Logan Rago is one of those next-level dog groomers who loves to mix art and fun into his work. And with over 6.5 million followers, it’s clear many people love it too. We’ve been fans of Logan for about a year now, with him recently finding time to chat about his work and his story.
Celebrity Pets: We understand you started your dog grooming journey quite young, first as a dog walker. Can you share that story? And what spurred you to get into the industry?
Logan Rago: I started as a dog walker because I knew that I wanted to work with animals in my life. After school and during summer breaks from around the ages of 11-14, I wanted to find a way to make money. Being so young I was limited and legally could not work an actual job. I thought to myself what’s something I would have fun doing while also making some money – And that was dog walking at the time. My entire childhood I was desperate to have a dog and after finally earning (somewhat) enough money my family got our first dog, Ginger. Ginger was the start of my career, we took her to get her first haircut at a salon that was about a 5-minute walk from my house, we dropped her off and I remember a light going on in my mind that this would be such an enjoyable and fun job. I was 15 then, and had to get a work permit to legally work there, I put on my nicest button-up and a little bow tie and asked if the salon would hire me for any position possible. A few weeks later I started working at the salon as a dog bather!
CP: Then what were some challenges early in your career?
Logan: Honestly the hardest challenge early in my career was balancing school and work, I would work after school and on the weekends so it consumed lots of my time. As I was actually learning how to groom dogs (since I was a dog bather from 15-17) I had to put more and more effort and passion into the career. I was not going to be a better dog groomer unless I educated myself, practiced, and learned from any source I was able to. As a dog groomer from the start I loved it, however, another challenge was time and myself. Each dog we could only spend so much time on and I could keep blending and trying to make the pup cuter until it was perfect in my eyes, so sometimes I had to take a step back in my perfectionism… And it left me feeling disappointed in myself and that I could be doing better.
CP: And can you share any memorable moments from your early days?
Logan: A funny moment that happened early on was when a client was coming in to drop off her very big happy golden retriever. I checked the client in and started to take the dog into the bath… Then as the client looked on – Her dog jumped onto me, hooked its nails into my waistband, and completely pants me! The owner probably saw more than she wanted to that day.
CP: Are there certain creative grooming styles or techniques you specialize in or enjoy the most?
Logan: Recently I gave my dog Raikou what I call a ‘’BBL’’ I sculpt his hair on his rear end to literally look like buttcheeks. This went insanely viral on social media, getting over 200 million views across the platforms. Raikou is such a funny, crazy boy and his new butt fits his personality perfectly. As he sways back and forth when I take him for a walk I always hear people calling out his ridiculous rump. This also started a trend in my current clients at the salon all wanting a BBL for their dog.
Another style of haircut that I enjoy doing is actually a Korean-style face which typically has a more teddy bear look, squared corner of eyes, short button ears. But overall my favorite thing to do regardless is enhance the dog’s features and pronounce them. I feel like this way the dog’s personality is able to shine through an adorable haircut.
CP: Is it true that you pretty much invented the doggy BBL?
Logan: While the term doggy BBL is definitely something that I thought about, I actually got inspiration from doing and seeing haircuts on Pomeranians, I used to give them little buttcheeks because of how their hair naturally grows, and then I decided why not do it to my own dog. I haven’t seen anyone do something like this on a poodle or a dog with curly hair and I think I really exaggerated the look which made it so laughable and iconic. I called Raikou, Raikou Kardashian in some of his BBL videos and Kim Kardashian liked the video, so I guess she also got my humor.
CP: So your pup Raikou’s bum has got 100s of millions of views… Has he considered launching his own doggy influencer career? (Or an OnlyPaws profile?)
Logan: Hahaha, as much as I love Raikou and many people asked me to start a page for him, I honestly don’t think I would have enough time to manage another social media page, for now Raikou will live and thrive on my current page.
CP: Do you have any favorite breeds when it comes to grooming? And why?
Logan: Honestly I don’t have any favorite breed, while I do groom an unbelievable amount of Pomeranians, my favorite dogs are the ones that can relax. (Oh, and of course puppies)
CP: Any breeds you find particularly spicy when it comes to grooming?
Logan: Some breeds that come in that are notorious for their spicy side are chihuahuas. They can be little monsters sometimes, totally small but mighty (But if I was that small I think I would also have a few grudges) Another breed that I wouldn’t say is spicy, but definitely have an apparent attitude is Pomeranaians, I call it their Pomitude. They are always adorable but will do what they want to, when they want to – Constantly giving side eyes and judging me to my core.
CP: What tips to do you have for anxious dogs (and anxious pawrents) who need professional grooming?
Logan: Some tips I would share is do your best to not project your anxiety onto your pet. While dogs do get anxious, most of the time we see that the parents of those dogs tend to feel the same way as their pet if not more. When dropping your dog off at the salon be nonchalant and keep the same energy until you pick them up and then give them love, treats, and support. Dogs are energy readers, have trust in your dog groomer and that is a good start.
Some other things to mention is consistency. Raikou loves to be in the salon, he adores to be on my table, relaxing while getting a haircut. This is because I have been so consistent and supportive with him every week I bring him into the salon for his maintenance/bath. While of course you do not need to bring your dog to the salon every week, at least once a month to start will get your dog used to the process and with time and care your pup will also enjoy their experience.
CP: And what should dog parents know before getting a creative cut or colored grooming session?
Logan: Something I could suggest pet parents know is, while it’s important to have fun with a design and be creative, it also needs to be a little realistic. For example, a Pomeranian would not look good as a giraffe, so keep in mind what your dog looks like, what type of hair they have and how much of it. Of course the parents should know the dye is pet-safe and made for dogs, keep in mind in most cases the dye will stay on the dog until it fades, but mostly likely until the hair grows out and gets trimmed off.
CP: With 6.5 million followers and counting, you’re killing it on TikTok and the other top social platforms. Any tips for groomers wanting to level up their video content?
Logan: This is a very heavy question and I actually speak about and cover a lot of this information at dog grooming trade shows. But specifically for dog groomers, I think some important things to mention is making sure the background of the video is clean and professional, if the video is well produced and filmed that already is such a strong start to social media. While it is important to find a niche when creating content, and dog grooming would be the niche, keep in mind to not pigeonhole yourself too much though. Think about who you want your audience to be For example while I post dog grooming content, the way I structure and voice over anyone can relate to it and enjoy it. If you talk too much about very specific dog grooming lingo, it’s going to stray people away.
CP: We previously covered you and groomer Gabriel Feitosa giving shelter dogs makeovers to help them get adopted. How was that experience?
Logan: Gabriel and I started working together a little over a year now. I moved from Chicago to California for the job Gabriel offered me as a stylist in his salon. Something that Gabe continuously shows his passion and support for is animals in shelters. The San Diego Humane Society is where we went to give the pups makeovers in the hopes it can shine a light on them to have a forever home. While Gabe was the one who did most of the effort, all the dogs Gabe and I did a makeover or gave some color to did end up being adopted, which was super heartwarming to experience.
CP: You can call Peggy – The canine actor who played Dogpool in Deadpool and Wolverine – One of your celebrity clients. How was working with a huge Marvel star such as her?
Logan: It was such a fun experience, I was definitely nervous and was unsure what to expect. When working with her and recording her video a team of about 15 came in with Peggy. I was instructed to not change her appearance at all due to her having to look the same as in the movie, while that was expected, it is a little funny that they wanted me to pamper her and not give a haircut. Overall though it was a great experience, everyone was so nice and Peggy is a goofy lovable girl who will do anything for a hot dog.
CP: Have any advice for young groomers or anyone wanting to get into dog grooming?
Logan: Some advice I would give to new groomers wanting to get into this career, is to be patient and supportive of yourself. It is definitely a challenge starting into something that requires skill and creativity, and sometimes the environment you may be in might not bring out the best in you. When I first started grooming I had a mentor teaching me the basics however most of the style and skill I learned with practice and taking every chance I could to educate myself. I would see photos and videos of dogs looking absolutely perfect and I wanted to be able to do that same level of work, but in my own way. Of course not every single dog I work on I am proud of the work I did, sometimes time is limited, the dog is difficult, or I am simply just having a hard time working with the dog.These are the best moments to learn and grow. Ask yourself “what you think you did well on, and what can you improve on next time?” You are your own best motivator, so support yourself and be patient along your journey of this occupation.
CP: Have any plans or events coming up this year we can look out for?
Logan: There are a few events that I will be speaking and presenting at this year, so stay tuned to my socials!
Make sure to follow Logan at @dogsbylogan on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. And don’t miss his day with Dogpool for a dog-friendly screening of Deadpool & Wolverine.
