BURRILLVILLE – In more than 25 years of working with canines, Kendra Nault has never met a dog she can’t handle.
“A lot of parents tell me their dogs are difficult, but I don’t really have a lot of trouble with them,” Nault said.
At her new business at Broncos Crossing, Nault welcomes older dogs, nervous dogs and dogs of all breeds – young and old, large and small, good and bad – for quick service baths and more. And she’s qualified to train difficult pups, so that maybe one day the process won’t be stressful for the dog or the owner.
Pawlished Pups opened its doors in at 1452 Broncos Highway on Wednesday, May 8 in a space just beside New Rhode Nutrition. A Burrillville native, Nault noted the newly renovated space in the busy plaza is ideal because it’s close to home.
“It’s a nice space,” she said. “It’s bigger than we needed.”
Operated with help from both her daughter and son, with her mother answering phones on reception, Pawlished Pups does not offer full-service grooming, but specializes in, “in-and-out,” baths for nervous dogs – or even dogs that need a quick clean up between trips to their regular but over-booked groomer. The business also offers nail cutting and de-shedding services, with plans to open limited doggy day care, and sells hard-to-find all-natural treats, including bully sticks, trachea and antlers.
From working with horses on a farm, to handling monkeys during a period at Brown University, animal behaviorist Nault has a diverse background, but she says dogs have always been her passion.
“I’ve worked with a lot of animals, but I always come back to dogs,” she said.
In her experience, she said there is no such thing as a truly bad canine. Nault notes she’s trained dogs on their way to be euthanized due to behavioral issues – and has yet to meet one she couldn’t reform.
“I’ve dealt with severe cases,” she said. “People call me as their last option.”
Her training services include working with the owner on how to manage their pet, from exercise, to simply providing a consistent environment.
Nault’s daughter, 14-year-old Ensley Nault, helps with the bathing, and is learning mom’s techniques for training.
The best part, Nault says, is seeing what those once “bad dogs,” can become.
“Old dogs can learn new tricks,” she said. “Dogs are awesome.”
Pawlished Pups is open Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment. To learn more, or book yours, call (401) 710-4282 or email [email protected].
