Coach's Story
Hey fellow fur-wrangling besties! Most of you know me as Coach, but my name’s LaCota — and I live in North Dakota
ME!
First:
I’m a proud mom of six kiddos — two grown and married, and four still at home. I’m also a grandma (yes, grandma). My oldest daughter, who’s his momma, is training with me to become a groomer. My oldest son serves in the Army. My ex and I share 50/50 custody, so I am a limited schedule, hobby pet stylist, who only grooms pets on the weeks I don’t have my kiddos.
Where it all started:
I began in 2006 as a dog trainer, focusing on obedience, rehab, and rescues. Training wasn’t my forever lane, so I pivoted to grooming — learning hands-on under a mentor before opening my first salon in 2008. Life threw curveballs: injuries, eight kids in a two-bedroom apartment (my ex also has two from a previous marriage), dead-end 8-5 jobs, driving school bus, and even founding a large boxing/MMA gym. Not all at once — but honestly, it felt like it!
Through it all, I never hung up my clippers, though I stepped away from running salons. Some years, I kept it to just my own pets, and for about two years I didn’t even groom them, working 14–16 hours a day as a single mom to keep the gym alive and a roof over our heads.
Fast-forward:
I’ve battled autoimmune issues that attack my adrenal glands, rebuilt my life more than once, watched my oldest two get married, became a grandma, and eventually found my way back to grooming. In May 2025, I launched my grooming TikTok page with one mission — to lift up groomers, share knowledge, and grow together. That’s where you came in, and where the Showdowns were born.
I’ve tested brand after brand live on TikTok, fully transparent so no one’s left guessing. And while I discovered some gems, Funky Poodle kept standing toe-to-toe with the industry giants. What sold me wasn’t just their shampoos and conditioners — it was their leadership, transparency, and the way they shine the spotlight on us groomers instead of themselves. That’s true Coach energy — athletes may be coached, but it’s their own names that earn the trophy’s. Funky Poodle does the same for us: stepping back so we shine.
As the Showdowns grew, so did the relationships with all of you. This isn’t just my journey — it’s ours. Your support, your comments, your shares, and our friendships brought me here. So when I represent Funky Poodle, I’m not standing alone. I’m carrying all of us. I’m just another flashlight shining on you, so you can glow even brighter.
Favorite scents?
Coach TKO Smokey Oak & Bourbon (my ride-or-die), plus Cucumber Melon, Funky Whitening Shampoo, Chanel #5, and a few more I can’t live without.
Thank you for every like, share, tag, and comment. This community is everything. Keep tagging me in your Funky Poodle posts — I’ll cheer you on every step of the way.
Until then — go snag some Smokey Oak & Bourbon.
And you know the drill: keep your shears sharp and those tails wagging!
The Funky Groomer - Smokey Oak & Bourbon
Regular price
$65.00
- Smokey Oak & Bourbon 50:1 Shampoo 32oz
- Smokey Oak & Bourbon 50:1 Shampoo 1 Gallon
- Smokey Oak & Bourbon 50:1 Shampoo 5 Gallon
- Smokey Oak & Bourbon Leave In Conditioner 32oz
- Smokey Oak & Bourbon Leave In Conditioner 1 Gallon
- Smokey Oak & Bourbon Detangler Fragrance Spray 16oz
- Smokey Oak & Bourbon Detangler Fragrance Spray 1 Gallon