Puss and Pooch Mobile Grooming Salon & Spa

Here at Puss and Pooch I strive to make every dog's grooming experience as pleasant as possible. I do not use any sedation or force other then aromatherapy. We treat every dog humanely. A typical grooming consist of the following:

Visual Examination

I begin your dog's grooming with a complete visual examination. I am looking for any lumps or abrasions, stiffness in the joints and the general health of the skin and coat. All these factors help me to determine the right type of clip and shampoo best suited to your dog.

Initial Clipping

The first clipping is done before the bath. This makes the dog easier to wash thoroughly and reduces drying time. The first clipping is done either by electric clipper or with scissors depending on the finished result we want to achieve.

Nail Clipping and Under Pads

Nails are clipped as short as possible without making them bleed. Nails that are excessively long will have to be clipped again in a few weeks' time to futher reduce their length. Dogs that hate having their nails clipped have them done at the end of their grooming.

Underpads are clipped short to remove matted fur, twigs, gum, etc. trapped between the toes. It is a good idea to check the underpads between grooming, particulary on dogs with a lot of fur.

Ear Cleaning

Excessive hair is plucked from the ear canal using medicated ear powder. This is done to prevent ear infections. The ears are then cleaned with ear cleaner and organic cotton. You will be advised if the ears appear red, swollen, excessively waxy or have a strong odor. These are all indications of a possible ear infection. Your vet can determine treatment.

Brush Out Before the Bath

Dogs must be completely mat-free before they are bathed, otherwise the mats "set" and become impossible to brush out. Dogs that are not being clipped get their first brushing at this time. They are brushed again once completely dry.

Bathing

I put cotton in the ears of the dog to protect his ears from the water. I put eye protection drops (vitamin E oil) in both eyes to help protect the eyes from any shampoo possibly getting into the eyes. I place your dog in a raised tub and secure him with a grooming loop. I use clean warm running water and completely wet the dog. I then add the correct type of natural shampoo and work it into a rich lather. Special shampoos require additional soaking times and applications. Also used is a hydro-sprayer bather to ensure that the dog is cleaned to the skin.

Drying

Drying is a many step process. I begin with a forced air dryer which blows the excess water from the coat. I then use a super absorbent towel followed by a terry towel. Once the dog is partially dried, he is then hand finished on the table. This called "fluff drying" and gives the smooth fluffy, professional look to the groom.

Finish Syling

The clean, fluff-dried dog now has his final clipping and/or scissoring. As a finishing touch, bows are added and a sprits of fragrance. Your dog is now ready to go home.

The entire process varies in length of time depending on many factors: the condition of the coat (i.e. length of time since the dog was last groomed), age of dog (puppies and geriatric dogs take longer), type of clip or bath, and the dog's attitude towards the grooming experience. Dogs that are groomed reguarly are easier to groom because: a)the coat isn't too badly matted or overgrown and b) the dog is familiar with the procedure and will be less likely to resist each stage of the process. Every dog is different. My job is to groom your dog with the minimum amout of stress, in the safest, most efficient manner and with the most professional results.