HI, I’M ASHTON.

Kindred Canine didn't start with a lifelong plan to open a grooming salon. It started with my own dogs, a pair of clippers, and a whole lot of figuring things out as I went.

I've been grooming my own dogs for more than a decade, completely self-taught in the beginning. What started as simply learning how to care for the dogs in front of me slowly turned into a genuine love for the craft. I kept learning, experimenting, improving my skills, and probably spending an unreasonable amount of time researching dog hair.

Eventually, that little hobby became Kindred Canine.

Opening my own salon gave me the chance to build grooming around what matters most to me: working with one dog at a time, paying attention to what they're telling me, and having the freedom to slow down, change the plan, or call something “good enough for today” when that's what the dog needs.

I'm still learning. I hope I always am. Grooming is one of those jobs where there will always be another coat, another dog, and another way to get better at what I do. Kindred Canine has grown right alongside me, but the reason behind it has stayed pretty simple: take good care of the dog in front of me.

I love a beautiful groom. But I'll never value a perfect haircut more than the dog wearing it.

That means I pay attention when a dog tells me something isn't working. We might take a break, change techniques, modify the groom, or call it a day and try again another time. Sometimes success is a perfectly finished haircut. Sometimes it's a nervous dog doing one thing today that they couldn't do last time.

Both count.

Kindred Canine is intentionally one-on-one and kennel-free so I can give each dog my full attention without the noise, rotating groomers, and constant activity of a busy salon. The goal isn't to make every dog fit the same grooming routine. It's to figure out what works for them.

Kindred Canine may be a tiny salon, but I believe small businesses can still make a meaningful difference in the communities they call home.

I’m proud to provide grooming for dogs in the care of SEK Animal Advocates and the City of Arma, helping local rescue and shelter dogs get clean, comfortable, and ready for whatever comes next. Sometimes that means a fresh start before adoption. Other times, it simply means helping a dog feel a whole lot better than they did when they walked through my door.

I also created Kindred Care, an assistance program for local pet owners who may be struggling to afford necessary grooming. When my schedule and resources allow, Kindred Care provides free or reduced-cost grooming to help make sure financial hardship doesn’t have to mean a dog remains uncomfortable.

Grooming might be what I do for a living, but sometimes a bath, a haircut, or removing an uncomfortable coat can mean much more than making a dog look nice. If I have the ability to make life a little easier for a dog and the person caring for them, I want Kindred Canine to be the kind of business that does.

Kindred Canine didn't start with a lifelong plan to open a grooming salon. It started with my own dogs, a pair of clippers, and a whole lot of figuring things out as I went.

I've been grooming my own dogs for more than a decade, completely self-taught in the beginning. What started as simply learning how to care for the dogs in front of me slowly turned into a genuine love for the craft. I kept learning, experimenting, improving my skills, and probably spending an unreasonable amount of time researching dog hair.

Eventually, that little hobby became Kindred Canine.

Opening my own salon gave me the chance to build grooming around what matters most to me: working with one dog at a time, paying attention to what they're telling me, and having the freedom to slow down, change the plan, or call something “good enough for today” when that's what the dog needs.

I'm still learning. I hope I always am. Grooming is one of those jobs where there will always be another coat, another dog, and another way to get better at what I do. Kindred Canine has grown right alongside me, but the reason behind it has stayed pretty simple: take good care of the dog in front of me.

Tell me a little about your pup and request an appointment. I'll personally review their information to make sure Kindred Canine is the right fit and enough time is reserved for their needs. 

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