Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Parlett.
Hi Erin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started in the grooming industry at a young age, helping my mom in her grooming shop after school alongside my sister. Growing up in that environment gave me years of hands-on experience and helped build my passion for animal care and grooming early on.
After high school, I attended a professional grooming school in North Carolina because I wanted formal training and education in the industry. After completing school, I returned home and helped my mom run her business for several years.
When she later decided to sell the business, I applied for a Salon Manager position at PetSmart. I worked there for seven years managing the grooming salon and training new groomers, which gave me valuable leadership and mentoring experience.
After the birth of my third child in 2015, I decided in 2016 to take a new path and began renting space inside Valley Dog and Cat Hospital, grooming independently three days a week. When a space next door to the vet became available, I felt strongly that it was the right opportunity to take the next step and open my own shop. In August 2021, I opened Beautiful Canines by Erin.
Over the last year and a half, my husband has joined me in the business, and together we run the shop as a family. My children also come in to help at times, which makes it even more meaningful to me because it reminds me so much of how I started working alongside my own mom when I was younger.
Now, in May 2026, I’m proud to own a successful small business that I’ve built through years of hard work, experience, and dedication. I take great pride in making every dog feel comfortable, cared for, and beautiful.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I feel that my journey has been a smooth and natural progression because I never pursued the next step unless I truly felt ready and confident about it. While I wouldn’t consider myself highly spiritual, I do believe many of the opportunities that came my way were signs pointing me in the right direction.
I’ve also been very fortunate to have a strong support system. My husband, who I’ve been with since I was 17 and he was 18 years old, has been one of my biggest motivators. He has always believed in me and encouraged me to pursue every goal and opportunity along the way, and his support has played a huge part in helping me build the business I have today
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What sets me apart from other groomers is the level of care, patience, and personal attention I give to every dog that comes into my shop. Grooming has been a part of my life since I was young, so this is more than just a job to me — it’s something I truly love and take pride in.
I focus on making dogs feel comfortable, safe, and cared for throughout the grooming process, especially those who may be nervous or anxious. I also value building lasting relationships with both the dogs and their owners so they feel confident and comfortable coming back.
Because my business is family-run, the environment is calm, personal, and welcoming. I believe clients appreciate knowing exactly who is caring for their pets and that every dog is treated like family. Along with years of hands-on experience, management experience, and training other groomers, I bring both professionalism and genuine compassion to my work every day.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My advice to new groomers would be to be patient with yourself and give yourself time to grow. Grooming is something that takes a lot of practice, experience, and consistency, and nobody becomes perfect overnight. Don’t compare yourself to other groomers because everyone learns differently and at their own pace.
I also think it’s important to remember that grooming is not just about making dogs look good. A big part of the job is making them feel safe, comfortable, and cared for, especially nervous dogs. Building trust with both the dogs and their owners is everything.
At the same time, grooming is very hard on your body, both physically and mentally at times. You spend long hours standing, lifting, bending, and working with all different types of dogs, so it’s important to take care of yourself too.
Be willing to learn, ask questions, and work hard. Some days will be challenging, but those are usually the days you learn the most from. Most importantly, always take pride in your work and treat every dog with patience and kindness.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.beautifulcaninesbyerin.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beautifulcaninesbyerin
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beautifulcaninesbyerin
