F.A.Q.

Q:  How old should my puppy be before he gets his first groom?

A:  All breeds of puppies should begin the grooming process as soon as the second set of puppy shots has been completed. It is a good idea to familiarize your puppy with grooming, even if it is for a simple bath for starters.  This will help him learn that grooming is a pleasant experience at an early age.  It also helps for the owner to touch and play with the puppy's feet so that he is not scared when he gets his nails trimmed. Also, our groomers find that when clients play with their puppy by “face fighting”, the puppy tends to be fearful or aggressive when the groomer is working on his face. This type of play should be avoided.

Q:  How often do I need to get my dog groomed?

A:  If your dog has hair, you will most likely need to bring him in every four to six weeks (or sooner) depending on the style or clip you would like on your pet. Be honest with your groomer by letting her know how much time you are willing to spend on your pet’s coat at home. With some discussion and honesty you and your groomer can come to a great decision for your pet’s hair cut so that it works well with your lifestyle needs as well as your pets’.

Q:  How long will my dog have to stay for grooming?

A:  The grooming process takes an average of four hours for small- to medium-sized dogs. This includes pre-bath clips, bath, blow dry, nails, ears and the finish clip for your dog.  Upon check-in, we will give you an approximate time your dog will be ready for pick up.   It is always wise to book in advance or from each appointment to your next. This ensures you get the drop-off and pick-up time that best fits your schedule needs. We do offer express grooms for those parents who do not like to leave their dogs for any longer than the actual grooming takes. These are slightly more expensive and around a two-hour stay for small- to medium- sized pets.

Q:  How do groomers handle fearful or aggressive dogs?

A: You should talk to the groomer about a fearful or aggressive dog before you even schedule an appointment. Please don’t hide this information and hope for the best. If a groomer knows in advance she is much more likely to help work with you. Typically many groomers will at least attempt to calmly groom your fearful pet with plenty of “calm down” breaks. It is much worse to rush a fearful dog; it makes his tension and anxiety higher. Sometimes a dog is fearful because his owner “projects” fear to the dog. If you’re apprehensive about dropping your dog off, he'll feel that and it will make him fearful. So try to make it a positive, upbeat experience when you come in with your dog.

Q:  Why is it so much more expensive to get my dog's hair cut than my own?

A:   When you get your own hair cut, the hair stylist only has to shampoo and then cut and style your hair while you hold still in the chair. When you get your dog groomed, he actually gets two haircuts (a prep clip before the bath and a finish clip after the bath and fluff dry).  He also gets a bath, conditioner if needed, fluff dried, a manicure, a pedicure, his ears cleaned and plucked, and his anal glands externally expressed. I will be willing to bet that your hair stylist doesn't have clients that bite and scratch them daily, let alone going potty on your table. Yes, it does happen a lot.