Jennifer Bockhaus Becomes New Owner of the Classy Canine in Southampton

After 34 years of running the Classy Canine in Southampton, owner Kelly Scammell Humphreys is moving onto a new chapter of her life — but her friend and employee Jennifer Bockhaus is ready to step in as the shop’s new owner.

“I am excited to pass the bone to my longtime friend and co-worker, Jennifer,” Ms. Scammel Humphreys said.

“Jennifer is local, talented, hardworking, intelligent. She is capable of taking the business to the next level,” she added.

The two women have been friends since 1986, when Ms. Bockhaus and her boyfriend and future husband Bill Bockhaus came out to spend the summer in Southampton. Ms. Bockhaus had been grooming dogs since she was 16, using a men’s trimmer on her mother’s porch. She pestered the owner of a small grooming shop in Southampton until she got a job — the owner was Ms. Scammell Humphreys, and it was the start of a decades long friendship for the two.

At the end of the summer, Ms. Bockhaus and her boyfriend decided to stay in Southampton, she transferred schools and began her life on the East End.

Ms. Bockhaus at one point stepped back from the grooming shop and eventually she married Mr. Bockhaus, and Ms. Scammel Humphreys attended the wedding.

Ms. Bockhaus raised three children in Southampton, her oldest attending college and the other two, 16 and 13, attending school in Southampton. She has served as vice president of the Southampton Kiwanis Club and PTO president.

A few years ago, Ms. Scammell Humphreys asked Ms. Bockhaus to come back, as she wanted to explore the idea of Ms. Bockhaus one day purchasing the business.

“She wanted a local person with roots in the community to continue her legacy,” said Ms. Bockhaus.

“It’s been a wonderful and challenging adventure for 34 years. I have had the pleasure and good fortune of meeting wonderful clients and falling in love with their four legged children,” Ms. Scammell Humphreys said of her time at the helm of the shop. “Many of these clients are now friends adding to my happiness. I am very grateful to all of you.”

Ms. Scammell Humphreys learned the art of dog grooming from Gay Ernst of the Dapper Dog, and spent two years working for Ms. Ernst before opening The Classy Canine. She then spent time attending seminars, reading publications and attending the Westminster dog shows every year.

“When on vacation, I sought out grooming salons in Bangkok, Chang Mei, Monaco, Mila, Paris and even groomed a dog while on safari in Africa,” she said.

Ms. Bockhaus mentioned how much she loves the staff of the shop, noting that they are the best group of employees, and that everyone works together like a well-oiled machine. She also mentioned that all of the employees are local and all live in Southampton.

Ms. Scammell Humphreys won’t be disappearing from the shop anytime soon. She plans to stick around for awhile in a limited capacity.

“Don’t worry, Kelly is not going anywhere,” said Ms. Bockhaus. “She will still be at her grooming table plugging away for a while. She will just no longer have the stress of running a business. I will.”