Welcome

My parents will tell you that I was the one always begging for a puppy and sneaking kittens into the house. I begged for a horse too, but horses where not allowed in our neighborhood.  I inherited my love for animals from my grandfather, who always had several hunting dogs around.  I wanted to become a veterinarian when I was growing up.

Well, instead of becoming a veterinarian, I got married and started a family of the human nature. A dog or two were always part of the family while the kids were growing up. After I acquired a Schnauzer puppy, and looking at some pictures, I figured that I was quite capable of doing the grooming myself. Soon I was borrowing all the neighborhood dogs and grooming them for free. Then I was able to find a non credit grooming course offered by a reputable grooming salon. After being taught the proper way to do the things that most home groomers do not know how to do, I found a mentor who only groomed Poodles. She said, “Honey, if you can groom a Poodle, you can groom any breed.” I guess I became pretty good at it because people actually started paying me, and I soon out grew the little grooming area in the basement. As scary as it was, I opened a grooming shop in downtown Lowell, IN. I couldn’t believe I actually had to pay rent and have overhead!

Now twenty years later Velvet Bow Dog Grooming has grown into a successful business. Still growing with four groomers, a brusher – bather, and hundreds of happy canine clients.

After all the college days and weddings were over, and the nest became empty, I actually found some time to have fun with dogs. I accidentally ended up with a Weimaraner puppy that my husband just had to have. He was supposed to be Jerry’s dog, but the dog we named “Tevo” had his sights set on me to be his person of choice. Weims are great dogs, but they do not like to be ignored, they like to be with their favorite person, and they want to be doing something. Since I don’t hunt birds, I figured maybe agility would be fun for both of us. We joined a local club and Tevo soon got his agility title. Jerry and I got involved in the Weimaraner rescue and ended up with 2 more. We acquired a St. Bernard from a client who begged me to take him after a divorce made it necessary for the dog to have a new home. What’s one more?

French Bulldogs entered my life when I was led to an ad for two that needed a home. I had always wanted one, but wasn’t quite ready yet. After Jerry and I went to check on them, we could not leave them in the conditions that we found them living in. Crated all day long, with little human companionship. Well, what’s a couple more… they’re small.

I am new to the conformation ring, and have learned a lot in the past year and still have much more to learn. I have been fortunate to have gotten a fabulous French Bulldog, and she is making me look really good in the ring right now! I have good friends that are helping me through this new endeavor. Stay tuned for further Frenchie news.

I finally have horses now too, plus a llama and two Nubian goats. I don’t live in town, in a neighborhood anymore. I have lots of room for all my pets to have a happy healthy life on our little piece of heaven that we have lovingly named; The “Dunbroke-Us Ranch”.

I feel so fortunate to have been given this gift of love to share with animals, and the talent to care for them and do something that I truly enjoy.

Lynn