The Beginning of THE DOG FROM IPANEMA
In July of 1986 the Dog from Ipanema was founded in Coral Gables. After 4 years of living in the USA and working at a salon by the name of COCONUT GROVE CANINE GROOMING owned by Dorothy Rodgers Jarbas was nearly forced to build his dream salon as his boss decided to close the shop down. With a $5000 loan from a client a space was rented and Jarbas built the first version of the salon all by himself. From 2x4s and sheets of plywood dividing walls were created, grooming tables were built and the old cast iron tubs from the old salon were repurposed. Brigth colors and ferns covered the walls and the big adventure started. With the help of some veterinarian's referrals some of the old clients found out about the opening and Scandal Hirsch (a mixed breed chow mix) walked in as the first client ever. His "father" Scott Hirsch is still a client now days. That makes Jarbas so proud!
Few years latter Jarbas welcomed a friend from Brasil in the company. His name is Al Soares and he was first hired as a driver and bather and troughout the years he was instrumental in the development and growth of the salon. Many of the first employees of Jarbas went to be on their own with some like Charliston Seixas still operating their own salon.
"A humane facility to provide hair care for pets with a focus on comfort for the guests has always been our goal"
WE MAKE YOUR ADOPTED PET LOOK LIKE A CHAMPION EVERYDAY.
It says a lot that some of our team members have been with our pet grooming service for many years. Jackie have been with us for more than three decades! Annette and Kathy for more than two decades, and Kdee has worked with our team for since she was 19. K-dee is also the new face of the company now that Jarbas and Al are retired after 38 years. No matter how long, it feels like they’ve been a part of THE DOG FROM IPANEMA family forever.
Jarbas always said that without great bathers and preparers, there are no great haircuts! Most of all our team members started and were developed in the company, so they all know "The Dog from Ipanema Way" of pet grooming.,
The salon soon got to be known for the clean facilities, the happy dog clients and the drive for delivering the best looking hair cuts while respecting the babies. Jarbas years of experience as a successful Breeder and Competitor in Brazil of Standard Poodles, Aghan Hounds and Salukis (amongst others breeds) started paying off and the idea of MAKING YOUR PET LOOK LIKE A CHAMPION EVERYDAY was born. Nearly forty years ago pets were groomed differently than show dogs. Why should a pet westie look any different than the westie in the Westminster show that inspired that person to acqquire on in the first place? So, education of the groomer professional was paramount in the development of the industry and of the salon.
Accolades followed and the salon started to be recognized in print, TV and latter on social media. We have been named New Times Best of Miami 4 times, Best of South Florida, Vogue Magazine and even the London Times once named the store as providing the most expensive poodle hair cut in the world. Jarbas was never shy to say that quality has a price. Because of our prices (higher than the usual by just a bit) our employees are provided with the time needed to perform the best possible work in the most humane way.
Because of the salon reputation Jarbas was also invited for a carreer as a Motivational Speaker and for more than 12 years he worked all around America and the world spreading his gospel: Respect the pet, respect the client and price will not be an issue in your salon. Many of his students now run Grooming schools in their countries and contantly contact Jarbas to thank him for the inspiration.
Jarbas Godoy
Jarbas Godoy founded the company in 1986 after having moved to America in 1982 and has contributed many positive changes to the dog grooming industry in the USA and the world over the decades. Jarbas opened his first salon in Brazil in 1976 in Salvador, Bahia. There, he began experimenting with the way grooming services were provided to pets.
He didn’t like what he saw when he first started with pet grooming. For him little attention was given to the welfare of the visiting pets. Since those days, and for nearly four decades, Jarbas has catered to dogs and cats in a compassionate environment. He molded the skills of incredible professionals by promoting fair, humane, and loving treatment. He committed himself and his team to nothing but the best care to the pets that contribute so much needed love and peace for so many of us. Jarbas has not only trained and molded the staff of the salon but he also trained hundreds of groomers around the world as a motivational speaker and demonstrator. He has worked all over the world conducting training seminars and judging Grooming Competitions in Argentina, China, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, The Nederlands and in Portugal where he now resides with his long term partner and now husband Al Soares.
These days, Jarbas supervises the team virtually, keeping them focused on delivering the best possible care. At the store we nurture our clients in a clean, state-of-the-art environment with brand new equipment designed with your pet's comfort and safety in mind. He is constantly introducing new tools and techniques for the continued evolution and education of "Team Ipanema." The wonders of techology allows him to remain in close contact with K-Dee and the whole team. Cameras in the whole facility allows him to see every corner of the salon and K-Dee is in nearly daily contact about the store. His retirement is partial because he could not let his creation go away.
Al Soares
Al Soares has been with us since 1992. Through his friendship with Jarbas, he developed a strong relationship with the company. Al was also Jarbas’ right-hand man for many years as well as his life-partner. Jarbas credits Al for the constant development of new processes in the Preparation Section of the salon, having developed the method used to keep the flow of clean and ready to trim puppies that still is in use today. He was responsible for supervising the preparation work of our clients by orchestrating all the washing, conditioning, and blow-drying. On his free time Al dedicated himself to the art of Bonsai having apprencticed under Sensei Tatemori Gondo from Osaka until he graduate as the first East Coast certifiied teacher of Sasuki Bonsai. Now a days Al is dedicated to the Bonsai full time in his retirement in Portugal where he resides in the mountains of the Minho region at the door of the Peneda-Geres National Park.
