"What is your weight limit"?

As a solo groomer I have a weight limit of 120 pounds. Any dogs 70 pounds and over must be well behaved and familiar with the grooming process. 

 

"Do you take walk ins"? 

No I am sorry, I don't do walk ins. Everything is via appointment only and my hours may vary. ​

 

"Do you groom cats"?

No I am sorry, I only groom dogs. I can help you find a cat groomer though!

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"How long does the groom take"?

Grooms are usually between 3-4 hours, could be a little less or a little longer. It depends on the size of the dog, what you'd like done, condition of the coat, temperament and how many dogs you drop off! It also can depend on each individual day with how I am booked and how the dogs are behaving. Sometimes it may take longer if your pet is getting a very intricate haircut, has behavioral challenges or is quite large.

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"What are your prices"?

All pricing may vary as it is based on the individual dog and its needs. It depends on the breed, size, condition of the coat, what you're looking to have done, how long it takes me and the temperament of the dog. I will give you an estimated price range. Please contact me for more information!​

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If you're looking for a one-on-one luxury groom, they're priced higher at $70.00 an hour because you're renting out my salon and no other dogs will be here. Size of dog and intricacy of haircut depending, most dogs are here between 1.5-3 hours.

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​"What are your payment options?" I take cash, check and Venmo!

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"My dog has behavioral challenges and bites; can you still groom them"?

It completely depends on the situation, the individual dog and its needs. I am the sole groomer of my salon, so if your pet happens to be larger or a trickier case I may have to refer you elsewhere with multiple groomers. Sometimes it takes a couple of extra hands, and that's okay! We can always try "doggy downers" too, where you get a calming medication specifically from your vet and use it as directed to helps ease your pet's anxiety and behaviors. If your dog is a bite risk but I am able to groom them, I have a $25.00 behavioral charge. Even a bite from a small dog can end a groomer's career! Tendon damage and infection are a serious risk in terms of being bitten. 

 

In more severe behavioral cases where the dog is a serious danger to both themself and groomers, talking to your vet about full sedation grooming might be the safest and kindest route for your pet.

If your dog is really struggling behaviorally, I always recommend going to the vet first to rule out any pain the dog could be experiencing. An example being arthritis or a ligament tear. If your dog has been cleared medically, contacting a reputable trainer or a certified behaviorist could be very beneficial to you and your pet! 

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"My dog is matted but I don't want them shaved. Do you dematt dogs"?

This is an excellent question I am happy to answer! Us dog groomers have a saying and it's "Humanity over Vanity." Although I may have a few tricks up my sleeve if it's not too bad; If your dog is severely matted, I will have to shave your pet. There gets a point where it is actually physically impossible to "dematt" a dog, as well as it'd be completely inhumane for me to try. Your pet's hygienic wellness and comfort means more to me than keeping a long haircut. As it should to you too! Remember, hair grows back! Sometimes it is kinder to the dog to start out fresh and grow them back into the desired style.​​​ There is an extra charge for working with matted coats. It takes a lot of extra time, precision, and care to shave a pelted dog safely. As well as shaving these dogs damages and dulls my blades! The added charge goes right back into maintaining my equipment.

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"what do I need to look for after my matted dog is shaved down"?

If your pup was matted and had to be shaved, sometimes there's a couple things that can happen. After being shaved your dog's skin is going to feel very different and weird to them. They may be itchy and experience some discomfort. The skin is no longer being pulled on, there's more blood flow and they feel more air flow. If I have to go incredibly short to get the blade up under the matting, that can cause redness and irritation as well. They might lick, chew, and scoot after removing the pelted coat. But don't worry! It shouldn't last more than a couple days as they get used to the new sensation. If they are struggling, your vet should be able to provide you topicals to help sooth affected areas. The best way to avoid matted shave downs and keep your best buddy in tip-top-shape, is to stay on a grooming schedule! I see most dogs every 6 weeks. Routine home and professional maintenance is key to avoiding skin irritation!

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"How often do I need to come in to keep my dog in a long hand scissor style"?

I usually see dogs maintained in longer haircuts every 4-6 weeks. It's generally really hard to keep up with the coat maintenance anything past that time frame. Please be sure you're line-brushing and following through with a metal greyhound comb in between appointments! If your dog is very active and spends lots of time outside getting dirty and wet; a shorter style may be a better fit for their lifestyle so they aren't consistently becoming matted.

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"Do you groom senior pets"?

I do groom senior pets! When our beloved furry friends become elderly, sometimes the grooming process starts to be a little more difficult for them mentally and physically. I will always groom them to the best of my ability, and I mostly focus on their hygienic health vs looks. I usually recommend dogs 16 years and older to be groomed at a vet's office with a veterinary groomer. At a certain point it may become unethical for your average groomer to work with very geriatric pets, especially with severe health issues. Examples being organ failure, such as congestive heart failure. They need that extra TLC!

 

"I have questions about ear plucking"

Some dogs need their ears plucked, and others it will give them infections if it is done. It very much seems it is different for each and every dog. I have clients who book appointments just for ear plucking and some where they cannot have their ears plucked unless in a veterinary setting. I usually only pluck ears if I look in the canal and it's looking like it needs it. I also don't necessarily pluck until it's bare either, I just try to get the majority out. If your dog really struggles with ear problems, it is best to talk to your vet first for proper maintenance guidance and we can go from there! 

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"Why aren't anal glands included? Why are so many groomers not doing anal glands anymore"?  

More vets are straying away from having us do anal glands. Doing them routinely can weaken the muscles, as well as your dog should be expressing them automatically when going to the bathroom. I still provide the service for an extra charge; however, they're best done by your vet. If your dog has reoccurring issues, it is best to make an appointment with your veterinarian. 
 

"Does teeth brushing work"?

So technically, yes! But you have to be doing it at home too. Once every 6 weeks isn't going to keep the dental procedures away. But I can definitely help you keep up on it in between! Always try to brush your dog's teeth a couple times a week to see a difference. I can help with product recommendations.

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​"When do you like to see puppies"?

ASAP!!! Groomers want to see puppies as soon as we possibly can! I see most puppies by 12 weeks of age. It is imperative that your dog get used to the grooming process if they're to be groomed their whole life. You want it to be a "normal" part of their routine, so they aren't scared coming to the groomer. Imagine waiting a year to take your pup to the salon and you drop them off at this strange place with equipment that makes buzzing noises and loud dryers. They're so terrified when this happens and at that point, breed depending, they're usually quite matted and have to be shaved down. Definitely not a good first experience to have. We want our dogs socialized to the grooming process young, so they understand what's happening and it goes smoothly for everyone involved.

 

"What does a puppy's first groom look like"?

For first grooms I provide a very baseline, introductory service to "dip their toes in the water" so to say. It is typically referred to as a "tidy" and includes a bath, eye trim, sanitary trim, paw trim and nail clipping. Depending on how your puppy does, we may do a couple of tidies about a month apart each time to get them used to it before we go into full grooming services. Also keep in mind your pup's first full groom most likely will not be perfect or even! Puppies are wiggly and have short attention spans, so I just try my best! For this reason, I also will not shave a puppy unless I have to (matting/health issues). I will skim with an attachment comb. Once they get the swing of things we can start trimming them into a desired style.

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"What is coat change"? 

When puppies reach between 7 months and a year, they lose their puppy coat and their adult coat starts to come in. Poodle mixes and other fluffy/curly haired dogs tend to mat during this period. It can be a lot easier for you and your pup to go a little bit shorter during this time. Definitely be sure to keep up with your home maintenance of brushing and combing!

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 "My dog went into heat, can you still groom her"?

If your dog went into heat, it is best to keep her home! I do not groom dogs in heat.

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"Do you groom pregnant dogs"?

I do not groom pregnant dogs! Added stress can cause an aborted litter and complications. Breeders should be professionals within their breed and able to provide their females with maternity grooms at home. 

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"I have a dog with very sensitive skin. No matter what groomer we go to they always get so itchy and have reactions!" 

I groom many dogs with skin issues, and it is always best to work with your veterinarian first to figure out what exactly is happening and have a diagnosis. Even if I strictly use hypoallergenic products on your pet, there is no guarantee they won't have a reaction. They could still have a reaction to my clipper blade and scissor oil/lubricant for my tools.

 

There's something I call the "holy trifecta of itchies". It's when your pet altogether cannot get a sanitary trim, paw pad trim, and its ears cleaned in any way. In that case, It may be best to work with a groomer within a veterinary facility. The vet may be able to provide you with aftercare creams and topicals to help, which is something I cannot do. Sometimes even if I do all that I possibly can, some dogs are just very sensitive due to their skin condition. As well as maybe not every time, but eventually they may need their paws and sanitary shaved due to matting. In that case scenario maybe it's best to have it done at a vet. That way they can give you products to help you with the dreaded itchies and redness! 

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"Do you have chlorhexidine shampoo for my dog's allergies"? I do!

If you have spoken with your veterinarian and your dog would benefit from medicated shampoo, I do have some. I only utilize over-the-counter products. If your pet is really struggling, a prescribed oral medication or shampoo may be best.

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"My dog has fleas; can I bring them in"?

I do not take dogs with fleas! It could compromise my salon and effect my other customers and my own personal dogs. If you unknowingly bring your dog in with fleas, I will give your dog a flea bath. It will also be an automatic $30.00 charge due to the added service of the flea bath and because I will then have to treat my whole salon after. 

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​"Do you shave double coated dogs"? Generally, NO.

I do not shave healthy coats on double coated dogs. Double coated examples being aussies, goldens, bernese mountain dogs. I understand these dogs shed a lot and sometimes it can be overwhelming; However, shaving is not going to solve the issue. It will actually create many more problems. If I shave it your dog will still shed, it's just that the hairs will be shorter. As well as you can destroy how the undercoat and guard hairs grow on the dog and the coat could never grow back in the same. It can cause a plethora of skin issues and destroy the function of the double coat's thermoregulation for your pet. The only times I will shave a double coated dog is if it's medically necessary or if it is so matted it would be unethical and inhumane to try to brush it out. A good deshed on your dog should help immensely with the hair you're seeing in the house without causing damage to your pet's skin and coat health!​​​

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