"Whoever else thinks you are of little worth – to your dog you are the centre of his universe"
(Pam Brown 1928)
Here at the Dog Spa, your dog is our number 1 priority. Time and research has taught us exactly what your dog likes and needs. From the moment your dog arrives to the moment they leave they will receive our absolute and undivided attention. They will be pampered beyond expectation and every treatment they receive will be of the highest quality.
Whether your dog wants, grooming, bathing, or just a day of pure indulgence they will receive one on one attention from one of our qualified dog lovers as we believe this is what your dog deserves. We welcome all breeds, all sizes, nervous and temperamental dogs.
You know what your dog needs best so we have comprised a list of treatments that you can pick and choose from that will be most suitable to your dogs needs, why not mix and match a grooming session with a massage or even opt for a silver or gold spa day, we are here to tend to your dogs needs so we will let you choose.
Click on our list of services to choose what's best for your dog and let us know when your dog can take time out of their hectic schedule to pop in for a pamper!!!
As we all know dogs are absolutely 100% dependant on their owners and carers so here at the Dog Spa your dogs safety is an essential part of the treatments they receive. A dog will never be left unattended on a grooming table, we believe in hand drying our dogs as cage dryers can be hazardous and if we believe that any dog is suffering or under stress we will cease treatment immediately and contact you straight away, it is important when working with dogs that they trust us so it is even more important to them that you also trust you are leaving them in safe hands.
If you are unsure of what your dog needs we are here to advise and are more than happy to have a consultation prior to your dogs time at the Spa so you can discuss your dogs needs and ask us any questions or queries you may have so feel free to give us a call all enquiries are welcome, we look forward to speaking to you.
A: All pets are recommended to be bathed and cleaned at their grooming appointment. There are many steps to grooming, and the proper finished result cannot be obtained unless the entire process has been finished by your groomer. Grooming salons use top quality shampoos and conditioners that help break down matted hair. Also, and most importantly, hand blow drying using a forced air blow dryer is what blows out a lot of the dogs dead coat. Lastly your pet must be very clean in order for your groomer to do their job properly. Not only is a dirty dog very hard on the groomers equipment but you will not get a smooth finish to your dogs hair cut.
A: If your pet has minor matting, it is possible that it can be worked out. If your pet has excessive matting, unfortunately, No. Your pet will have to be shaved and start from scratch. Many people believe that this process does not hurt, Well It Does, more than you can imagine. It is inhumane to put that much stress and pain on your pet just for beauty's sake.
A: Puppy Groom - prepare your puppy for their first groom by practicing holding on to their paws and/or face. Hold until you are ready to let go and if they let you give them a special reward (ie - cheese is really tasty). Practice home grooming in a place your puppy is not used to being. A good place is the dryer. This way they will soon learn that they are going to be brushed. Although they may not be crazy about it they will remember that special treat.
A: Grooming rates vary depending on the breed of your pet, the condition the coat is in, the style of hair cut, and the behavior of your pet. A personal consultation is required to receive a more direct quote on price.
A: Absolutely not! We are equipped and trained to handle jittery, nervous dogs without the use of sedatives or tranquilizers. If you feel you should medicate your pet for calming reasons, that is for you and your vet to handle and decide. Any kind of medication or sedative should be discussed with your vet before administering to your pet.
A: Not necessarily. A dog's coat acts as insulation against the heat as well as the cold. The key is to keep it brushed and combed. It is actually the air that is trapped between the individual hairs that enhances the insulating effect. Matted hair simply traps heat against the skin. If the coat is badly matted, not only is it uncomfortable and painful for the poor dog, it causes skin problems and sores as well. If the coat is too badly matted to slide a comb through easily, shaving is the only option.
A: There are many flea and tick shampoos and dips available both over the counter, and through your vet. Be sure and read the labels carefully before applying them to your dog. Also, there are many topical solutions such as Frontline® and Advantage® (and many others) that are applied to the dog's skin. These are very effective. Flea and Tick collars are semi-effective if your dog's quarters are not infested. In many opinions, the flea collars are not worthy of money spent and will not fix your problem. If you have a flea/tick infestation in your yard, prepare yourself for battle. A long one. What you may apply to the yard and sleeping quarters today will do nothing to the eggs that hatch in 10 days. You must repeat your chemical application every 10 days for at least 30 days to be effective. Be sure to keep your dog off the treated ground until it is dry. Products should be rotated (one application of one, the next application of the other) as ticks quickly develop immunity to a chemical if it is used over and over. Adaptable little devils, huh? Or, you could call an exterminator and let HIM take care of it.
A: This could be caused by any number of things, but right off the bat, check his ears. If he has drop ears (like a hound dog), they can't get good air circulation and become stinky really fast. If ears pass inspection, check his teeth and breath. If they have bad breath and then lick themselves, they can get stinky faster that you can clean them! Have the vet clean the dog's teeth, then get yourself a toothbrush and some doggie toothpaste and brush his teeth just like you do your own. There are special toothpastes that are flavored so the dogs actually learn to like it! If neither of those things are the culprit, it could be anal glands. These are glands on either side of the rectum and are supposed to lubricate when the dog has a bowel movement. However, sometimes these glands get impacted and need to be drained. Your Groomer or vet can help you with this. And sometimes, when dogs get excited or scared, like during a bath or while being blow-dried, they will express these glands on their own, producing a musky, and sometimes quite fowl odor which is definitely strong enough to negate your bath! If none of these seem to be your problem, then a trip to the vet is definitely in order. Several skin diseases can be smelled before they can be seen.
A: Yes, especially raw ones. Cooking makes them less toxic, but not completely risk free. Also raisins or grapes are toxic too.
A: NO!! Some dogs can tolerate aspirin, but NOT Tylenol. DO NOT give EITHER product to a cat. *consult vet before giving any medication.*
A: There are many styptic powders available and you should have one on hand BEFORE you start to trim nails. However, if you don't have any, get a pinch of cornstarch between your thumb and forefinger and apply it to the nail. Pack it on the end of the nail and hold the pressure for a minute or two, or until the bleeding stops. The dog won't like having to be still that long, but be persistent.
A: No, Sorry. BRUSH! BRUSH! BRUSH! COMB! COMB! COMB! There are a few products that can help you out while you are brushing and combing, but none that will magically de-mat your dog.
A: It takes about 1.5 to 3 hours to bathe, dry & groom your dog.
A: If your pet has previous history of snapping and biting, your groomer will appreciate prior notice of this behaviour! Do not feel embarrassed to mention it- groomers understand that dogs are individuals that have issues from time to time!
A: This will depend on several factors. If you wish to keep your dog in a trim- i.e. a Westie or Poodle trim then you should be prepared to make appointments for every 6-8 weeks. The same applies if you have a dog that you cannot groom regularly yourself. Dogs that are not groomed correctly and regularly will form a matted coat, and that will cause discomfort to the pet. All dogs should be groomed at least seasonally. If you have the heavy shedders bathed and blown out regularly your vacuum cleaner will thank you.
A: Providing your dog is not living out of doors, a dog should not feel the cold in our temperate climate. In fact the dog may well feel warmer as she will certainly dry off much more quickly after a walk in the rain!
A: During the winter months your dog will get wet and muddy many times. Moisture causes mats and tangles to worsen, becoming tight to the skin. A long haired dog will often not dry completely after a wet walk, so will smell of wet dog 24/7, and may be uncomfortable as well! Whereas a well groomed or clipped dog will become dry and warm after a quick rub down with a towel, will remain free of matted hair, and will smell sweeter! Remember you can leave your dogs coat a little longer than the summer cut but not grooming all winter is not the solution.