Frequently Asked Questions

Why do you groom out of your home?

Grooming salons can be stressful for dogs. With other dogs barking, blow dryers running non-stop, and multiple hands working on one dog, many dogs struggle in this environment. Even a confident dog can feel the strain of being under that many triggers for prolonged periods of time. By offering the same services with one-on-one care, dogs are at ease and able to be in a comfortable environment while receiving focused care. 

Is my dog a good candidate?

Most dogs are great candidates for home-based grooming! Young dogs can learn good manners for grooming while older dogs can get focused care. Dogs who would not be a good candidate are dogs with aggression toward people, are extremely difficult to handle, or with extreme aggression toward dogs. Dogs with some levels of stress, nipping, or handling difficulty can be worked with as long as dog and human are safe. All communication with owners is appreciated to make sure if we are a good fit, but in all cases I am here to help however I can!

Do you groom puppies?​

Yes. Puppies will have a shortened grooming session with focus on desensitization to grooming procedures. This will include a bath, blow dry, nail trim, and light trimming. It will also include desensitization to the clipper sounds/feeling. Puppies can enjoy our Puppy Prep from 8 weeks - 6 months of age and have received at least their first DHPP vaccines. Some puppies may go home incomplete with the intention of keeping the experience positive and simple.

Will there be other dogs present?

At times, other dogs may be present in passing. Either they are waiting for pick up or they are dropped off just before your pup is picked up. These transitions are done intentionally and with the use of crating areas to keep clean pups clean and shy pups comfortable. I also have my personal dogs on property who are kept to their own area while grooming is happening. If you have a dog who has big feelings toward other dogs, please let me know and I can be extra sure to avoid visual contact with other dogs and can avoid appointments overlapping. 

What if my dog is reactive to other dogs?

This is a common behavior that many struggle with. "Reactivity" displays as barking/lunging/whining/etc in the presence of other dogs while on leash. If your dog struggles around other dogs for whatever reason, let me know and we can make arrangements to make the process easy and comfortable for everybody.

 Can you groom multiple dogs at a time?

Yes. In between each of your dogs, the other(s) would be crated in the grooming salon waiting their turn. They can enjoy an enrichment activity during that time or just hang out and watch. 

What does your set up look like?

I have designed a detached shed outside of my home to be made into a grooming salon. It is climate controlled, well lit, clean, maintained just like my home, and made for comfort and functionality. Because it is a space that is shared with me and your dog, I want it to be as clean and cozy as possible. The salon and equipment are all cleaned and sanitized between grooms.

Can we see your set up in person?​

Because I have chosen to open up my home for a comfortable grooming solution for dogs, I respectably decline anyone to enter my home space including the backyard where my salon is set up. While there are no secrets, I do ask for privacy for my family and the comfort for my personal dogs. Not having human strangers coming into their space is fundamental for the comfort of my personal dogs as well as my family. I appreciate your understanding in this!

How long does grooming take?

Depending on the dog, some grooms take an hour and some can take 4+ hours. Grooming time will depend on your dogs size, coat type, condition, and at home maintenance. It can also take more time if we are doing any creative grooming. If your dog has not been groomed in 6 months plus and has impacted hair, the grooming will take more time. In some rare cases, a dog's grooming may need to be split in days for their comfort.

How do I book appointments?

Contact me via text/call and we can schedule your dog.

Do you accept walk-in appointments?

We do not accept any walk-in appointments. All services must be scheduled, including al la carte options (nail trims, ear cleanings, and anal gland expressions). 

Can my dog come just for nails/ears/expressions?

Yes! We accept dogs to stop by for nail trims, ear cleans, or anal gland expressions for the Al la Carte pricing. Please be sure to schedule a time to swing by - I do not accept walk-ins. 

What is an After Hours pick up fee?

If your dog is not picked up by 5:00pm, an after hours fee will be charged. To maintain a healthy work-home balance, the salon closes at 5:00pm sharp and all dogs must be picked up by this time. If your grooming goes past 5:00pm, this does not apply. Some days the hours of operation are shorter. If this is the case, a maximum pick up time will be stated and anything after this would add an After Hours pick up fee.

What is considered "Day Care"?

If your pup is staying with me for 30 minutes before/after their grooming has begun/is completed, it falls under the category of Day Care. Because I am not a day care facility, charges must be applied for my watching over your dog for the extended time before or after their scheduled grooming. 

What's Included in all grooming appointments?

Each grooming appointment will receive bath, blow dry, nail trim, and ear cleaning. Anal gland expression is also included if needed. 

What's an "add-on"?

Add-ons are extra goodies that can be purchased to include in a regular grooming. This includes things like creative grooming (dying/fancy trimming), enrichment activities, or Day Care.

What's a "dematting" fee?

For dogs that are pelted to the skin or have matting over 50% of its body will have a dematting fee applied to their grooming charges. 

What's a "difficult handling" fee?

Any dog who is presenting difficult to groom to the point that it is taking additional time out of the schedule or is causing physical strain to the groomer will have a difficult handling fee applied to their grooming charges.

Are you currently taking new clients?

Yes!

What if my dog has been asked to not return to another groomer?

Some dogs struggle in salons and some salons struggle with certain dogs. Get as much detailed information as you can from the previous groomer and we can talk about our options. I've been able to get "black listed" dogs groomed in full with no problem, but some dogs struggle so much that the kindest option would be grooming at a veterinarian's office under sedation. We can talk about our options and I'm happy to try and see how things go.

What if my dog bites?

If your dog is truly aggressive toward people, I will not be able to accept them for grooming. If they are able to get work in and not actively biting at me, we can try and see if we can get them finished. We can also do a desensitization routine to reward them along the way and do short bits of grooming over a few days time to try and condition them to the grooming process. Muzzles and tools will be used to get grooming accomplished and training would be recommended to help make the process better in the future.

Can you groom elderly dogs?

Yes. Modifications can also be made to help their groom go quickly and smoothly.

How long have you been grooming?

I started grooming in 2008. See About Me for more details.

Do you have other experience with working with dogs?

I began training my personal dogs when I was 10 years old and began showing them in competition since 2003. Grooming started when I was in college in 2008 and I've professionally been working with dogs since 2017. See About Me for more details. 

Am I guaranteed to get the haircut I want for my dog?

If no direction is given, I will default to a breed specific trim if you have a purebred dog. Doodles will be groomed to a generic "doodle" trim based off of their coat type. If you have a specific look in mind (whether they are purebred or mixed) send me a photo of your dog and what look you want and we can talk about if their coat type will support that style.

If your dog is matted, it will be shaved down to start over. It is out of kindness to my time but most importantly, to your dog. Dematting a dog is painful and time consuming. To be sure your dog will not develop matted coat, please visit my resource links below. Coated breeds need regular maintenance.

Can I shave my double coated dog?

While it is not recommended in most cases, I can do a shave down of a double coated dog. This is best for elderly dogs, severely impacted dogs, or dogs who do not go outside often. See next response.  

Why should I not have my dog shaved?

Shaving double coated dogs (retrievers, Pomeranians, shepherds, Huskies, etc) not only damages the coat but also removes a layer that protects their skin and cools them down. Shaving hair does NOT keep them cool in the summer or help control shedding. In the long run, it can lead to alopecia. Please see link provided below for more information on shaving double coated dogs. 

Why was my dog shaved down to the skin?

Dogs who come in with matted hair or severely impacted coat may be shaved down to the skin as a service to them. The process of dematting a dog is time consuming and painful for them. In most cases, it is kinder to shave under the hair that is pulling at the skin and start the growth process over again. To prevent having another shave down in the future, please see the provided link on routine coat maintenance to help for future grooms. 

What maintenance can I do at home to be sure my dog receives the grooming style I want in the future?

To maintain long hair or a scruffy look, regular combing is required. Investing in a comb with teeth that go all the way to the skin will assure that no hair can gather together under the surface and knot. Be sure that the comb is in fact reaching the skin and put extra care into combing on the legs, belly, behind the ears, and under the tail. See the link provided for best at home coat care. 

Just like our hair, a dog must have regular brushing.