Local Groomer Ranks as One of the Best in the Biz

Butch Singson's affection for animals comes naturally.

But Singson's relationship with his five dogs—he owns five standard, miniature and toy poodles that have all have become accustomed to the show circuit—is not what makes him a source of local pride.

It's his knowledge of the dog breeding industry that sets him apart.

A Bolingbrook resident since 1978 and owner of local pet grooming service Dirty Dog, Singson's take on the dog grooming industry has thousands of local pet owners taking notice.

Singson’s shop, located off Lily Cache Lane and Veterans Parkway, specializes in grooming dogs with a unique attention to detail.

Carol Dabish, co-owner of Human Haven Animal Shelter, said Singson and his staff are great advocates for pets and do a wonderful job serving the community.

"He doesn’t charge us to groom strays," Dabish said. "His only interest is in finding them a home and a family who will love them."

Active on the professional circuit, Singson competes for the sheer excitement, ultimately aspiring to grab a spot on the United States professional grooming team.

Owners like Georgeanna Nischan trust Singson implicitly to give their dogs the exposure they crave. Just last week, Singson returned from a grooming show in Atlanta with 12 different breeds in tow.

"I attend seven to 10 competitions per year," he said. "Each time, I learn something new. It’s a nice venue to showcase your skills. Grooming is really an art, and you’re exposed to some of the best artists in the business."

Singson, who holds the title of master groomer, is affiliated with the International Professional Groomer Association. He serves on a panel that has earned the right to observe and certify other groomers.

"Pet grooming is an industry that should be regulated, but it's not," he said. "Pets need much more care than human customers. In my shop cleanliness is important, so are following rules and I back up everything I say with an open-door policy."

Singson said it is an automatic red flag when any shop won’t allow customers into the back area. 

"I am one of the groomers who is pushing for the industry to be regulated by the state," he said. "Certification is a lengthy process, but it is worth it in the end.

"I have many friends in the industry that work for corporations that offer grooming services.  And with them, it's all about productivity. Each groomer has to meet a quota of 10 to 12 dogs. That’s just wrong."

Doing things right means catering to his clientele.

As a rule of thumb, neither Singson nor any of his groomers are allowed to handle more than five to six clients per day. This allows time for the pets that are apprehensive, he said.

Singson and his staff—Megan Conley, Lauren Matuszak, Kathy Stefanski and Cheryl Maibusch—have earned respect for offering customized services rendered with tenderness and care.

"We’re all here because we enjoy it," said Conley, a groomer who has been employed by Dirty Dog for six years. "It's not a repetitive job. It's a great work environment, and every job is different in some way. As an added benefit, I get to bring my dog to work."

Lisa Arteaga, a new customer who was picking up her dog Bungee, asked for a facility tour. She marveled at the professionalism shown.

"Cleanest place I’ve ever seen! This is just wonderful! It's cleaner than most people’s houses that don’t even have pets. Now we’ve been spoiled, and we’ll be back."

Editor's Note: In the original version of this article, the author misspelled Butch Singson's name. We regret the error.