I have a new puppy. What do I need to know ?
The first visit is of utmost importance. We recommend this be at about 4 months, after the third round of shots. At this visit puppy will get a bath, introduced to the dryer, brushed out, and nails trimmed. Trimming around the eyes, feet, and rear end will be done as long as puppy is comfortable. Keeping this experience positive is the ultimate goal. A grooming shop is a new, and sometimes overwhelming environment for a young dog. Early exposure is important to the dog’s future comfort with the grooming process.
Is teeth brushing important?
Teeth brushing can be very helpful in maintaining good oral hygiene for your best friend, however The Dog Shop does NOT offer this service. We believe this, in order to be any help to you and your dog, needs to be done much more regularly than only every two to four months. we recommend consulting your vet for a teeth cleaning schedule to fit your pet’s individual needs. K9 Dental
How long does grooming take?
The grooming procedure can take anywhere from 2 – 6 hours. This depends on many variables such as, size, coat type, the condition of the coat, age, exposure, and spirit . We strive to take as much time as necessary to make a positive, enriched experience for both human and dog alike. This is a free roaming grooming shop and your dog does not have to sit in a kennel for hours. We do have kennels available for those dogs that feel more comfortable having their own space.
Can I stay and watch?
No. The reason for this is we need your dog to know that he/she can trust us. A nervous unsure guardian can make for nervous unsure dog. Nobody wants that. your dog needs to be looking to his/her groomer for guidance and reassurance and this is very difficult to achieve with their beloved person standing there.
My dog is scooting or licking their rear after grooming.
It is standard procedure to check and externally express every dog’s anal glands. Anal gland expression can sometimes make a dog feel sensitive, or in some cases, irritate that area. Another reason a dog may do this is on some breeds trimming the hair around the rear is ideal for hygienic purposes, this can leave a dog feeling a bit exposed if they are not used to it. If this is your dog, don’t hesitate to let your groomer know. We can certainly work around it.
What kind of maintenance should I be doing at home?
Some dogs need very little, some need a lot; it all depends on what you are willing to maintain. You must be real with yourself and ask, how much time do I want to spend? The basics are brushing, keeping those ears clean and even nail trimming (if that is in your comfort level) but remember to always have a blood clotting agent such as Kwik Stop on hand when trimming nails. Grooming can get a little more tedious and time consuming on those shedless breeds if you’re looking to maintain some length on their coat. You will need to have the proper tools to keep matting from getting out of control, a metal comb is a must and a slicker brush may be used as a mat breaker as well, but be mindful that these can both damage the coat and/or injure your dog if used improperly. Always feel free to ask us for advice, for example “what kind of tools did you use on my dog? How did you use them?” It is a win-win when you can minimize any amount of stress on your dog by doing a little more at home.
What is a mat/matting?
For those who don’t know what a mat is, it is thick tangled mass of hair, however, matting can be deceiving even to your groomer. We always try to estimate what exactly we are dealing with before we start on your dog but sometimes even the professionals get thrown off by certain coat types. Keeping your dog’s hair a length that is in your comfort level to maintain at home till their next grooming is ideal.
My dog is itching after grooming.
This is usually an easy fix. Switching to a shampoo that is more suitable for you dog’s skin type. Sometimes this can be a guessing game though. Consider the season of the year, diet, are there fleas, as these can also play a key roll in why a dog might be itchy.
How much will it cost?
As with any service, the cost is based on difficulty level and time spent. We are happy to give a price estimate upon meeting with you and your dog and learning what achievable goals you are looking for with his/her grooming.
Can you groom my dog without giving them a bath?
There is very little grooming that can be done without a properly cleaned and dry coat. In order to maintain the quality we promise, It is imperative that we bathe every dog we perform a haircut on.
Do you require proof of shots to groom my dog?
We do not require proof of vaccinations to groom your dog. We strongly recommend keeping your dog up to date with it’s shots, but we realize extenuating circumstances prevent some dogs from getting certain vaccinations.
Do you have a do it yourself dog wash area?
We are not a self-service dog wash and do not have a DIY dog wash area. We strive to provide exceptional, full-service dog grooming in a relaxed and free-roaming environment; a DIY area is not conducive to the atmosphere we strive to create for your dog.
A few of weeks ago I was out to grab some dog food from my favorite shop to do so, Natural Pet NW. I noticed that a dog grooming shop was going to be opening up right next door so I figured I'd take my dog, Geordi, in to get groomed because he was getting scruffy, maybe even mangy! OK not mangy, but he needed a hair cut so bad. I got the information for the shop and booked an appointment for today and took Geordi over for his grooming. There were two groomers on duty, Danielle and Jessica, they were super friendly and personable. We chatted with them for a bit and we found out they'd been working together for years and it definitely shows. They let the dogs run free around the shop which is very different from what I am used to. It is secure so the dogs can't run away but the dogs can hang out and they weren't restricted to kennels. They do have kennels available for dogs that need them or owners that prefer them though. My previous groomer had just used kennels and I never felt quite right about it. I always felt rushed to come get Geordi so he wasn't stuck in a kennel.
Danielle was the groomer who groomed our dog. To be honest I didn't know that our dog could get any more adorable and handsome! I never know the way to describe how to groom Geordi using proper terminology but Danielle was very intuitive and knowledgeable and patiently helped figure out the mental image I was trying to extract from my mind. She did an wonderful and amazing job! I can't say it enough! Also Geordi didn't seem stressed out from the experience whatsoever. She was even very understanding and forgiving of the fact that Geordi had more than the average number of accidents while at the shop. The price was also very reasonable especially for the quality of the work done.
I highly recommend this place for anyone looking for a groomer or if you're not completely satisfied with your current one (like me). I'll definitely be taking Geordi back as needed. Did I mention they even had out some free donuts for customers? I'm not too proud to eat a donut, especially a free one!
We have been bringing our golden doodle to The Dog Shop for several years now. Our experience every time has been nothing but THE BEST! We have several friends who bring their dogs here as well and everyone is truly happy! Our dog is happy here and enjoys her play time with the other dogs. She looks amazing after each visit! I was sorry to read some of the other reviews because we feel our dog is well taken care of and the staff is kind, courteous and very knowledgable. We would much rather have our dog interacting with other dogs than have her stuffed in a kennel.
Thank you Jessica and everyone else at the Dog Shop!
I've taken my Australian Shepherd/Border Collie mix here a few times now and he always come back snowy white and smelling good! I love the feel of the place - it's always full of happy dogs just running around playing with each other. From time to time I see a dog in the back who is segregated but I can tell they are aggressive and that's why they're separated.
Everyone who works here is so nice and they always seem to remember my dog and comment on his changing coat each time. He's always happy when we comes out of The Dog Shop and he's a champion moper with a serious sad face when he feels like it so if he was upset about the experience -we'd be able to tell.
I once took my dog to another groomer and I'm still traumatized by the experience. We've since moved into Lake Oswego and will still be going to the Dog Shop - that's how awesome they are!
I brought my dog, Boopsie, into The Dog Shop for a grooming session a few weeks ago and was very impressed with their work. I walked in with a shaggy dog that had not been groomed in months, and what I got back was a sweet smelling good looking and happy but sleepy pup. She was able to play and socialize with the other dogs in the free-roaming facility for several hours before she was groomed which was a big plus for me. It meant I didn't have to take her out for a walk when I got home!
The facility itself was clean and had a relaxed atmosphere. I was served promptly and the groomer consulted with me on my grooming preferences for Boopsie since it was our first time in. It's easy to see why they have so many loyal customers because they did a great job! I got a precious little teddy bear back when they were done and I was so pleased with their work that I went ahead and made a future grooming appointment before I left. The groomer, Jess, recommended I do since they book many weeks out. Another added convenience is the fact that there's a pet store right next door to The Dog Shop which meant I was able to pick up some last minute items before I got Boopsie.
We are looking forward to our next appointment, and highly recommend The Dog Shop for dog owners who want quality grooming at reasonable rates.
This shop was amazing!! We have only taken our Samoyed to one other place and we were not pleased with the results. Nor have we had success with a previous Golden Retriever. Needless to say we are very picky where we take our dogs. I love the open environment, you get to see exactly what is going on! It is wonderful that they let the dogs just hang out in the shop and not in cages (I mean grooming is scary enough for our Samoyed and then throwing him in a cage wont really help). I also had a great feeling that they knew exactly what to expect with each dog. Their prices were better then we were expect since our Samoyed needed a lot of help! In the end our dogs came out of the shop happy and beautiful (seriously I could stop petting them).
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