What Happens During a Grooming Appointment

1 Check-In & Assessment

When you arrive, we chat briefly about what you want — the haircut style, any concerns, areas to pay attention to. I also do a quick visual check of your dog's coat condition, skin, and overall health.

This is when you tell me about any sensitive spots, fears, or medical issues I should know about.

2 Pre-Bath Brush Out

Before the bath, I brush through your dog's coat to remove loose fur and work through any tangles. Getting mats wet makes them tighter and harder to remove, so we address them first.

For severely matted dogs, this step takes longer. Sometimes dematting is the main event.

3 The Bath

Into the tub for a warm bath with shampoo appropriate for your dog's coat and skin. I work the shampoo all the way down to the skin, paying attention to often-missed spots like armpits, belly, and behind the ears.

Dogs with skin issues might get medicated shampoo. Dogs getting a spa treatment get the fancy stuff.

This is also when anal glands get expressed if needed (externally — we don't do internal expression).

4 Rinse & Condition

All that shampoo needs to come out completely — leftover residue causes itching and skin irritation. I rinse thoroughly, then apply conditioner for dogs who need it (especially long coats and doodles).

5 Drying

This is often the longest part of grooming. I use a high-velocity dryer to blow water out of the coat, then finish with a warm-air dryer.

Proper drying is crucial — a damp coat leads to matting, skin issues, and that "wet dog" smell. I dry all the way to the skin.

For nervous dogs, I go slower with lower pressure and take breaks as needed.

6 Brush & Fluff

Once dry, another brush-through to make sure the coat is completely tangle-free and fluffy. This is when the coat really starts to look good.

7 The Haircut

Now for the actual styling. Using clippers and scissors, I shape the coat according to what you requested — whether that's a breed-standard cut, a teddy bear face, a simple trim, or something creative.

This includes:

• Body — clipped or scissored to your preferred length
• Legs — shaped and blended
• Face — carefully trimmed around eyes, muzzle, and cheeks
• Ears — trimmed and cleaned up
• Tail — shaped to match the overall style
• Sanitary area — trimmed short for cleanliness
• Paw pads — hair between pads removed

8 Nail Trim

Nails get trimmed to a comfortable length. For dogs with dark nails, I go carefully to avoid the quick. If nails are very overgrown, we might do a little at a time over multiple visits.

I also smooth any rough edges so they don't snag.

9 Ear Cleaning

Ears get cleaned with a gentle solution and cotton — no Q-tips deep in the ear canal. For breeds with hairy ear canals (poodles, doodles), I remove excess hair so air can circulate.

If I notice signs of infection (redness, smell, discharge), I'll let you know so you can see the vet.

10 Finishing Touches

A final once-over to catch any uneven spots, a spritz of cologne if you want it, and maybe a cute bandana or bow.

Then I snap a photo to show you how adorable your dog looks!