Doggie Styles
Potomac — The newest business on the Potomac scene is devoted to pets. Doggie Styles, owned by local residents Sam and Eddie Khalaf, offers grooming, day care, training and sleep-overs for a favorite feline or precious pooch.
The brothers opened their “Grooming and More” business several months ago in the house with the red porch and white picket fence at 10100 Falls Road, just minutes from Potomac Village. They spent eight months painting and remodeling to accommodate their needs, and now they have an area for bathing and another for grooming, a fenced-in “dog park” where dogs can roam freely, a training facility and an upstairs with bedrooms where pets can stay-over for the night or weekend. The sleep-over (or slumber party, as they refer to it on their website) is an original concept: Guest dogs can choose their own room and have full run of the house while they are cared for by the dog-loving duo.
“We have had a tremendous response to Doggie Styles,” said Sam Khalaf. “We knew we wanted to open a business in Potomac Village, so we studied what was already here and what was needed. We are thrilled with the response we have received and plan to continue to grow and change to meet the needs of our clients.”
The Khalafs grew up in Cabin John and graduated from Walt Whitman High School. Sam Khalaf went on to the University of Maryland, and Eddie Khalaf to Johnson and Wales College. They are both entrepreneurs. Sam Khalaf owned and operated a deli and Eddie Khalaf was in the import/export business.
“We have a vision,” Eddie Khalaf said. “We want to provide a premier service for our clients and their pets. We are looking forward to forming trusting relationships with Potomac residents, and particularly with their pets so they will both want to return again and again. We want to treat each client not as a guest, but as family.”
Doggie Styles offers the normal “Bath and Brush,” “Bath, Brush and Groom,” and “Nail Clipping/Sanitary Shave,” they offer a Blueberry Facial, Oatmeal Bath, “pawdicures”and “Huggable” scented shampoos and conditioners. They are planning to feature pet acupuncture, pet photography and even weddings if for those pet brides or grooms. Other services included dog walking, doggie day care, and doggie training.
They had to make more than 200 phone calls to find the right groomer and trainer. “Good groomers and trainers are in high demand,” said Sam Khalaf. “We were fortunate to find Peter and Alex who have extensive experience.”
Groomer Peter Drake explains how he became interested in a career as a groomer: “I have over 30 years of animal care training and grooming experience. Both of my parents are dog and horse trainers, breeders, professional show handlers, and my mother was a master groomer. I grew up training dogs and horses, and helping my mom in the groomer shop, I’ve worked for veterinarians, animal shelters, as a professional horse trainer and have been training and grooming dogs for as long as I remember. I have found a new home with Doggie Styles here in Potomac, and surprisingly a new extended family with my co-workers and my clients here in Potomac.”
Dog training classes and private lessons are available for puppy, basic, intermediate and advanced training. A dog tricks class will also be featured and the owners have plans to build an agility course in the fenced in play park. Obedience Works Owner and trainer Al Marx has trained over 6,000 dogs. He will be the dog trainer at Doggie Styles.
To learn more about Doggie Styles, go to www.doggiestylesinc.com. Appointments can be made by calling 3301-299-2686 or on its website.