Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ: When should I schedule my puppy for its first groom?
If you wait until puppy "needs" a haircut, you've waited too long!
You want to get puppy into a groomer well before they need their first haircut. This is because their socialization window, or the time in which their little developing brains most readily accept new experiences, begins to close by 14 weeks old. It's really important they have at least a couple happy experience at the groomer prior to 14 weeks old. I want puppies to have their first visit between 8 - 14 weeks old, and stay on a 4 - 6 week schedule so that they learn grooming is a normal part of their life. The first visit can be as early as 8 weeks old, as soon as they've had at least one vaccine, and should not be a full haircut. A Bath & Tidy, or bath and light trim of the hair in front of their eyes, on their feet, and private areas is a great way to give them a short, positive introduction to the groomer. During this intro the puppy also begins its training on how to behave and sit still for the grooming process. I use treats and praise, adjust the dryers lower, and take my time with puppies to make sure it is a positive experience. Puppies that aren't exposed to the grooming process early can become adult dogs that are frightened at the groomer. They may struggle, thrash around, flail, vocalize by whining, screaming or barking, or even scratch or bite, which is dangerous when we are working with sharp tools. I want the puppy to learn to feel comfortable with me and to learn to behave properly before they get too big or strong.
Check out my instructions on how to Socialize Puppy To Grooming & Handling.
Tips to make sure puppy's first early grooming experiences are good ones:
*Consider an appointment style, one-on-one salon to minimize exposure to other dogs until puppy is fully vaccinated.
*When scheduling puppy's visit, ask for an express groom. Young puppies should not be placed in a kennel all day - panicking, and whining/barking. Groomers knowledgeable and experienced with young puppies should readily accommodate this request, and have puppy in and out in about an hour.
*Do not feed puppy its meal prior to appointment so that they will be hungry. Bring puppy's favorite treats with you, and ask the groomer to reward the puppy throughout the grooming experience.
FAQ: Why is my pricing based on an every 6 weeks schedule?
Dogs whose appointments are spaced further apart will have had more time to grow and are more likely to be matted. They may be dirtier and require more product to thoroughly clean during their bath. Their longer hair will take more time to dry and brush, too. Lastly, because their hair has had a greater length of time to grow, any particular pattern or style may be outgrown and take more time to place back into pattern or the desired style.
FAQ: Why do I charge a de-matting fee?
De-matting a dog takes considerably more time, whether I am shaving off matted hair too extreme to save by the use of brushing or de-matting tools or working safely and as pain-free as possible through tangled and matted hair. Whether shaving or brushing, de-matting can quickly add 30-60 minutes onto a dog's normal expected groom time!
De-matting increases liability due to the risk for stress, trauma, or injury. Clipper blades, shears, and de-matting tools are sharp and have the potential to cause injury, especially to dogs severely matted, or dogs not accustomed to or trained to accept the grooming process. Precautions will be taken, however, some unavoidable problems may arise, such as clipper irritation or minor nicks/cuts (especially to any hidden or unexpected moles, sebaceous cysts, growths, etc that the clippers may come into contact with).
Lastly, matting is preventable. Matting is irritating or even painful to the dog. Matting negatively effects the dog's experience at the groomer due to matting being uncomfortable to remove. Absolutely, I want to discourage owners from allowing their dogs to get into that state.
FAQ: Why do longer hair styles cost more?
Longer hair requires more product in the bath, takes more time to wash and rinse, and takes more time to dry and brush. Longer hairstyles also require more hand-scissoring and skill.