By Pam Pollan
Cheryl Brady and Erika Jackson are well-known to local dog owners from their work at Creature Comforts Pet Grooming Salon. The 20-year-old family-owned business moved a new location at 64 Leominster Rd. in Sterling, under a new name Blue Dingo Dogs.
The new name is after Jackson’s first dog, a Blue Heeler (or Australian Cattle Dog) named Earl, who passed away in 2020.
“With the support of our clients and community, we have out grown our space and have expanded,” she said.
Brady, Jackson’s mother, continues to groom at the new location and while Jackson is stepping back from full time grooming to focus on running the business and training.
Expanded services beyond their fear-free grooming include daycare and training and additional staff.
Fear Free Grooming
They continue to offer Fear Free grooming meaning they utilize food, praise, free time in the shop, and kind handling practices to make grooms as fear free as possible, Jackson said.
“We work with each dog at their own pace. How we work with a dog is dependent on the dog, their history, and their current needs,” Jackson said.
The grooming shop is open Tuesday-Saturday by appointment.
Doggie Daycare
“We offer daycare with a trainer in the yards to allow for reinforcing good behavior and safe appropriate play,” she said. “Dogs must be friendly with dogs and people to attend.”
For safety, there will be two outdoor yards and two separate indoor spaces, one for bigger dogs, one for smaller dogs, Jackson said.
“We have a lot of COVID puppies from 2020 to now, who need a place to go,” she said.
New daycare clients are being accepted. Daycare runs $32 per day, Jackson said.
Drop off will be 7:00-8:30A.M. with pick up from 4:00-6:00 P.M.
Training
Group and private training lessons will be offered.
“Most of our group classes are one hour long for six weeks. We offer both private lessons at our facility and in home private lessons,” she said.
Extensive Training
Jackson’s certifications include Certification Counsel For Professional Dog Trainers- Knowledge Assessed, Association for Animal Behavior Consultants- Accredited Trainer, Fear Free Certified Trainer/ Groomer, AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and a Do More With Your Dog Certified Trainer.
“Erika grew up around dogs and training was a part of life. At the age of 13, she got to attend a six-week group class as a birthday gift and never looked back. After volunteering with local trainers, she got her first dog, a rescue named Earl. Having Earl was a crash course in training and behavior modification. Together, they navigated her challenges and Earl earned her AKC Canine Good Citizen title, several trick titles, was a class demo dog, raised numerous puppies, and helped client dogs overcome their fear/reactivity toward other dogs,” Brady said.
Today, Jackson has a 14-month-old mini-American Shepard named Nora.
Brady is certified as a Fear Free Groomer and a member of New England Pet Grooming Professionals. She attended to Essex Agricultural Tech in 1984.
“With an interest in conformation and breed specialty shows, she (Brady) has been involved in all facets of working with dogs, horses and small animals all of her life,” Jackson said.
The new location on Rt.12 in Sterling is between Dunkin Donuts and Kitchen Associates, in the former Little Ones location. Jackson said they got very lucky when a client helped them find with the new location, near the Sterling Animal Shelter.
To learn more, visit http://www.bluedingodogs.com