Local Business Focus: Scooby Dooz Dog Grooming
Local Business Focus: Scooby Dooz Dog Grooming
Humans frequent barbers, salons and spas, so why shouldn’t our four-legged friends get the same care? If you would rather skip the mess of washing, brushing or clipping at home, Scooby Dooz Dog Grooming in Dayton is ready to pamper your pets and keep those tails wagging.
Owner Samantha “Sam” Cammiss did not start out in grooming. Her background was in accounting and office work, including a stint at the Carson City Nugget. But a visit to her daughter Destini – who worked at Crazy Cat Dog Grooming – changed her path. Cammiss offered to clean the shop on weekends, which led to bathing dogs and eventually learning the art of grooming from Crazy Cat owner Shana Peterson.
“[Shana] trained both of us and we’re all friends,” Cammiss noted. “We recommend them and they recommend us kind of thing.”
In 2020, Cammiss decided it was time to open her own shop closer to home. Her partner John built out a mobile grooming trailer, but when they found the right brick-and-mortar location in Dayton, the family went all in. By July 2020, with John’s handiwork and her kids’ support, the shop was retrofitted, painted and ready for furry clients. She named the business Scooby Dooz in honor of her beloved Labrador, Scooby Doo.
While most new businesses take time to find their footing, Scooby Dooz took off right away. With a few longtime customers already scheduled when she opened, Cammiss got busy fast, soon bringing Destini on board, followed by her other daughter Krystal in December 2020. Today, the shop has a team of five and a half staff members, with Destini still pitching in part-time.
“Our customers are really awesome,” Cammiss said. “We’re at a personal level with some of them ‘cause we've known them for so long.”
Scooby Dooz offers a full range of services: baths, brushing, haircuts, de-shedding, nail trims, and more. They welcome dogs of all sizes and also provide cat baths and nail trims.
“I think a lot of people say their dogs like to come here,” Cammiss explained. “And I have people who are snowbirds say, ‘we’re just going to plan one before we leave then come back and do another one’, instead of going somewhere else.”
Beyond grooming, Cammiss makes sure Scooby Dooz gives back to the Dayton community. She offers services to senior center pet parents in need and donates to Dayton school sports teams. She also collects donations for the Dayton Food Pantry, participates in the annual Lyon County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Project Life Vest and other events.
“It's not as noticeable as being out there, but I feel like it helps the kids more,” Cammiss explained.
Cammiss and her team pride themselves on creating a calm, caring environment that puts both pets and their people at ease. And with the holidays just around the corner, Cammiss offers a friendly reminder: if you want your pup picture-perfect, schedule early. Appointments will book out at least six weeks in advance!
Scooby Dooz is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (8:30am appointments are available). Most services take two to three hours. Call or stop by the shop to book your first appointment, subsequent bookings can be made through online.
