New Colfax dog grooming shop said howling success

This is a shout out to all those Colfax Chihuahuas- there is now a grooming facility near you.

Denise Link opened a boutique in Colfax two months ago called Bark Tique. According to her, business has been booming.

Judging from the steady stream of customers ranging from full-sized farm hounds to poodles to Shi Tzus, Link said being the only groomer in town has paid off.

“I’ve had from 150 pounds to seven pounds. I’ve had every different little kind in here,” she said.

She charges $44 for a small dog and $48 for a medium dog. A full grooming session for a big dog can last up to two hours, given the fur work and nail trimming, Link said.

The boutique is located at E. 110 Canyon Street, just off of Main Street.

Link works part-time for the Colfax DSHS office and part-time at the boutique. Her idea to open a dog-grooming facility bloomed when she began experimenting on her own two dogs; Winston and Charlie, both Shi Tzus.

“I have two of my own dogs. Then I started grooming my friends’ dogs,” Link said. With a rotweiler-sized tax break, she forged ahead with the funding to rent the office.

The pink and brown striped interior is all her work, she said. A trimming station and a single bath tub are stored in the back rooms, next to a cabinet of little doggie bows and ribbons.

The sunshine from the outside strikes off the light pink blush stripes, heating up the room with a healthy pink glow. Aside from a desk, chair and dish display, the main room is empty.

“I wanted to make it as simple as I could,” Link said.

She is booked two weeks in advance, but does take drop-ins. Link said most of her customers live in Colfax, but she has had a few owners from out of town.

“I’ve had a lot of farm dogs come in this spring because it’s tick season and they want them shaved,” she said.

Most of the dogs she sees are Schnauzer and Shi Tzu, breeds which she says need grooming every six to eight weeks to stay healthy.