Today we’d like to introduce you to Shanti Neal.
Hi Shanti, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve been working professionally with dogs since before 2009 and started taking client dogs on the mountain trails in 2012, long before ‘pack hikes’ were trendy. I built Shanti & Me LLC as a single mom in Millcreek, hiking the same canyons over and over until they felt like a rolling temple and classroom. Over the years I added grooming, bath‑and‑brush, and now Hound Bath sound sessions, always with the same core values: safety first, muddy paws welcome, and deep respect for the land we’re using. Five years sober and on the other side of major cancer surgery, I’ve rebuilt my work to be slower, more intentional, and rooted in ceremony—off‑leash mountain trail company, muddy paws required.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s definitely not been a smooth road. I’ve built this as a single mom with almost no safety net, while being widly optimistic , going through major cancer surgery, and starting over more than once. Money has been tight, my body has had limits, and I’ve had to juggle my grooming business and services, dog packs, sound baths and being a mom while still showing up calm and steady for my clients’ animals. On the trail side, I’ve had to educate people about real mountain safety, say no when conditions or behavior weren’t safe, and hold boundaries in a field where ‘cheap and easy’ is often valued over ethics. Those challenges are exactly why my spine is so strong now—slow growth, high standards, and radical care for my son, the dogs, and the land.
As you know, we’re big fans of Shanti and Me LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I run Shanti & Me LLC, an off‑leash mountain trail company and grooming practice where muddy paws are required and safety is nonnegotiable. I lead 8–10 regular packs, teach impulse control and respectful trail manners, and offer bath‑and‑brush grooming, mini‑grooms, and Hound Bath sound‑healing events. What sets us apart is fierce stewardship of the canyon, ceremony and nervous‑system care woven into everything we do, and uncompromising standards for dogs and humans alike. My work is about creating sanctuary—wild, practical, and held—with reciprocity for the land and clear boundaries for community safety.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up I was the kid who wanted to be outside with animals more than anywhere else. I was sensitive and observant, picked up on adults’ moods fast, and learned early how to be responsible and take care of things. I loved books, dogs, creeks, and making little worlds out of whatever was around me. I wasn’t the loudest in the room, but I had a strong internal compass and a stubborn streak that shows up now as the way I protect my son, my packs, and the wild places I work in.
Pricing:
- $35 per dog per hike (group pack hikes, Mon–Fri) $93 base groom (small/medium) — add-ons priced individually Mini‑groom / bath & brush: $40–$65 depending on coat Hound Bath & sound journeys: $45–90 (depends on length/location) Package rates and seasonal retreats available — message for details
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.shantiandMe.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shanti_and_me_llc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1F55nssGsc/?mibextid=wwXIfr
