with for your dog’s livelihood. The happier and healthier the ones around you are, the easier it is for yourself to maintain balance in the same aspects.
If you have a canine family member and are feeling like treating them to a spa day to be looking and feeling their flyest, Ellicottville has the best for the job in the mother-daughter duo at Rover Makeovers! A no-restraint, one-on-one grooming salon that takes in only one dog at a time (unless the dogs already live together) to keep each dog’s experience as stress free and peaceful as possible.
Teresa Wagner, owner and groomer, has always had a deep love for animals, especially dogs. When she decided she wanted to get into care for these four legged friends over 20 years ago and ran it by her father, he quickly responded with, “It’s about time that you figured that out!” Surely he was happy to see his daughter was moving in the direction to work on the things that bring her happiness. Eleven years ago, Rover Makeovers was born. Teresa’s daughter Calla, who shares her affinity for animals, learned the trade alongside her mother from a young age, and together they keep the business ran in a focused and intentional way, keeping it small so that they know that each animal is getting the love, care, and attention it deserves. They really do go the extra mile in making the ‘tough cookies’ feel safe and comfortable during the grooming process.
The way they run their space also helps Teresa and Calla develop more of a bond with each individual dog, and they’ve learned a few tricks to smooth the animal’s experience when they come to a part of the process that specific dogs aren’t fans of. “We groom one dog that will only let us cut her nails if I sing ‘huggy kissy time’ to her,” Teresa tells me. That, my friends, is star service and shows the true love and dedication these wonderful women have for their customers and craft. They inspect and comb every part of your pet, making sure that if there is a skin problem, fleas, ticks, ear problems, or a lump, that it will be found and you know to treat or to reach out to a veterinarian.
Their own four legged family consists of Calla’s three dogs, Martha May, Pumpkin, and the aptly named Titan, and Teresa’s Pekingese/Shih Tzu mix Timmy. If you frequent the village, you’ve likely seen Timmy on one of their daily strolls, carrying his little stuffed lamb.
Rover Makeovers accommodates all size dogs and does it all - standard breed cuts, shave downs, comb outs, and specialty cuts. One of their clients has a Beatle haircut with a goatee, another has a mohawk punker look! All groomings include nail clipping and ear cleaning. If you would like to schedule an appointment with the best in the biz, please don’t hesitate to give them a call at their NEW number, 716-364-2302.