Testimonials
Here are some pet grooming testimonials and photos from happy customers! For more reviews, please check us out on Google, Yelp, and Facebook and feel free to leave your own review!
JB
“We purchased our Brussels Griffon JB as a 5 month old puppy in November of 2013. We brought him to The UpScale Tail for Kendra to groom and hand strip so we could show him in AKC Conformation shows. His out of state breeder has seen many pictures of JB and is pleased with the grooming that reflects his breed standard. JB earned his Championship title at 14 months old. While being groomed at The UpScale Tail, he has received 6 Best of Winners; 4 Best of Breeds and 4 Best of Opposite Sex, all under Kendra’s grooming. He is continuing to earn points and is now on his way towards earning his Grand Championship title. We not only come to The UpScale Tail for the expert grooming services, but we and JB are big fans of the staff here. They are all so patient, sincere, kind, knowledgeable and dedicated to helping every animal have a good experience.”
Dallas and Virginia Givens
JBshua Brussels Griffons
Scioto Mills, IL
Jefferson
“Jefferson came to Kendra as a stubborn Cocker who each and every time did not want to be cut on his face. Kendra did not give up. Keeping him in a true Cocker cut, he always looks amazing. As he got older, as most Cockers, he had loss of hearing & even eyesight, but Kendra never gave up on him. Now he is 13, blind, deaf, and & full of arthritis but she still gives him amazing treatment! We’d follow her & her team anyplace. Thanks!”
-Maria & Jefferson
Bijou
“As a puppy, my Standard Poodle was abused by a grooming shop, setting off a fear of groomers. For 2 and half years, grooming was a nightmare, culminating with my dog having to be sedation groomed at a vet. After about 3 visits under the twilight sedation, I was told by the vet that my dog was so terrified she was going to have to go under general anesthesia for future grooming and that she would NEVER be able to go to a regular groom shop. General Anesthesia every 6-8 weeks was completely unacceptable to me and unhealthy for Bijou. I saw an article on Kendra and Jenny and called the UpScale Tail. I spoke to Kendra at great length about Bijou and her issues. Kendra suggested that I start bringing Bijou in to visit. She and Jennie were absolutely committed to helping my dog overcome her fears. For three weeks, Bijou went for “meet and greets” at The UpScale Tail every other day for two weeks, until the week she was groomed. That week, she went daily with me leaving her there for longer periods of time. On February 14, 2014, Bijou was able to be groomed without sedation for the first time since she was 11 months old!! Bijou has been able to go for grooming every 6 weeks and has not reverted into her past “Cujo” ways of thrashing so hard she falls off the table, jumping out of the bathtub, and even **hanging my head** biting. Bijou still goes weekly for her “meet and greets” with Kendra, Jennie and the rest of the staff. They lavish, love, praise and give treats to her. She is learning that she is safe there and no one will hurt her. Kendra, Jennie and The UpScale Tail are FANTASTIC!”
-Kerin and Bijou
Beans
“The change in groomers was a difficult change but the right change. ‘Friends of the Family’ is the term we often used when thinking about the prior grooming-service providers. For over fifteen years our first dog, Freckles (or as most of us call them, our 4-legged family member), showed nothing but pleasure when visiting them or spending time with them when we were out of town. We will be forever grateful for all of those years of great service and camaraderie.
“Beans (our second Cocker Spaniel), however, developed a different pattern of behavior than our first dog on his visits to get baths and grooming. The entire bathing and drying experience began to bring on what were called “seizures” during the process. Call them seizures, call them “episodes”, call them anything else, they always boiled down to “scary” and “cause for concern” for all of us. Of course, we began to search for solutions.
“During our search for ways to prevent more seizures during the bathing and grooming process, we came across the names of Kendra and Jennie of The UpScale Tail. The word was that they specialized in dogs who exhibited what we will call “some significant apprehension” about the bathing and grooming process. Their approach, while time-consuming for them, was based on building a trust and friendship with Beans before ever beginning any type of bathing or grooming. For Beans, that meant “no-risk visits” during which he was treated as a friend of the family.
“We don’t even remember how many ‘no-risk visits’ there were before they started implementing tiny steps towards the bathing process, but the number is not important other than to say ‘it was enough.’ We don’t need sedation of any kind any more. Beans seems to love to visit the shop, and even does sleepovers.
“We could not end the story without sharing that we have not had a single ‘episode’ raise its ugly and scary head since the visits began. And of course, his little sister, Gracie, has to go see what big brother is doing in there that is so much fun, so it has come to pass that we have new ‘family members’ for the care of the only two ‘children’ we still have at home. We are blessed to have more new friends in our lives.”
-Charles, Annette, Beans & Gracie
Bailey
“Bailey is our 7-month old Labradoodle. No one told me that being too smart could be a bad thing. Well Bailey has certainly shown us her intelligence causes great problems! Bailey can outsmart many and certainly lets us know when she doesn’t like something. Bailey went for her 1st grooming appointment when she was 13 weeks old and HATED the idea of someone else playing with her toes, touching her face, or using any of those noisy objects near her. This was a problem. Kendra and her staff at The UpScale Tail have done a phenomenal job of working with Bailey and our family to make grooming a success. The last few months have been an uphill battle in getting Bailey to accept grooming as part of her life. At first, Bailey would come to visit Kendra and staff once a week to get a treat and play with a special toy from home that stayed at the salon. They constantly offer words of encouragement and advice that have gone a long way. Bailey and Kendra have a great relationship now. Bailey loves to run up to Kendra and give puppy kisses. We know that our puppy is in good hands and will be treated with love while getting groomed. We would without a doubt recommend The UpScale Tail to anyone.”
-Amy, Mark, and Bailey
Charlie & Jenny
“Kendra has been show grooming our two Scottish Terriers, Charlie and Jenny, over the past 3 ½ years. Our dogs are shown in AKC conformation competitions where precise grooming and coat conditioning is of utmost importance. Kendra has really proven to be very knowledgeable in show grooming of this breed. As a matter of fact, Kendra herself has shown Scotties in the ring, both in grooming competition and conformation. Her personal and professional involvement with Scotties gives us total confidence in her skills. Our dogs always look absolutely beautiful after being groomed by Kendra!
Both Charlie and Jenny have always been happy to see Kendra. I know that she treats them with gentle care and kindness, so I would never hesitate to leave them in her care. Her love and compassion for all animals is very obvious.
We are so very happy for the opening of The Upscale Tail. We wish Kendra and the staff much happiness and success in their new business.”
-Julie, Mike, Charlie & Jenny
Bettendorf, IA
Aliź
“Kendra has been the first and best groomer ever for my Hungarian Pumi Aliz and I have made the big mistake to move to the East coast and we miss Kendra a lot. The Pumi is a very rare breed and new to US and Kendra took the challenge with excellence and groomed Aliz perfect to standard. Kendra does a great job both grooming and taking care of your dog while both are having a good time. My Aliz is crying with joy every time she sees Kendra now and that says a lot of their special relationship.”
–Best Regards Åsa Andén
Hinsdale, IL
Missy
“Dear Upscale Tail Customers,
I am Hannah Brandel and I have known Kendra Since I was 15. At age 15, I got my very first show dog, an Irish Terrier puppy named Dearg Madra Sona Cailin aka Missy. Dearg Madra means Red Dog and Sona Cailin means Happy Girl in the Gaelic or Irish Language. After Missy became Champion in March 2006.Kendra helped me a lot with learning how to properly groom an Irish Terrier for show While I was still in high school. Her showing and grooming advice proved invaluable to winning serval Best of Breeds, Best of Opposite sex, Junior Showmanship ribbons.?In addition, I won two thousand dollar college scholarships in 2010 and 2011. In 2010, American Kennel Club ‘s Junior Showmanship Scholarship for showing Missy in both Junior Showmanship and Best of Breed classes and raising her May 2008 litter of three puppies for my kennel Irish Crème, Irish Terriers at age 18. And in 2011 The Owner- Handler Association College Scholarship.Despite, Having mild cerebral palsy in my left hand side, which as crooked fingers that don’t grasp well as will as they should. Also I a limp on my left side.Kendra is a overflowing source of terrier and showing information. She has shown her Wheaton colored Scottish Terrier Turbo to many winners DOG, Best OF Opposite, Best of Breed. Turbo is the sweetest, cuddliest Scottish Terrier I know. I had watched Kendra show him, she does a stunning job She has also help me find homes for two of Missy’s puppies. All of Missy’s puppies including Kanga, the crazy puppy have a wonderful home where I get to puppy sit her a few times a year and take care of her. Kanga looks like Chewy from Star Wars. Kendra is so sweet and helpful and She step in to help a breeder I show Basenjis for , a smooth coated hound breed for the Morris, IL show. She is a great friend for me and Missy. I recently helped a Irish Terrier breeder-friend whelp a litter of 8 puppies and am helping raise the litter . I will also help him by showing his Irish Terriers.”
Sincerely,
Hannah Brandel
Ch. Dearg Madra Sona Cailin aka Missy
Irish Crème, Irish Terriers established 2008.
Lombard, IL
Roxy
“Congratulations on your new enterprise! You have spent many hours, days, and even weeks with me and I enjoyed every one of them! You have been my favorite groomer and caretaker!”
–Love,
Roxy
Chicago, IL
Baxter
“Kendra has groomed Baxter since day 1. She is the absolute best groomer for our little guy. He always is so happy to see her. He always looks perfectly groomed when I go pick him up!”
– Andrea & Baxter
Chicago, IL
Slate
“English Setters are a difficult breed to groom correctly, especially for the show ring. A mature English setter should carry a good amount of coat. If not groomed properly, the dog’s hair can hide the true bone structure and musculature of the dog, and make the dog appear to be built differently than it really is. Kendra has the talent and experience to groom a sporting dog so that its strengths are highlighted, but the overall look is still a natural one and not over-done or sculptured. After Kendra has groomed your setter, someone who sees it on the street will notice how impressive your dog looks, but won’t realize the skill and hard work it took to make the dog look that way.”
–Brian Silbernagel and Slate
Chicago, IL
Bear
“Not only is Kendra a top-notch groomer, she is totally dedicated to the welfare of the pets she grooms. I am talking from experience. Kendra groomed our dog, Bear, a golden doodle on a regular basis and once for competition. Bear loved Kendra and I trusted her explicitly when he spent a few days with her before competition. I will let the pictures of Bear speak for themselves.”
– The Drake Family
LaGrange, IL