BATAVIA – There are two things that Eric and Christina Wilson love – the beach and dogs.

The couple in January opened Woof Beach K9 Spa and Training at 1840 Mill St. in Batavia. While walking into the business, one of the first things a person will probably notice is the Tiki bar.

"We wanted to do something different," Eric Wilson said. "We wanted it to have a different feel."

There will be a ribbon cutting and grand opening for Woof Beach starting at 11 a.m. Saturday. A free leash and collar will be given to the first 30 customers, and free nail clipping will be provided all day.

Woof Beach is a new step for the couple. They also own a six-year-old business in east central Charleston that does pet training, boarding and grooming.

The couple has a vast amount of experience. Eric Wilson is a certified canine behaviorist, and Christina Wilson is a certified dog groomer.

Eric Wilson will first do a free evaluation on a dog before deciding what kind of training would be good for it. He does both group training and one-on-one training with the pet and owner.

He specializes in helping those dogs that have fear and aggression.

"Most aggression stems from fear, being afraid of people or other dogs," he said.

The biggest mistake that people make in trying to train their dogs is that they aren't consistent in their training, Eric Wilson said.

"A lot of it's inconsistency," he said. "People don't have the time it takes to train a dog."

Eric Wilson has also helped police departments train dogs.

"I'm well trained in how to make a dog aggressive and make a dog not aggressive," he said.

Christina Wilson has been grooming dogs for 11 years.

"I like the creative aspect of it," she said. "I like working with animals all day."

She has done all kinds of haircuts, even mohawks.

"I will do any haircut a customer wants," Christina Wilson said. "I have even done a number of dye jobs on dogs."

Woof Beach also sells a wide variety of products, including all-natural food made in Wheeling.

"We go to expos and shows and evaluate these products ourselves," Eric Wilson said.

The store also sells all-natural treats, toys made for rough playing and organic shampoo that Christina Wilson uses when she is grooming.

"Your shampoo makes a huge difference in whether your dog has itchy skin or dander," Eric Wilson said.

More information about Woof Beach is available by calling 630-326-9277 or visiting www.woofbeach.com.

Want to go?

There will be a ribbon cutting and grand opening for Woof Beach, 1840 Mill St., Batavia, starting at 11 a.m. Saturday. A free leash and collar will be given to the first 30 customers, and free nail clipping will be provided all day.