Some dogs bound through the front door with wagging tails. Others arrive nervous or anxious.
At Lone Star Pet Grooming, every dog is met with patience.
That philosophy is rooted in decades of experience. Before opening the salon in 2024, husband-and-wife owners Barbara and Keith Lupardus spent more than 40 years showing, breeding, and caring for dogs. Retirement didn't lessen their passion—it simply inspired a new way to share it with their community.
"We really love these dogs," Barbara says. "And the people are like our friends and family."
That love shapes everything inside the salon. Dogs aren't shuffled from station to station or left waiting in kennels for hours. Instead, appointments are carefully scheduled so each pet receives individualized attention in a private grooming room designed to minimize distractions and create a more relaxed experience.
Leigh Nelson is the lead groomer. Leigh’s passion for grooming and continuing education helps him care for everyone from family pets to show dogs while staying current on grooming techniques, skin and coat health, and canine behavior. Groomer Arielle Frye also recently joined the team, bringing experience that includes a Certificate of Mastering All Breed Professional Grooming from the Concord School of Grooming. She is also AKC S.A.F.E. Certified.
LoneStar offers baths, breed-specific trims, puppy introductions, creative grooming, and show grooming. But the team's expertise extends beyond appearance—they often spot skin irritations, unusual weight loss, or other physical changes that were hidden beneath a thick coat, helping owners identify potential health concerns early.
Keeping dogs healthy is a priority for Barbara and Keith, and they plan to soon expand the salon by offering professional shampoos, conditioners, and grooming tools, giving pet owners the products they need to maintain healthy coats between appointments.
For the Lone Star team, grooming is about much more than appearance. It's about building trust—with the dogs on the table and the people who love them. After a lifetime devoted to the canine world, they believe every appointment is another opportunity to make both a little happier.