Grooming is a multi-step process, and your dog is not being worked on continuously for three hours. A typical groom includes a check-in interview, bathing, drying, brushing, nail and ear care, haircutting, and finishing touches. Each step takes time, and some stages, especially bathing and drying, require waiting or processing time.

When you call, there’s a good chance we have a dog on the table and our hands are full! Our team is actively grooming throughout the day, and between dryers, clippers and barking, the shop can get pretty noisy. We simply can’t always hear the phone or step away safely to answer it. We appreciate your patience and promise we’ll return calls and messages as soon as we’re able. Your dog’s safety and care come first!

We know it can be tempting to watch your dog, especially if it’s their first visit! However, our grooming environment involves sharp tools, moving equipment, dryers, barking dogs, and lots of activity, so minimizing distractions helps us keep everyone safe and focused.

For most dogs, we recommend professional grooming every 4–6 weeks. Regular grooming helps maintain a healthy coat, prevent matting, keep nails at a healthy length, and make routine maintenance easier and more comfortable for your dog.

Professional grooming is only part of maintaining a healthy coat. Regular brushing at home helps prevent mats and keeps your dog comfortable between appointments. The frequency depends on your dog’s coat type and length—some dogs may need brushing several times a week or even daily. If you’re not sure what brush to use or how often to brush, ask us!

Most dogs benefit from regular nail trims every 2–4 weeks, although individual dogs vary. Keeping nails at an appropriate length helps support healthy foot structure and can prevent discomfort.

The safety of our employees, clients, and pets is of the utmost importance to Dog in Suds. For everyone’s protection, we require current rabies vaccination records and reserve the right to refuse service when valid proof of vaccination cannot be provided.

Mats are more than just tangles, they can pull tightly on the skin, cause discomfort, and hide irritation or other skin issues. While we will always do our best to preserve your dog’s coat, your dog’s comfort and safety come first. If a coat is severely matted, shaving may be the safest and most humane option. We will never put your dog through a painful or prolonged dematting process just to save the length of the coat.

Absolutely! Puppy grooming is about more than getting a perfect haircut—it’s about introducing your puppy to grooming in a positive, safe, and age-appropriate way. Early experiences can help your puppy become more comfortable with bathing, drying, brushing, nail trims, and being handled. Their first few visits may look a little different than a full adult groom, and that’s okay!

We are happy to discuss accommodations for senior dogs or dogs with special needs. However, grooming can be physically demanding, particularly for dogs with mobility issues or certain medical conditions. Please let us know about any concerns before the appointment so we can determine the safest approach.

Grooming gives us a chance to see areas of your dog that may be difficult to notice at home. If we find something unusual, we’ll let you know. We are groomers, not veterinarians, so we cannot diagnose medical conditions, but we can point out something that may warrant a conversation with your vet.