Wash Ur Pawz Goes Mobile

Photography / RSC Imagery

Grace Bowman is a young woman on a mission. She launched her full-service dog grooming business, Wash Ur Pawz, earlier this summer — but with a twist.

“When COVID hit in 2020 and it was at its height, I started grooming dogs of just close family and friends,” Bowman said. “I loved it. I love animals. I love spending time with them and their different personalities. I have always loved dog grooming, but I wanted to make my business mobile. That is where my idea for all of this started really coming together. Once I knew my business model would be mobile, it’s like so many things clicked into place.”

Wash Ur Pawz launched full services from a custom-outfitted van in June.

“I got my Sprinter van from a company up north. They specialize in specific needs for mobile grooming, so it is ready for anything. We have a wash basin, blow-dry area — it literally is just my mobile office, all in one.

“The mobile aspect is such a game changer — really for any business — but I’m especially thankful for this one. It’s a convenience factor for the customer, and we can all relate to that.”

Bowman services areas in Johnson County including Greenwood, Bargersville, Franklin and Whiteland. She now also travels to customers in and around Martinsville and Mooresville.

Her mobile Wash Ur Pawz van handles all grooming services. Bowman said her full service includes a bath, blow-dry, nail trim, haircut, brushing and ear cleaning. Clients can also opt for services excluding the cut, depending on breed. Prices vary based on breed and size.

Bowman didn’t begin her adult life with this career in mind. She started college at Anderson University as a volleyball player, but a series of chronic injuries and surgeries prompted her to transfer to Butler University in 2019.

“I graduated from Butler in 2022,” Bowman said. “I studied strategic communications, which I consider an umbrella degree. I could have gone into marketing. I wanted to do corporate events — and that was a really cool thought, but the schedule is grueling. I wanted more of a 9-to-5, so I got myself into a position with an insurance company, and I did that for about two years. I was behind the desk taking phone calls, and one day I just thought, ‘This is not for me either, even though the culture and the people are so great.’”

It was then Bowman began considering a viable career in dog grooming.

“I actually went to the Grooming School of Indiana. It was a 12-week program from September to December.”

There, she learned bathing techniques and grooming for specific breed hair types.

“The first week is all information-based — you learn the parts of the dog’s body. Then we went into bathing with German shepherds, labs and beagles. A few weeks later, we started with doodles and other breeds that call for a specific haircut style.

“After my program was finished, an instructor there talked with me about wanting to start her own business. She had previously owned a grooming business and sold it, and she was interested in getting back into it.”

That instructor eventually did start her business, and Bowman, in the right place at the right time and willing to work hard, gained valuable experience under her mentorship.

“I worked with and under her from January to May, and I had a ton of learning experience from her. It was awesome learning how she started out — things about customer relations too.”

Then came time for Bowman to go out on her own. She credits her success, in part, to her Center Grove community.

“The chatter group page on Facebook for Center Grove has been just absolutely incredible,” Bowman said. “This is solely a clientele-based business, so it was very scary when I went out on my own.”

She needed to build a client list, complete with recurring appointments booked six to eight weeks out.

“The chatter group’s response to me has been so overwhelming,” she said.

In a year, she hopes to have her client schedule completely full — a goal she believes is within reach, given her business’s current growth.

“It seems like I’ll be chock-full at the rate I’m going,” she said. “I am very dedicated to building this foundation of customers who come back because they are so happy with the service their fur babies receive.”

Bowman said making a good first impression is crucial.

“Even though it’s just a dog and a haircut, for a lot of people, this is literally their family member, and they want to feel comfortable with the person doing the grooming. I want to always make sure of that.”

Because in the end, she said, she would rather argue with a dog all day.

“By the end, we’ll still be friends.”

Wash Ur Pawz can be found on both Facebook and Instagram. Bowman can be reached directly at 317-306-0710 or by email at washurpawz@gmail.com.