“They Laughed When I Said I Was Leaving A Medical Sales Career To Become A Dog Groomer… But Guess Who Got The Last Laugh?”

This is one story that’ll keep you glued to your seat like an Alfred Hitchcock movie just before you find out who done it!

Dear fellow dog lover…

It was late 2005 and I was sitting in what had to be one of the most boring meetings of my life. Trying to ‘wing it’, our new CEO was rambling on about how we could grow our sales in 2006.

After excusing myself to go to the bathroom, I stopped by our accounting department to get an expense report fixed. Before I knew what hit me, a meaty paw landed on my shoulder. I turned and smelled the hot breath of our new CEO ‘Dave Almighty’, who told me to get back in my chair.

“Hey Dave… I was just going to get an expense report taken care of,” I said.

“I don’t care what you’re doing. Get back in your chair,” Dave said talking to me like I was a Kindergartener that had just crayoned on the wall.

And it was at that point when I knew I had to leave Corporate America and follow my heart. A heart that had been urging me for years to start my own business.

Hi, my name is Wes Murph and I own The Studly Pooch pet spa right here in Hermosa Beach, California. I want to thank you for coming to my website and taking a few minutes out of your life to get to know me. The good part’s yet to come. Please keep going…

Also in late 2005, I talked my wife into adopting a black lab named Elliot (see picture above). Here’s the funny thing… As we were driving home with Elliot, my wife started to cry. So being the good spouse that I am, I face my wife and did my best to find out what was wrong.

“Honey – are you ok? Are you hurt or bleeding?” I asked.

“Oh gosh,” she sobbed. “I’m never going to be able to go anywhere for the rest of my life,” my wife Gen added.

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“Now that we have Elliot, I won’t be able to go anywhere or do anything,” she said.

And I hate to say it but I started to laugh.

“What?” I said. “Just because you own a dog doesn’t mean that your life stops,” I continued.

And that was the last time I ever saw Gen sad over Elliot. Truth be told, Gen loves Elliot sometimes more than she loves ______. Oops I can’t say that even if it is a joke. Gen gets really mad when I say that Elliot is her #1.

The fact is adopting Elliot was another great turning point in my life. But you know what? After adopting Elliot, things got worse before. Please don’t stop now…

2006 rolled around and I vowed that I would start a business. Little did I know that I’d be diagnosed with Cancer and have to undergo several face surgeries to completely remove the malignant spots (see pic below).

Despite this scare and after much thought, I decided to leave my high paying corporate position and go to… Dog Grooming School!!!!!

I know. It sounds crazy. And it really sounded crazy at the time. But as weird as this sounds, my wife Gen supported me 100%. And looking back, I know taking this ‘first step’ was just what I needed.

So to fast forward a little, I graduated from Dog Grooming School and started The Studly Pooch on November 19, 2006. A day I’ll never forget.

And since this then, I’ve built up a wonderful list of some of the nicest clients in South Bay. I even have one client that flies from Idaho to have her dog groomed at The Studly Pooch. Another client comes all the way from Napa Valley! Sweet!

Plus – I’ve had the opportunity to appear on Cesar Millan’s famous TV show ‘The Dog Whisperer’, which was filmed at my store on December 17, 2007. I’ve also appeared on the front page of The Daily Breeze and The Beach Reporter. And I even write a monthly column for a trade magazine called ‘Groomer To Groomer’. Talk about exciting!

So it’s really hard for me to put into words how fortunate and grateful I feel to be able to ‘live the life of an entrepreneur’ by serving so many wonderful dog owners. I hope after reading this that you’ll come by or call my store so that we can get a chance to talk. I’m always available for questions and I welcome your feedback. My direct number is 310-376-7033.

So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and pick up the phone and give me a call. I don’t bite and you may even be surprised that I have a sense of humor.

All the best and thanks for reading,

Wes Murph

Wes Murph – Owner

The Studly Pooch
1127 Aviation Blvd
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
310-376-7033