This is Andrea's Havanese in a puppy cut

Many customers ask to keep the dog long like the dogs in the shows at Westminster.  Let me tell you, a long coat requires a lot of care - on your part.  You need to be brushing out your dog every other day at least and be able to bring it to the groomer knot free.  If you can run a comb through the entire dog, we can keep him long.  If there are knots, the knots often need to be shaved out, and the entire dog needs to be about the same length.  And if you are bathing your dog yourself, make sure the dog is knot free before the bath or those knots will tighten up just like a wool sweater tightens when wet!

Below is a photo of a matted cockapoo.  Bring your dog to the groomer every six weeks to assure his well-being and comfort.  Having a matted dog puts him at risk of getting nicked and injured during a dog groom as well.

And below is the dog stripped down with the very proud groomer Andrea.

Q: How often do I need to get my dog groomed?
A: If your dog has hair, you will most likely need to bring him in every six weeks or sooner.

Q: How often do the nails need trimming on my dog?
A: Generally speaking, a dog’s nails need trimming every six weeks. If you walk your dog on the pavement, less trimming may be needed. If your dog is old, the nails may need trimming more often.

Q: Can you groom my very large dog?
A: Yes, with our hydraulic table we can handle any size dog, and then roll the table to the tub. Here is a Picture of a larger dog on our hydraulic table.
Now he gets rolled to the tub:

And easily placed in the tub:

Q: Are groomers licensed?
A: In New Jersey, no license is required to be a dog groomer.

Q: How does a person become a dog groomer?
A: There are schools which teach dog grooming . These schools are dog grooming salons. The graduates may get a certificate from the grooming school or store. Some salons train their employees to become groomers.

Q: How much does grooming school cost?
A: Grooming school costs thousands of dollars. Our groomers are trained professionals and it shows in the quality of their work.

Q: Is it customary to tip the groomer?
A: If you are happy with the service you receive, a tip is very much appreciated by the groomer.

Q: How long does it take to groom my dog?
A: Most dogs take 1 ½ to 2 hours to groom. A larger dog like a standard poodle would take three hours to groom.

Q: How long does it take to give my dog just a bath?
A: Just a bath means a nail trim and ear cleaning too. We would also trim up the face, pads and feet.  It should take about an hour, but may be longer depending on the size and the coat of the dog.

Q: Can I stay with my dog while he's being groomed?
A: Most dogs are less fidgety when mommy or daddy isn't around. However, if you feel better staying with your dog, you are welcome to do so. Just remember you may get full of fur and wet!  You will not be able to touch the dog while he is being groomed and you will need to stay out of the way.

Q: My dog doesn't like other dogs, can he be groomed alone?
A: We try not to have dogs mingle with each other. Most dogs are not bothered by other dogs in our environment. If you wish to have a very quiet grooming appointment, we can schedule an early morning appointment before we schedule other dogs.

Q: I have a bunch of dogs, do I get a break on the price?
A: If you bring two or more dogs in, we will brush the teeth for free. If you refer customers to us, we will give you $5 off your bill for each referral you make.

Q: My dog bites and has been turned away by other groomers. Will you be able to groom him?
A: If your dog has ever bit anyone, please, please let us know. If we feel your dog is likely to bite, we may put a muzzle on him. Sometimes this even calms the dog down. With our tender loving care approach we have made peace with dogs that started out tough and afraid of grooming, but are now some of our dearest clients!


Q: Does my dog get a fresh towel when he's dried?
A: Yes, we have a washer and dryer on site, and we use fresh towels on each dog or cat.

Q: I want to keep my dog in a long coat, why does it keep coming back too short?
A: You can keep your dog in a coat as long as you like, but you must understand he needs regular brushing. If your dog comes in shaggy looking, we will warn you the dog may be groomed short. A shaggy dog is often a matted dog - try putting a comb through the dog and if the comb can't get through the dog is matted. Shaving the matts is more humane than pulling and tugging on them to get the knots out.

Above is a photo of a severely matted dog.  The coat has to be peeled off using a very sharp and close to the skin blade.  This dog can not see, his fur is tight to the skin, his nails are too long for him to walk, and quite frankly as dog lovers we hate to see a dog in this condition.  Unfortunately, we see dogs like this all too often.  Below is a picture of the same dog shaved.

Above is a photo of a severely matted dog.  The coat has to be peeled off using a very sharp and close to the skin blade.  This dog can not see, his fur is tight to the skin, his nails are too long for him to walk, and quite frankly as dog lovers we hate to see a dog in this condition.  Unfortunately, we see dogs like this all too often.  Below is a picture of the same dog shaved.