About Us
Grooming that respects the dog.
The Groomed Paw was built on the principle that grooming doesn't have to be stressful for the dog — or for the owner dropping them off.
Sam Parke opened The Groomed Paw in 2017 after spending six years at a high-volume grooming chain and becoming frustrated with the appointment stacking that left dogs waiting in crates for hours between bath and trim. The Groomed Paw runs one dog at a time per groomer — your dog arrives, gets groomed start to finish, and goes home. No waiting in a kennel.
Alex Rivera joined in 2019 after completing additional training in Fear Free handling. Alex works exclusively with dogs who have anxiety, grooming aversion, or a history of difficult grooming experiences. The Fear Free protocol isn’t just a marketing term — it’s a specific set of techniques for reading stress signals in dogs and adjusting the pace and approach of the appointment accordingly.
Our Approach
We don’t rush. Every appointment is scheduled with buffer time so the dog isn’t handed off the minute the previous appointment finishes. We use positive reinforcement throughout — treats, praise, and frequent breaks. We don’t use choke chains, cage dryers, or restraint devices that cause distress.
If your dog needs a longer session, we build that in and tell you upfront. If a dog is having a genuinely bad day and needs to stop, we stop and reschedule at no charge. A bad grooming experience compounds over time — we’d rather do 80% of the groom today and finish next week than create a dog who panics at every appointment for years.
Where to Find Us
3515 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206 — on E Colfax between Fillmore and Adams, across from the Congress Park neighborhood. Street parking is available on both sides. We’re open Tuesday–Saturday, 8am–5pm. Appointments only.
Call (720) 555-0227 or book online at the link below.
Book your dog’s appointment.
First-time clients are always welcome. We’ll ask a few questions at intake to make sure we’re a good fit.