Grooming Salon FAQ

We recommend that your pup have his or her first grooming between 10 and 12 weeks, as soon as s/he has received the second set of shots.  During this critical learning period, pups are typically curious and unafraid of new things.  A short, positive grooming session will ensure that your puppy has a fun first experience and does not find grooming scary or stressful.  Pups that wait until they are over six months to be groomed are typically much more difficult, afraid, or aggressive to work on.  If you have already missed this window with your pup, please book an appointment as soon as possible.

Frequency of grooming depends entirely on the breed and coat type of your dog, and how much maintenance work you do at home.  Some long coated breeds require daily brushing and weekly grooming.  Most dogs require a grooming schedule of 2, 4, or 6 weeks in between appointments.  Short-coated dogs should be groomed about every 12 weeks, with monthly nail/ear/dental procedures in between.  Any one of our stylists would be happy to assess your dog’s grooming needs and come up with a care plan that suits your dog’s needs and lifestyle.

Typically a grooming on a dog in good condition takes approximately two hours of hands on time.  If a dog requires an intricate trim, has matting, an adverse temperament, or substantial amounts of coat the time required can increase considerably.  We will typically ask to keep your dog with us for about 5 hours to complete the grooming process.  We like to let the dogs settle in and explore the environment before their grooming, take breaks during their groom, and have enough time for us to be patient with difficult dogs or dogs requiring extra care.  If you are in a rush to have your dog groomed and returned quickly, please notify us when booking your appointment and we would be more than happy to accommodate.

There are many resources to help you choose an ideal grooming regimen and style for your pooch.  If you find pictures in magazines or on the internet that you like of a similar dog you could bring them in to show one of our stylists.  We can also give you suggestions based on what other owners of similar breeds or coat types usually prefer.  Practical considerations including current condition of the coat, weather conditions, your lifestyle and how big of a maintenance commitment you are willing to make may also influence your grooming choice.

Yes.  If for any reason you do not want your dog to participate in a mixed environment, simply let our intake associates know and your dog will be kept apart from the other dogs.

We use and recommend a variety of high quality all natural products each specifically formulated for each coat type and skin condition.  If your pet has particularly sensitive skin or is currently dealing with a skin irritation please advise our intake staff and we will choose a hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, or medicated formula for your dog.  Should your dog even become itchy or irritated after a groom, please let us know as soon as possible.  It is impossible to predict a reaction to a certain ingredient, but we can certainly re-bath your pooch in a different product and avoid using the irritating product in the future.

It is very important to maintain your dog’s’ nails at as short a length as possible.  Long toenails can cause the dog to carry weight on the nail rather than the pad of the foot, leading to injury, arthritis, and other long term side effects.  In extreme cases, the nail can grow around and back into the dog’s own foot!  A general rule of thumb is that if you can hear them clicking on the ground when your dog walks, they are too long.  Most dogs are able to maintain a healthy toenail length with monthly trimming and filing, although if the nails are too long already, it may take weekly visits to push the nail length back.

All of our full service grooming procedures include a complete ear check-up and maintenance.  We will examine the inside of your dog’s ear for signs of infection, mites, or other abnormalities and advise you of any issues you may want to discuss with your vet.  Any excess hair in the ear canal will be plucked, and the ear canal will be cleaned out with a gentle cleanser.  

Every grooming we do includes an oral check-up and report.  We will let you know of any excess build-up, inflammation, or other issues we notice.  We will brush your dog’s teeth gently with a tasty enzyme-based toothpaste, and give him a spritz of doggy breath freshener.  Of course, any major cleaning or restorative work will need to be performed by your vet, and daily maintenance by you at home is the best preventative measure.  We are more than happy to assist you in starting a home dental care program by advising you on products, and teaching you how to use them.

We require all dogs in our facility to be ten weeks of age and have received their second set of vaccinations. As your puppy grows, you should keep up to date with your veterinarians vaccine schedule.

All dogs over six months of age must be fully vaccinated for distemper, rabies, and parvo. The bordatella (kennel cough) vaccine is highly recommended, but due to controversial administration methods and effectiveness we leave this choice between you and your veterinarian.

Vaccine information can be uploaded to your Gingr account, emailed to clientcare@thepawshdog.com or brought into the store.