Lis Johnston, an internationally known dog groomer and the owner of Serenity Pet Spa, said she originally “fell into dog grooming.” She has loved dogs all her life, especially collies, because to her they are “the most beautiful,” and, like many great loves, Lis “never had a choice” once she showed her first collie in a competition at age 12.
Early on, Lis took a job as a dog groomer in Madison and found she had natural skill. She was never content enough to just be good at something, so she attended learning seminars, took private grooming lessons, and became part of national grooming organizations. As Lis dove into the world of dog grooming, she continued her childhood passion of showing dogs and went on to show many dogs to their championships.
It is challenging to earn a Master Groomer’s Certification, which Lis has now had for a long time. It requires grooming a dog in front of a certifier who carefully evaluates how someone prepares, handles, and then grooms the dog, all within a designated time limit. The certifier pays attention to every detail of the grooming, with the highest standards of scrutiny. Lis has been named among the top 5 groomers in the country since 2020. She is also a member of Groom Team USA. The top 5 groomers on this team are selected to travel and compete internationally, which Lis referred to as the “Groomer Olympics.” They recently competed in Belgium. Though the US team didn’t win, there’s a good chance they will in the future.
Lis has also built a reputation as a sought-after trainer. With skill like hers, it’s not surprising that her name has attracted people from as far away as Florida to train under her guidance and strive to become master groomers themselves. Serenity Pet Spa employees also benefit from the passion Lis has for training. Serenity is more than a name for the spa; it is the spa’s culture. All Lis’ employees “believe in what they’re doing.” They support each other, pass on knowledge, and their dedication shows in their work. Despite working amongst three different locations, it feels like a community. Happy, knowledgeable employees result in happy dogs, and a happy dog is the one thing pet owners hope for when they drop off their beloved companions.
Lis and her team ensure every dog is provided with a personality-tailored, comfortable space at the spa. They avoid crating and are free to interact with the staff and other dogs to become better accustomed to the environment before they are bathed, dried, prepped, combed, and groomed. Lis feels that the more often they visit, the more they understand that this is a place they can trust. This is also why Lis has every dog interact with multiple staff members at each visit. Her staff loves dogs as much as she does, which makes for a happy atmosphere for everyone: dogs, their owners, and the staff who take care of them.
Serenity Pet Spa has been so successful that Lis foresees opening a fourth location by the end of the year. For now, we’re still celebrating the opening of her third location in Middleton this June! If you and your dog have not discovered Serenity Pet Spa yet, you owe it to your dog to check it out.
Middleton residents - Serenity Pet Spa's Middleton location opened on June 25th, 2025, at 310 Junction Rd. Whether you're a longtime Serenity client or new to the pack, they can't wait to welcome you and your pups into the brand new space. Visit serenitypetspamadison.com to book your appointment today!