One of the Best of Renton 2025 finalists for Best Pet Groomer, 12th Paw Mobile Spa has become such a powerhouse of mobile pet grooming that owner Amanda Leighton no longer advertises her business.

“I would say I have about 150 to 170 clients, and a lot of them have multiple dogs, so we’re always very busy,” said Leighton, who started 12th Paw in 2016 and has been a pet groomer for over 20 years. “Maybe 30 of them have been with me since I started, from the very beginning of my grooming career.”

From a bather at the Covington Petco to driving all over the Renton, Hobart, Ravensdale and Maple Valley area (excluding Skyway because of the steep hills) with her own van, equipped with a bath section, a table top and a variety of grooming tools, Leighton says that she laughs when she reflects on being told that she couldn’t make a career out of grooming dogs — and sometimes cats and one rabbit for a time.

“I’ve proven [them] wrong a couple of times in my career, saying I wouldn’t last at my first job for more than a month and I stayed with Petco for almost eight years,” she said.

Having a mobile pet grooming business is a valuable service for pet owners who may not be able to take their pet to a traditional brick-and-mortar grooming studio, or owners whose dogs may not travel well. One online testimony from her Renton-based clients Jennifer and Max praises Leighton’s work and the convenience of her mobile business: “I work from home and it’s so nice to have our groomer come to us. It cuts down on our dog’s stress,” they said.

Growing up on a farm in Maple Valley, Leighton has been around animals her whole life. Her time as a pet groomer has given her great insight into what owners can do to make sure their dog’s grooming is maintained well, making her job easier and the pets more comfortable and healthier.

“I always tell customers when they first get a new dog is to play with their feet. Playful tug and pull, play with their toes, with your fingers in between their toes, massage their feet because we’re gonna be messing with their feet, and the last thing we want is for the dog to become aggressive and wanting to bite you,” she said. “The more often you comb your dog out, the better and happier they are when being groomed, meaning daily.”

For more information on 12th Paw Mobile Spa, visit 12thpaw.com.