Before you ask on the phone
Questions we get asked
Timing, pricing, anxious dogs, cancellations, parking and pick-up. Each service page carries a few more specific to that page.
Visiting and pick-up
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How long will my dog be with you?
Two and a half to four hours for a full boutique groom, and under ninety minutes for a wash and blow-dry. We only put one dog on the table at a time, so nobody sits in a crate waiting for a groomer to be free.
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Do you use cage dryers?
No. Every dog is towelled and then dried on the table with a groomer beside it. It is slower and it is the reason we book fewer dogs a day than a high-volume salon.
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What is your pick-up policy?
We call or text when your dog is ready rather than giving a fixed time, because a groom runs to the dog, not the clock. Most full grooms dropped off in the morning are ready to collect the same afternoon, and we hold a finished dog in a quiet spot rather than rush your collection.
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Can I stay and watch?
You are welcome to watch the first ten minutes through the glass doors. Most dogs settle faster once their owner has gone, so we will usually suggest a coffee at the café two doors down.
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Where do I park?
There is metered parking along Bower Lane and a public parking building a short walk away on the main shopping strip. Our door opens straight onto the footpath, so a finished dog is easy to load.
Pricing and coats
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What does a groom actually cost?
A wash and blow-dry runs from sixty-eight to one hundred and forty dollars and a full boutique groom from one hundred and fifteen to two hundred and sixty-five, set by size and coat type. A free style consult turns that range into a firm number.
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My dog's coat is badly matted. Will I be told off?
No. We will show you where it has felted, agree the shortest blade the skin allows and give you a plan to grow it back. Coats get away from people and we would rather see the dog than not.
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How often should my dog be groomed?
Every eight to twelve weeks for a full groom on a longer coat, with a wash or a brush-out in between. Double coats need four de-shedding treatments a year rather than clipping.
Anxious or difficult dogs
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Do you take anxious or elderly dogs?
Yes, and we book them into the quiet slots at the start or end of the day. Tell us at booking so we allow the extra time rather than discovering it on the table.
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What if my dog is aggressive?
Tell us honestly before you book. We can work with most nervous dogs but we do not muzzle and push through a groom, and some dogs are better done under sedation at a vet clinic.
Booking
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How do I book?
Ring the salon Tuesday to Saturday, or use the booking form and we will call you back to confirm the time and talk through the coat.
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What is your cancellation policy?
Give us twenty-four hours and there is no charge. Full grooms are long bookings and a same-day cancellation usually means the slot goes empty.
Anything else
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Do you groom cats?
No. Cat grooming is a different skill and we are not trained in it, so we will point you to someone who is.
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Can I buy the products you use?
Yes. The shampoo, the leave-in mist, the balm, the paddle brush, the steel comb and the undercoat rake are all on the retail wall at the front, at what we pay plus a small margin.
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