Rising Stars: Meet Jenny Sahagun

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny Sahagun.

Hi Jenny, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story. 
I’m a dog groomer, pet stylist, K9 barber…I’m just a dog lover who enjoys being around dogs and working with them. Dog grooming is not something that I ever thought I’d make a living with. Growing up in a Filipino household, only the traditional occupations were accepted like nursing or finance. My parents immigrated from the Philippines to the United States and settled in Oahu, Hawaii, where I was born and raised. Growing up, the expectation was to go to college in the mainland and get a high-paying job after graduation. I’m sure almost every Asian immigrant household has the same American dream. I attended a small university in Los Angeles and majored in history with the intent to become a teacher. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do that, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. 

Shortly after I graduated college, I officially moved to Los Angeles, and I started working at a desk job. In the back of my mind, there was a pressure to go back to school and obtain a master’s degree, but I didn’t want to do that. I did not want to go back to school only to get promoted to “executive administrative assistant.” I also didn’t want to be more in debt. My desk job wasn’t exactly exciting or life-fulfilling. Driving 1.5 hours every morning to a job that was not fit for one person was life-sucking. I needed to find out what I really want for myself. 

In April 2015, I adopted a 4.5-year-old Chiweenie (chihuahua/dachshund mix) named Jack. He was surrendered to the shelter, and I adopted him through LA Love and Leashes. At first, I didn’t know what to do or expect. I never had any pets growing up. As a child, I was afraid of dogs. But Jack changed my life. I saw his picture on social media, and I knew he was the dog for me. When I brought him home, I connected with him. He was quiet and liked his own space. He was very shy, but he had a dorky side. He and I are very similar. I fell in love with him. And the dog world opened up to me. 

A year later, in the summer of 2016, I left my desk job and started working as a dog bather at Healthy Spot in Studio City. It was difficult at first because I had zero experience working with dogs other than Jack. Slowly, I adjusted to this new type of physical work. I came out of my shell. I talked more. I smiled more. I became happy. A couple years after I started in Studio City, I graduated from grooming school, and I am still working at Healthy Spot. I currently work in Woodland Hills inside the Topanga Village. 

In February 2020 (right before the pandemic hit), I adopted a puppy chihuahua/min-pin mix, who is now 4 years old and 5lbs, that we named Leonidas through Precious Pals Pet Rescue. Jack is now 13.5 years old and still kicking it. He moves slower now and is losing his vision, but he’s the same dorky dog I fell in love with. Jack is my best friend and my soulmate. Without him, I wouldn’t be where I’m at now. His golden years have started, and I am making sure each moment and chicken nugget count. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Most of my life, I always felt that there was an expectation that I needed to meet. As a child of immigrant parents, I had to make them proud by going to college and having a “traditional career.” I’m not regretful for going to school, but I wish I had known what I could really do. For the first few years, I never told my parents what I actually did. I thought if I did, I would be shamed or belittled because I wasn’t a nurse or working at a desk. I see childhood/high school acquaintances and family members that are nurses, and I didn’t want my parents to feel embarrassed that their oldest daughter is a dog groomer. I waited a while, I think a year after I graduated from grooming school (three years after I started), to tell them what I did to put a roof over my head. Surprisingly, my parents were okay with it. My father just wanted what was best for me. My mother wanted me to be happy. 

Financially, it was a struggle. When I started in 2016, I took a huge pay cut. But I took the risk anyway. I told myself, I need to be happy with what I do. The first 6 months were discouraging. I was still brand new, still learning how to handle dogs, and still trying to get over my quietness. My earnings were small. I had rent, bills, and student loans to pay off, so I struggled. But I enjoyed what I was doing. Despite all the barking, scratching, and nail dust, I worked very hard and earned my way up. It was difficult, but I am proud of myself for choosing a challenging path and sticking with it. 

As an introvert by nature, I like being comfortable. Even though I disliked my desk job, I was settled. I was scared to step out of that comfort zone and find something else to do. I didn’t think I could do more than what was in front of me. It took a lot of mental strength to leave my desk job and look for another career path. I thought leaving Hawaii and moving to Los Angeles alone was the biggest risk in my life, but I was wrong. Walking away from my parents’ original idea of success and expectations to finding my own was the riskiest decision I have ever acted on. 

I was used to being alone at my desk job that interacting with people was a bit awkward for me. Dog grooming was just a whole new world, so I knew it would take time to adjust. My lack of confidence early on was apparent. I stumbled with my words when I talked to customers. I was afraid I might say something wrong or ask obvious questions. Once I gained more experience in dog handling and grooming, more of my personality came out. The dogs helped me overcome my quietness and build my confidence. I’m grateful for Healthy Spot and my Topanga team over the years for helping me step out of my comfort zone and grow professionally and personally. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My priority as a dog groomer is not just making the dogs look fantastic but maximizing the experience for the pet. Every dog that comes to me, I want that dog to have a great time and be safe. Grooming is not a quiet, relaxing day at the spa. It’s loud. There are other dogs that are anxious; they’re barking, and there’s always a husky in the background wailing for no reason. So, when a dog is placed into my arms, I want them to know that no matter the noise, they will be safe and relaxed with me. I treat every dog differently but the same because every dog has a different personality, just like their owners. 

I’ve often been asked what my favorite dog to groom is. My answer is that I don’t have a favorite type of dog to groom. I just like to groom dogs, and I love being around them. I love giving them a transformation or a touch-up or, more often recently, getting them ready to meet their first human sibling. Their behavior doesn’t matter to me. They can be the most chill dogs or nippy dogs, and I’ll still groom them. I work with a lot of anxious, aggressive, and rescue dogs. These dogs need a chance. I take my time to work with them. I create a safe environment for them. I do my best to make sure they do their best while grooming. Every dog deserves to be pampered. 

I’d like to think that my clients see me not just for my haircuts but because I’m a pretty calm and chill groomer. I always take my time on each dog. From the start of the bath to the last trim on their heads, I ensure that the dogs are relaxed in their own way. It’s important to me that the owners know that they can trust me with their fur babies. And they do. That to me is the best feeling a groomer can ever feel. I’m their dog’s friend. 

Alright, so before we go, can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
I love seeing my clients, the dogs. They are the reason I enjoy my work. Even if the day can get busy and difficult, at the end of the day, I get to be surrounded by dogs. The owners who continue to see me are the ones supporting me. Most of them have been with me for several years. They could go anywhere to get their dogs groomed, but they trust me with the care of their puppies. I work with a good mix of dogs. I work with anxious, aggressive, and calm dogs. I’ve had the pleasure of working with most of them since they were puppies. And I’m always honored to spend time with my senior and super senior dogs because they, too, need a little pampering. So, if any of my clients are reading this, thank you for trusting me with your puppy. I am very grateful for you and your support in keeping me busy and loving my job. I’ll always be your dog’s friend.