FAQs:
Q: How long will my pet be at the salon?
A: A haircut appointment is typically 4-5 hours for dogs and 4-6 hours for cats. Bath appointments are typically 2-4 hours for dogs and 3-5 hours for cats. We try to get everyone finished as fast as possible depending on each individual animals tolerance levels. An appointment is a spot in line and if an animal ahead of yours in line (or your own animal) takes longer than expected then it can delay the completion of the animals after it. We promise we are going as fast as safety allows.
Q: Do you offer express grooming?
A: Yes, we offer express grooming services. An express groom is $20 in addition to your pet's normal groom price and gets your dog in and out in approximately 2 hours for small breeds like Yorkies, Havanese, Shih Tzu and Maltese and approximately 3 hours for larger breeds like Doodles and Standard Poodles. An express groom means that your dog is washed, dried and given the haircut without waiting for anyone "in line" ahead of you. Express grooming appointments are booked as either the groomers first or last appointment of the day.
Q: How far in advance are you booked out?
A: We recommend contacting us 2 weeks before your desired appointment date. Many clients find it easiest to pre-book their next appointment (or several appointments) when they pick-up from their current appointment. That way your pet is always looking their best and never waiting too long to come in.
Q: Where in the Marketplace Shopping Center are you located?
A: We are in the same parking lot as the library. We are located in between Bank of America and Bollinger Canyon Animal Hospital.
Q: If my pet is matted how will it be handled and what are the charges?
A: There are several factors that determine how we handle a matted coat. First, is the matting covering the entire body or just areas here and there? In cases where the matting is tightly covering the entire body this is not a situation where brushing out the coat is possible. The only humane way to handle this extensive matting is to shave the dog/cat and start fresh. Attempting to brush out matts this severe will cause damage to the skin and be extremely painful to the animal. In cases where there are matts in specific areas on the body we can usually dematt this as long as the animal tolerates dematting. Just like people, individual animals have different levels of pain tolerance and even under the gentlest of groomers hands dematting can be painful and sometimes have side effects like skin irritations that may appear several hours after grooming when your pet has returned home and the groomer could not see them at the shop. So, if your pet is making it clear that they cannot tolerate the dematting process we will not put your pet through undue stress just to achieve a specific "look". We firmly believe in humanity over vanity. When dematting cannot be tolerated then shaving is again the only humane option for the animal. Pets that can tolerate dematting are dematted at a rate of $1.50/minute, so if it takes the groomer an extra 30 minutes to dematt your pet this is a $45 additional charge on top of the regular grooming price. Groomers are booked an estimated 8 hours of work per day, if a pet requires more time from the groomer this is the same as the groomer having to stay late and work "overtime", thus dematting work is charged at time and a half.
Q: When should my puppy come in for their first appointment?
A: We usually recommend that puppies come in once they are cleared by the vet. Typically they are ready to come in about 2 weeks after their second set of shots but always check with your own vet first to ensure your pet is safe to come in. The younger they are when they come in the easier it is for them to become accustomed to the grooming process. We usually recommend a face, feet, tail (FFT) service for the first 1-3 visits depending on how your puppy does. The FFT takes a little less time on the table and is a great introduction to grooming for puppies.
Q: Can I stay and watch my pet being groomed?
A: No, most groomers do not allow owners to stay and watch. When a dog knows that it's owner is there they are very wiggly and it is almost impossible to groom them safely or at all. This is also the reason why we ask that owners not "stop by" to check on their animal. If a dog is on the table being worked on and they hear, see or even smell their owner, it can make it very difficult or not possible to finish the groom. If you have any questions about finish time please text us. When your pet is close to finished we will text you with the accurate completion time so you will know exactly when your dog will be ready.
Q: Will my dog need to be in a kennel?
A: Yes, in between steps (bathing, drying, grooming) the dogs are kenneled. This is much safer than having dogs running loose together where you never know if a fight could happen.