NORTH SIOUX CITY — Jolene Mozak would liken grooming a dog to doing a kind of dance. There's a great importance on understanding what the animal is doing and matching its energy. 

"You just have to know a dog's way and its personality. You have to learn how to dance with them," Mozak said.

At 64 years old, Mozak's done a whole lot of "dancing" in her life. For 40 years, the North Sioux City resident has groomed and boarded generations of dogs from across Siouxland. She's given first haircuts and final haircuts. She's trained pet groomers who've gone off on their own to keep up the tradition. 

And she's made friends. 

"Wonderful friendships with people and their families. I know them and their children and now their grandchildren," Mozak said.

Susan Barta, 66, is one such friend.

Barta began taking dogs to Mozak's Pet Stop shop at 2121 Riverside Boulevard in Sioux City in 1990. In total, she's taken five dogs to Mozak, all poodles. 

"With Jolene, I had security, safety and comfort," Barta said near tears. 

Now, she'll have to find a new dog groomer she feels safe with as Mozak recently decided to hang up her clippers and nail files and other gear. She is still boarding dogs but doesn't anticipate that part of her work to last forever either.

The Journal spoke with Mozak about the major life change. Comments have been edited for length and clarity. 

When did you decide to retire from dog grooming?

Mozak: It came to a point where I realized I have a whole lot more years behind me. We don't know what's around the corner. I really miss my people and their family, their pets. 

Is there a part of the work you appreciated the most?

Mozak: The families sharing their pups with me. Their lives with me. The patience they showed me and the privilege and pleasure they gave me of sharing their family pups. And the milestones we went through together. Having children and children growing up and getting married and then having grandbabies and the loss and loves in our lives. Some folks brought several dogs into me over the years. That meant so much to me, that was sharing their family with me. 

Why did you get into the profession?

Mozak: Well, I was working at Noah's Ark pet store. And I used to watch some of the gals groom in the back. And I thought, I'd like to do that. I'd like to work with dogs. It's quite a challenging job. It can be a very difficult job but it's a very rewarding job also. 

What sort of difficulties are there?

Mozak: (Some dogs are) very nervous. Some are very scared. They may be a wonderful dog with the grandchildren but it's a different story when you go to put the clippers on them and cut their nails and do things they're not accustomed to. They can get very nervous about it. And that's where you've got to have that touch to calm them and get along with them and learn how to work with them. That's a huge challenge. Not everybody can learn how to work with an animal. My daughter once started grooming for me and she said "no way." She said "owning an animal has got nothing to do with trying to groom one."

Now that you’re not going to be grooming dogs, how are you going to be occupying that time?

Mozak: I have grandchildren I’m busy with 24/7 but I’m still boarding so that makes me feel a part of the business.  I have some prospective buyers that want to take it over. But right now I'm still boarding, which makes me feel a huge part of the business. I go up there 24/7, around the clock, seven days a week, (to give them) fresh water, fresh food, take them for walks, them out several different times of day ... It's just been too hard to walk away from completely. Until I do sell the business, I am going to continue boarding.