About Us
At Wags & Wild Dog Spa, we deliver fear-free pet grooming in a boutique setting. Our expert dog groomers in Chattanooga focus on calm handling and gentle restraint for anxious dogs, with absolute dedication to pet welfare at every turn. When you choose us, you can expect clear communication about needs and progress, as well as aftercare guidance to maintain welfare and comfort. Our quiet environment and scheduled appointments with careful timing and privacy are designed to be calming, offering dignity for every dog.
Our Mission
As trusted dog groomers in Chattanooga, our mission is to deliver premium private pet grooming services through a care philosophy that centers on calm handling and privacy.
What makes a private grooming experience calmer for dogs?
This guide explains how calm, anxiety-aware dog grooming spa services support the welfare of all pets. It highlights our private booking options and practical steps you can take to reduce stress before, during, and after visits.
Read Our Guides Now
Lydia Wharton - Grooming Specialist
Hi, I’m Lydia! I’m a Chattanooga native, born and raised right here in the Scenic City. Growing up on a farm on Lookout Mountain, I was surrounded by animals from an early age and quickly discovered how much I loved caring for them. That early connection with animals naturally grew into a passion for professional pet grooming.
I began my grooming career at a couple of local salons, where I gained valuable hands-on experience as a bather and coat prepper. Those early years taught me the importance of patience, proper coat care, gentle handling, and creating a positive grooming experience for every pet. I’ve now been grooming professionally for four years, and I continue to love learning and growing in my craft.
At home, I have an American Staffordshire Terrier named Gabby, who is almost always sporting a fun new color! She’s definitely helped fuel my love for creative, expressive grooming and reminds me that every dog has their own unique personality.
What I love most about grooming is the connection I get to build with each dog. I understand that grooming can be an unfamiliar or stressful experience for some pets, so my goal is always to provide a calm, caring environment where your dog feels safe, comfortable, and respected.
Whether your pet needs a routine bath and tidy, breed-specific grooming, coat maintenance, or a little extra TLC, I’m committed to providing gentle, personalized care from start to finish. Your pet deserves to be treated with the same kindness, patience, and attention I would want for my own.
Jeni - Grooming Specialist
Hi, I’m Jenifer, but most people call me Jeni! Growing up in a military family meant moving from place to place, but no matter where life took us, one thing was always constant—my dogs were right by my side. That lifelong bond with animals sparked my passion for caring for them and eventually led me to discover my calling in professional dog grooming.
Before becoming a groomer, I gained hands-on experience working in dog daycares and with exotic animals, giving me the opportunity to learn how to understand and care for animals with all kinds of personalities and needs. While I loved every aspect of animal care, I found something especially rewarding about helping dogs feel comfortable, confident, and cared for while also giving their owners peace of mind.
I went on to attend a professional grooming academy in Georgia, where I developed the skills and knowledge needed to provide safe, high-quality grooming while keeping each pet’s comfort and well-being at the forefront. I believe great grooming is about much more than making a dog look their best—it’s about creating a positive, trusting experience from start to finish.
One of my favorite parts of grooming is working with shy, nervous, or anxious dogs. I understand that not every dog walks into the salon feeling confident, and I’m happy to take the time they need. Watching a nervous pup become more relaxed with each visit—and eventually walk through the door with confidence—is one of the most rewarding parts of my job. Building that trust is something I truly value.
Outside of the salon, I enjoy drawing, exploring nature, and spending cozy time at home with my Bernese Mountain Dog, Dutch, and my fiancé, Luke.
Whether your dog needs routine grooming, coat maintenance, a breed-specific haircut, or simply a little extra patience and TLC, my goal is always to provide a gentle, low-stress grooming experience where your pet feels safe and respected.
I’m proud to care for every dog who comes through our doors as if they were my own—and to help them leave feeling comfortable, confident, clean, and looking their very best.
John Hayes - Behavior Specialist
John Hayes is the founder of Wags & Wild Dog Spa, where his passion for canine behavior and training helped shape a different kind of grooming experience. After seeing firsthand how stress can affect a dog’s comfort, behavior, and even grooming results, John partnered with grooming specialist Rochelle to create a boutique dog grooming environment centered around privacy, tranquility, and high standards of care.
With more than a decade of experience in the dog training community, John’s journey began as a hobbyist and grew into a professional career spanning obedience training, canine behavior, competition obedience, and service dog work. His experience working with dogs in a variety of settings has given him a deep understanding of how individual personalities, environments, and stress levels can influence a dog’s behavior.
At Wags & Wild, that understanding plays an important role in how we approach anxious, nervous, and sensitive dogs. John believes that successful grooming starts with helping a dog feel safe and supported—not simply expecting them to tolerate the process.
His preferred approach to training is behavior modification. Rather than relying solely on transactional obedience, John focuses on helping dogs develop confidence, think through challenging situations, and learn how to navigate stress within their individual comfort thresholds. A key part of his philosophy is teaching dogs that calm behavior is rewarding, creating positive associations that can help them become more comfortable over time.
This philosophy is at the heart of Wags & Wild’s low-stress grooming approach. We take the time to recognize each dog’s individual needs, use gentle and empathetic handling, and prioritize their emotional and physical well-being throughout their visit.
We also believe that pet parents deserve to know how their dog is doing. That’s why we provide clear progress updates after every visit, keeping you informed about your pet’s experience and celebrating the steps they take toward becoming more comfortable and confident.
For John, grooming isn’t simply about a beautiful finished coat. It’s about creating an environment where dogs can feel safe, build trust, manage stress, and receive the compassionate care they deserve.
At Wags & Wild, our goal is to combine professional grooming with an understanding of canine behavior and emotional well-being, creating a calmer experience for both dogs and their families.
Lauren Hayes
Office Manager
Lauren’s love for animals began early in life and has grown into more than 15 years of hands-on experience caring for, training, and advocating for dogs. During high school and college, she gained valuable experience working in veterinary clinics, volunteering at animal shelters, and bringing her therapy dogs to visit assisted care facilities. These experiences shaped her belief that caring for animals is about more than meeting their physical needs—it’s about building trust, understanding their individual personalities, and creating positive relationships between pets and people.
Lauren graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a degree in Biological and Environmental Sciences. More than 15 years ago, she and her husband, John, began a home-based rescue organization dedicated to rehabilitating and rehoming abandoned and abused dogs. What started as a passion project eventually grew into a full-time career in dog training and canine behavior.
Today, Lauren and John own The Dog Wizard Chattanooga and partner with Animal Behavior Center, both located on-site alongside Wags & Wild Dog Spa. This unique setting allows our team to bring together professional grooming, dog training, and a deeper understanding of canine behavior all in one place.
Lauren has spent the past decade supporting John’s training career while working directly with clients and their dogs. At Wags & Wild, she plays an important role in customer care and communication, helping pet parents feel informed, welcomed, and supported throughout their experience with us.
Behind the scenes, Lauren is often the person keeping everything moving and making sure both our clients and their pets receive the attention they deserve. She especially enjoys helping the dog owners of Chattanooga navigate their pets’ individual needs and discover ways to build stronger, more rewarding relationships with them.
Lauren believes that successful pet care is a partnership between dog and handler, built on a foundation of patience, respect, trust, and clear communication. Her extensive experience with rescue dogs, therapy dogs, canine training, and pet families gives her a unique perspective on the many different personalities and needs that walk through our doors.
At Wags & Wild Dog Spa, Lauren is passionate about creating an experience where both dogs and their people feel understood and cared for. Whether she’s helping a client, supporting the team, or simply making sure the day runs smoothly, her goal is always the same: to help Chattanooga families enjoy happier, healthier relationships with their dogs.
Calm, compassionate care that respects your pet.
Our dog groomers in Chattanooga combine low-stress techniques with clear progress updates and personalised care to meet your dog's needs. By offering private appointment slots and gentle restraint, we help anxious pets stay comfortable during every visit. Additionally, our aftercare guidance supports welfare and long-term well-being.
Had a solid experience with Rochelle. My Aussie came in with some matting from poor care and she was very well taken care of. Rochelle also gave us some great advice on how to maintain a healthy coat.
Marco Chacon
Rochelle was awesome to work with !! My girls can sometimes be a little weary of new people but they didn’t seem to skip a beat with Ro. They came out looking sharper and happier !! I couldn’t have asked for a better experience 10/10 would recommend.
Angel Merche
Major is my darling shih-tzu but he can snap while being groomed . Rochelle understands and works with him so well that today he had a “no issues” and “good dog” grooming report! I couldn’t be happier. AND Major is happy - he is unstressed - and he looks awesome!
Toni Bolton
Wags & Wild Dog Spa is a boutique pet grooming service offering low-stress, fear-free grooming in a private appointment setting. We proudly serve pets and their families in Chattanooga, Red Bank, Hixson, East Ridge, Signal Mountain, and the surrounding areas.