About UsThe grandmother of grooming built this from scratch
Lesley Weeks was Toronto’s first professional pet groomer. In 1979 she turned that pioneering work into Pampered Paws — and four decades later, it’s a salon, a school, and an international name in pet care.
Origin StoryIt started with a university student and a city full of overgrown dogs
In the late 1970s, Lesley Weeks was working toward a graduate degree at the University of Toronto. Walking through the city, she kept noticing the same thing: dogs coming back from the vet shaved down to the skin, because back then, veterinarians did most of the grooming and grooming meant shearing.
She knew there was a better way. “I can make your dog look a lot prettier than what you’re getting,” she’d tell owners — and she was right. Toronto had never had a dedicated professional pet groomer before. Lesley became its first.
After finishing her master’s degree, she spent a short stretch in the insurance industry. It paid well and the hours were good — but there was no room in it for the artistry she needed. So she left a stable career for an uncertain one, and in 1979, Pampered Paws officially opened its doors.
Watch Lesley’s Interview
How we grewFour decades of building the craft
1979 — The salon
Pampered Paws opens in Toronto, founded on one rule that still holds: the haircut you ask for is the haircut you get.
1986 — The school
Demand for skilled groomers outpaced supply — Lesley would train someone, and a vet clinic would hire them away. So she opened a grooming school to train the next generation properly, in both classic dog-show technique and modern pet styling.
1995 — A national standard
Lesley founded the National Agency of Pet Grooming Schools, registering the trademark that lets qualified groomers in Canada call themselves licensed — to this day, the recognized mark for the profession.
1996 — Going international
Pampered Paws began franchising, opening its first international location in Tokyo.
Today
Salons across the GTA, an internationally recognized school, and graduates running their own businesses in more than 20 countries.
Our teamThe people behind 45 years of grooming
For over four decades, GTA pet owners have trusted Pampered Paws with the pets they love. We’re not the cheapest and we’re not a luxury label — we’re the groomers who refuse to compromise on your pet’s comfort, and who believe that should be available to anyone who feels the same.
Customized experience
Every groom is built around your pet, their coat and their temperament.
Cleanliness
Spotless salons and sanitized tools, every pet, every time.
Transparency
Clear pricing, clear process, clear communication.
What we believe
Three things have guided Pampered Paws from the first day:
Grooming on your terms
Every pet and every owner is different. We listen before we cut — your pet's age, health, coat, and the look you want — so the result is always what you asked for.
A clean, calm place
From the start, clients have been able to see exactly where their pet is groomed, who's working on them, and how clean the space is. That openness was a differentiator in 1979. It still is.
No shortcuts
Good grooming is a craft, and craft takes time. As Lesley puts it: "I'm not making a pizza — I can't deliver this in thirty minutes. It's an art." This is expert care, available to anyone who refuses to compromise on how their pet is treated — not a luxury, a standard.
The three things we doOne brand, three ways we can help
Pet grooming, your way
Customized grooms for dogs and cats at our Toronto, Mississauga and Scarborough salons. Tell us about your pet and we'll match the care to them — not a one-size-fits-all package.
Explore grooming
Train to become a groomer
Learn the craft from a team that's been grooming since 1979. Hands-on, career-focused training for people serious about doing this work well.
Discover the schoolOpen your own Pampered Paws
A proven grooming brand with 45 years behind it and locations from the GTA to Tokyo. If you're ready to build something, let's talk.
Explore the opportunityCome see the difference for yourself
Forty-five years on, the goal hasn't changed: your pet, cared for exactly the way you want.