Hiring 716: Dog whisperer's secret to success

There are dog lovers, and then there's Amy McLaughlin. “I could sit here for hours and hours and just pet her,” said the owner of Amy’s Fluffy Friends in Batavia.

The 38-year-old opened the dog grooming business seven years ago. "I want them to feel comfortable. I don't want them to be afraid to come to the groomers."

Her success is no accident. She said her clients have called her the dog whisperer. “I’ve had people tell me I can't do their nails. They're aggressive. They will nip you. I do it, and they're like my dog didn't even flinch.” Her secret? Patience, and more patience with her four legged clients. 

A major reason McLoughlin started her own business is her family. “If my son is sick, a lot of my clients understand you. I brought my son here once when he was sick and I still could work,” she said.

Work, in fact, is what got her through one of the most tough times of her life. Last year, McLaughlin had a miscarriage at 22 weeks pregnant with twins. “I wanted to work with dogs. They make me feel happy. They made me feel good inside.”

But, like the saying goes, “every dog has its day,” and everyday has gotten a little easier thanks to the help of Amy’s Fluffy Friends.