Montana – Owner of Luther’s Pooch Parlor (formerly known as Pooch Parlor Ponderay)
She is the mother of three young children and was raised by a generational farming family. Her experience with farming and mothering, is an asset to her animal grooming clients. Her quiet, calm and mothering energy, is great with large and small dogs and cats, and especially effective with independent herding dogs. Montana owns German Shepherds, Blue Heelers, and two gorgeous Great Danes. She enjoys spending time with her family and husband during her free time. Montana says her favorite thing about being a dog groomer, specifically at Pooch, is “I love working with a great team of women and getting the opportunity to work on such a variety of breeds of dogs. The fluffier the better! Lastly, I love getting to meet different people in the community, especially our loving and supportive customers that got us to where we are today.”
DuAnn
DuAnn, founder of Pooch Parlor Ponderay, and owner of The Pooch Parlor Pet Grooming Academy has been a groomer since 1997 where she attended the Nevada Dog Grooming School in Las Vegas Nevada, and opened her first grooming parlor on her front porch. She has been a multi-business grooming owner in her history, now the owner of just the school at the Ponderay, ID location. She received her Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, from Northcentral University in 2021, and is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of Idaho, with a focus on emotion based therapy and EMDR . On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, she enjoys working on all kinds of dogs and cats, specializing in “owner-stay” appointments for fragile or anxious dogs and owners. After grooming, she works with human couples, families and individuals in multiple nearby therapy offices. Both of her jobs are interconnected and rewarding for her, both of them “hairy and fun”. DuAnn has written two grooming books, and is a speaker and teacher in the grooming industry. Married since 1993, (Michael can be found helping in the summer), she is the proud mother of her human daughter, Kivia (also a groomer at Pooch Parlor Ponderay), Chara, a Black Russian Terrier, and Remington, a standard poodle. Both dogs are used in the grooming school and in the therapy room. During her free time, DuAnn can be found paddleboarding, snowboarding, or traveling with her husband. What does DuAnn love the most about her jobs – “feeling joy in variety, by working with beings that touch my heart every day”
Kivia
Kivia grew up in the Pooch Parlor throughout the years, and officially became a state certified groomer in 2023. She quickly fell in love with grooming, and plans to do it long term. She is the dog mom to three dogs; a 4 year old Border Colliex Leo, a 2 year old Wheaten TerrierX Lucy, and a 1 year old Mini Dapple Dachshund Oliver. Kivia loves grooming all breeds, but has a special place in her heart for Bernidoodles. In her free time, Kivia fills her cup by coaching youth Volleyball and Softball, and mentoring young female athletes. She is the owner of Barlow Home Sitting, an in home pet care company. When asked what she loves most about her job, she replied “Getting to work alongside her mom and all of the special memories they create, as well as being able to bring her dog, Oliver to work everyday. “