Katie Tang has been a professional dog groomer for about 11 1/2 years, the last two of which have been through The Pet Authority in Albert Lea. Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

Tang trims hair around the eyes of Marah, one of her clients at The Pet Authority. Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

Tang said people don't always realize how much grooming can make a dog feel better. Whether it's getting rid of matted fur, trimming back long hair in between the pads of their feet or trimming long nails, among other things, grooming can noticeablely improve a dog's personality, Tang said. Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

Tang has two dogs of her own at her home outside of Albert Lea — a border collie and a beagle/lab mix, as well as two horses, a donkey and four cats. Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

Tang said a common misconception about dog grooming is that it's just giving a dog a bath in a tub. It takes Tang about an hour to and hour and a half on average to do a dry haircut, bathe and blow dry a dog, before finishing the haircut, trimming nails and cleaning ears — wrapping up with a spritz of cologne and a brand new bandana. Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

One of the most rewarding parts of Tang's job is seeing how much happier most dogs are after they've been groomed. "It really makes them feel better," she said. Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

Tang said there are some times where a dog doesn't know how to handle coming in to be groomed — usually an older dog who isn't used to the process. She said the trick is figuring out which dogs need a little wuiet, positive reassurance and which sometimes need stern commands to sit still for their appointment. Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

Tang grooms dogs five days a week usually, by appointment through The Pet Authority at 2014 E. Main St. in Albert Lea. Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

Almost everything Tang has learned about dog grooming has either been hands-on or through talking with others in the industry. She said it's not really something you can learn from reading a book. Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune