Below are a few common questions and concerns we often come across. If you have any questions not answered below, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!
No! Walk-in services do not require an appointment, and you don’t have to be an existing client. Please visit us anytime during business hours and we’ll be happy to take care of your pup! Please visit our services page for more information.
Yes, both are included with every service, but are a done on a case by case basis. We only express anal glands externally, if they aren’t impacted, and if the dog allows. Ear cleaning and plucking is only performed on healthy ears. Plucking or cleaning ears on a dog with an ear infection can make matters worse and should be treated by a veterinarian. Anal glands and ears will be checked every groom and if they cannot be completed, we will let you know of any issues.
The amount of time a grooming takes depends on a few variables: how big your dog is, the length you want your dog’s coat kept, the condition of your dog’s coat, and any special needs your dog may require. The average time for a small to medium sized dog is 2 to 3 hours.
The length and type of your dog’s coat will determine how often your dog needs to be groomed. An average is every 4 to 6 weeks.
There are some exceptions, but generally unfortunately no. In most cases, even very anxious dogs actually behave better and are less nervous once their owner has left. Dogs become distracted and solely focused on their owner when present, which makes connecting with the groomer harder and often makes the grooming less pleasurable for the dog.
We prefer not to shave your dog if we can help it. In some cases, a dog’s coat can get so tangled that their fur is no longer brush-able, leaving us with no choice but to cut the hair off. The length of the haircut will depend on how much space there is between the matt and the skin’s surface. Matts can often be very close to the skin, requiring the cut to be extremely short. While our groomers are very skilled at gentle de-matting, excessive matts can make brushing a very painful and dangerous process for your dog. As our groomers are only interested in the well being of your pet, we will not attempt to de-matt excessive matting if your dog shows discomfort. We will assess each case individually and discuss options with you. We will never shave your dog without consulting you first.
We are always willing to try! Our groomers are experienced in dealing with behavioral problems and senior/special needs dogs. We have handled many dogs that have been rejected from other grooming salons. Please be sure to let us know what might be a problem. If needed, and only if it can be done safely, a muzzle may be used. For the safety of both your dog and the groomer, we will not continue working with dogs that become too aggressive or anxious, but only if we believe they have become a danger to themselves or the groomer. We do not use tranquilizers or sedatives under ANY circumstances.
For the most part, yes. The only reason we will crate a dog is for safety reasons. For example, if there are two or more dogs in the shop that we’re unfamiliar with, a dog with aggression issues, or if we’re too busy to watch your dog properly. Generally though we like to have dogs free in the shop (we do have a gate keeping them from exiting the grooming area). Most dogs prefer it, and it allows the groomers to interact with and get to know your dog better.
We will only kennel dry your dog if absolutely necessary. While kennel drying is very safe when performed correctly, we will only use a kennel dryer if the dog has a very strong aversion to the hand dryer. Our kennel dryers do NOT blow hot air, and all dogs using a kennel dryer will be monitored closely. Fresh water is always supplied in each kennel, and dogs showing any kind of distress will have the dryer taken off immediately.
We do not. We believe the best dental care is provided by your veterinarian and daily brushing at home. We do regularly check your dog’s teeth and will refer you to your veterinarian if we find anything that we think may need attention. We are also more than happy to give tips or show you how to properly brush your dog’s teeth.
