Every dog has a story.

But the person caring for your dog should have one too.

At Riverview Kennels, our groomer, Aubrie, didn’t just “learn grooming.” She grew up in it—long before it was ever a job.

It Started With One Dog

Aubrie’s journey began in 6th grade with a simple deal:

If she wanted a dog, she had to do something with it.

So she joined 4-H.

Her first dog, a Sheltie named Cody, only lived six months due to a genetic condition—but that experience didn’t end her journey. It shaped it.

Soon after, she got another dog… and then a few more.

Then It Turned Into 60 Dogs

What started small didn’t stay small.

At one point, Aubrie’s family had over 60 dogs as they got into breeding.

That meant daily responsibility for Aubrie:

Preparing food (meat, eggs, supplements)
Hands-on care
Training and handling
Grooming for competitions

This wasn’t occasional exposure.

This was immersion.

“I was just living in it. That was the air I breathed.”

Where Grooming Really Began

In 4-H, grooming wasn’t optional—it was part of how you were judged.

Before her first competition, Aubrie spent hours inside a professional grooming space learning the basics.

That’s where she had her first major realization:

“You don’t actually know what’s going on under the hair.”

While grooming her dog, she discovered dozens of ticks—something completely invisible before the process began.

That moment changed everything.

More Than Skill—It’s Awareness

Over time, Aubrie didn’t just learn how to groom.

She learned how to:

Read dogs
Notice subtle changes in behavior
Recognize when something isn’t right

That level of awareness doesn’t come from a quick certification.

It comes from years of experience, repetition, and paying attention.

The Kind of Experience Your Dog Benefits From

Today, that background shows up in every appointment.

It’s why:

Dogs are handled with patience
Health issues are noticed early
Grooming is adapted to each dog—not forced

Because when you’ve worked with that many dogs…

You start to understand them differently.

Closing

At Riverview Kennels, your dog isn’t just getting a groom.

They’re being cared for by someone who has spent a lifetime learning how to do it well.

👉 And that experience makes all the difference. Request a groom today to experience the difference.

Call to Request a Groom

From 4-H to 60+ Dogs: Aubrie the Groomer’s Backstory