We recently had the chance to connect with Chris Lacquement and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Chris, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
What I feel called to do now—something I may have been hesitant about in the past—is stepping fully into the role of educator and mentor in the pet grooming industry. I started out doing the most basic tasks—answering phones, sweeping floors, bathing dogs—and worked my way through grooming to eventually owning multiple salons and multiple mobile grooming businesses. Along the way I had a mentor who not only taught me the craft but also gave me a charge: when I asked how I could repay him, he told me, ‘Don’t let my way die with me—teach my ways.’
For a long time, I felt some unsure about taking on that responsibility. Education is a big leap—it requires vulnerability, putting your reputation and knowledge out there for others to learn from and question. But as I’ve grown, built businesses, and consulted in the industry, I’ve seen first-hand how much the grooming field lacks consistent, high-quality training channels. That gap, paired with my mentor’s words, has made it clear to me that my next calling is to give back to the industry by teaching and building better educational opportunities for groomers.
Now, instead of being afraid of that responsibility, I feel energized by it. I’m actively working to create something lasting—something that raises the standards of training and prepares the next generation of groomers. Grooming changed the entire trajectory of my life, and I feel called to help it do the same for others.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
K9 Business Solutions is the pet grooming industry’s trusted partner, driven by deep craftsmanship and real-world business savvy. Not only is it a leading consulting firm for grooming professionals, but its founder, Chris Lacquement, also owns and operates a portfolio of successful pet grooming businesses, including White Rock Pet Grooming, Urban Dogg Pet Grooming, Bark of the Town Pet Grooming, Bones & Bows Pet Grooming, Kountry Klippers Pet Grooming, and Texas Best Mobile Pet Grooming.
Led by Chris Lacquement, a seasoned groomer and compassionate entrepreneur.
Built on the principle of humane, pet-first business philosophy.
Offers end-to-end consulting—from operations to tech, marketing to regulatory compliance.
Recognized with multiple prestigious local and regional awards.
Committed to giving back through education and community support.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that has served its purpose and I feel ready to release is the trauma and low self-esteem I carried from my youth. For a long time, I believed that if I worked hard enough, built businesses, and provided for everyone around me, then I would finally earn love and acceptance. That drive pushed me to become a force in my work, and while it led to a great deal of success, I eventually realized that money and what comes with it doesn’t heal those wounds.
What I did gain through success was confidence—confidence to see where I was lacking, and even where those around me were. It gave me the ability to rearrange my life, choose better environments, and build healthier relationships. Now I know that money is simply a tool, one that can buy freedom to spend time how I choose and with those I love most, but it isn’t the source of happiness or healing.
So today, I feel called to let go of that old pattern of striving to ‘earn’ love through achievement. Instead, I want to live in the freedom I’ve built—to trust, to love openly, and to give back without being weighed down by the past.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, it would be this: Don’t believe them—whoever ‘they’ are. Don’t listen to the doubters, the fearful, or the people who try to place their own limitations on your dreams because they were too afraid to chase theirs. Don’t let negativity take root in you. Instead, allow only positivity and confidence to pour into you. Surround yourself with people who encourage you, who see the best in you, and who share your ambition.
Stay strong, and don’t wait so long to be confident in who you are. You were always destined to make an impact, to take care of others, and to change lives—but first you have to embrace being yourself, fully and unapologetically, just as the world meant for you to be.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, the public version of me is the real me. Honestly, I believe if people could truly see inside my heart, I’d haver more more success in this industry. This industry is about relationships and caring for people’s loved ones. I genuinely care about what I do and about the animals we care for. If I could talk to every customer and be present at every location, I know it would be great for business. Every day, I strive to be the best version of myself and give back whenever I can. My goal is to be as authentic as possible at all times.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
I think it is possible, and I try to live that way. In the service business, like pet grooming, we’re being paid to complete a service — and consistency is key. Customer service is crucial. We must give our best at all times, even if the job doesn’t come out exactly as we hoped or if something can’t be done perfectly. By always giving our best and being consistent, we build trust with customers, even when we can’t fully deliver on every request.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://k9businesssolutions.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrislacquement/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-lacquement-a47925198/
- Other: https://whiterockpetgrooming.com/
https://urbandogg.com/
https://bark-town.com/
https://bonesbows.com/
https://bonesbows.com/
https://texasbestgrooming.com/
https://k9businesssolutions.com/
Image Credits
https://whiterockpetgrooming.com/
https://urbandogg.com/
https://bark-town.com/
https://bonesbows.com/
https://bonesbows.com/
https://texasbestgrooming.com/
https://k9businesssolutions.com/
