Frequently Asked Questions
How long will my pet have to stay to be groomed?
It depends on the individual pet. Coat condition, age, temperament and breed & style desired are all factors. On average it takes1.5 to 2 hours for small pets, more time for larger breeds. Generally I have a morning schedule where pets come in before the owner goes to work and spend the morning. For the afternoon schedule where pets come in after lunch and are picked up late afternoon.
If you need your pet in or out by a certain time OR need to leave your pet the whole day please discuss this when making the appointment and we will adjust accordingly.
What all happens when you groom my dog?
*All groomings normally begins with a special hydromassage bath.
The high volume water massages and cleans to the skin with a gentle cleansing shampoo chosen for your pets individual needs. We bathe first so that we are working with a clean pet. Clean hair is easier to brush and prevents damage to expensive clipper blades & equipment. Plus it's more pleasant for the groomer to work with a fresh clean pet. If the pet has some hair mats brushing while the hair is soapy facilitates removing tangles and matted undercoat.
*Conditioner may be applied after shampooing depending on the coat type.
A special rinse can be used for shedding dogs to help remove the shedding hair.
*After the finial clean water rinse the dog is towel dried. If your pet has long hair often I will wrap the dog in a towel warm from the clothes dryer and allow them to sit in a cage for a few minutes while the warm towel draws moisture from the hair. Occasionally you may catch me checking my e-mail with a towel wrapped pooch!
*We choose the blow dry method that is appropriate for your pets trim. Most dogs are dried first with a high velocity dryer. Water is literally blown from the dogs coat. The high volume warm air quickly seperates the hairs and removes volumes of shedding hair.
*Breeds with stylized scissor trims are then hand dried to acheive the perfect beginning for "fluffy & pretty" that is the hallmark of a D'tails groom.
*Then the Trimming begins
Most stylized trims invlove clipping the body and scissoring the legs, ears and head accoring to breed styles and customer preferences. D'tails specialty is "fluffy and pretty".
If the dog hasn't been brushed at home or groomed on a regular basis the coat may become quite matted. In that case a stylized trim may not be possible. Clipping the coat short may be neccessary. Dematting is very uncomfortable for the pet.
"Humanity above vanity" is the golden rule at D'tails
* Your pet's ears are checked, cleaned and deodorized.
Some breeds have hair that grows inside the ear. The hair is removed if necassary.
* Anal glands are emptied by owner request if needed.
* Nails are trimmed & dremeled to eliminate sharp edges.
*Finishing touches of fragrance and bows or bandanas are applied at no extra charge.
Why does my dog have be put in a cage?
Pet safety is the most important aspect of caging pets while at the grooming shop. The holding cages are in the grooming room so that they are under supervision at all times. Each pet gets a clean soft blanket to lay on while they are here. Most pets relax and some even doze while they are waiting for their turn to be groomed. It would not be safe to let dogs that don't know each other be with other pets they aren't familiar with.
What information do you need when I drop my dog off?
Your name, address, phone numbers and e-mail address.
Your pets name, birth date, breed as well as any health or behavior information.
Can my pet be groomed the day I call for an appointment?
Not usually. Durying the busy spring & summer time and before Holidays D'tails may be booked out for a week or two. We schedule so that we can give each dog the time and attention to achieve the best grooming experience for the pet and a quality trim. Squeezing in "just one more" isn't fair to the customers and pets that scheduled ahead of time for their appointment.
Most customers prefer to rebook their next appointment when they pick up their pet so they don't have to wait for an appointment if they forget to call.
Can I stay and watch my dog being groomed?
To groom your pets I need to use sharp tools on a moving animal. For the pets and my safety I need to have your dogs undivided attention. You are welcome to tour the shop and ask questions before the appointment, but you will need to leave or quietly wait in the lobby during the grooming process.
Why does my dog shake when we enter the salon?
It is normal for your dog to shake when coming into the grooming salon. Dogs are sometimes like children being dropped off at daycare. They may put on a "show" for the parents but quickly settle in when the parent leaves. It's best to calmly hand the pet to the stylist and NOT make a big deal out of leaving them. Your pets safety and comfort are my main concern when grooming your pet. Some of my favorite dogs to groom were once very reluctant to trust me & now happily come into the salon. Each pet has their own unique personality and I enjoy getting to know them and forming a trusting relationship with your pet.
What can do to help my pet enjoy the grooming process more?
*Brush your pet at home.
Some dogs do not like being groomed because it hurts! Brushing matted hair pulls hair and doesn't feel good at all. While I do use products and techniques to make tangle removal as easy as possible, there is no way to brush out a matt without causing some degree of discomfort for your pet. Just imagine if you never brushed your hair between beauty shop appointments! Also imagine if your hair was in constant contact with the floor, furniture and the outside ground in all kinds of weather conditions. Would you like it if your beautician had to brush through that mess? Probably not.
*If you are willing to brush your pet at home, I would be happy to demonstrate proper tools and techniques to make it easier on both you and your pet.
*If you simply do not like to brush your pet we can discuss a bath & brush only between grooming or choose a hair style that is shorter and easier to care for.
Do groomers ever get bitten?
Yes, it can happen. If a dog threatens to bite I may use a muzzle to protect myself. When the dog is calm again the muzzle is removed. If a dog cannot be groomed safely it will be sent home partially groomed and charges applied for time spent.
Why try D'tails?- D'tails is a business based on a love of pets. Your pet will receive plenty of one on one attention.
- Styles change in dog grooming just like hair styles change for people. Garoleen attends at least on grooming convention each year to keep up on the latest styles, techniques and equipement.
- Professional commitment. Garoleen is a Certified Groomer with the National Dog Groomers Association of America. Requirements for certification include a written test and grooming a dog for a trained evaluator.
- Experience is priceless. Garoleen has been grooming pets since 1980. While styles may change and popular breeds may change, good grooming basics never change. A clean well brushed coat, correctly trimmed nails, ears plucked (if needed) and cleaned. These health maintenance tasks are performed with each bath or grooming.
- NO drugs or tranquilizers are ever used.
- Nails are trimmed then dremeled to remove sharp edges.
AGRESSIVE DOGS
D'tails does not discriminate against any specific breed of dog. Our policy for aggressive dogs is as follows;
If a pet cannot be groomed safely the dog or cat will be sent home and charges applied for time spent. We have many safety aids available to help control most pets. We would be happy to demonstrate and explain how the restraint systems work and demonstrate that they are safe and humane for the pet. If a dog threatens to bite or seriously tries we will use a muzzle to protect the groomer. When the groom progresses to a point the dog is calm and relaxed again the muzzle will be removed.
There may be an extra charge applied to pets with behavior issues, depending on additional time required.
* If you know that your pet has a fear of grooming or an issue with a particular procedure (for example hates nails trimmed) please advise us at check in. We can adjust our methods to accommodate the pet and take extra time to protect both the groomer and the pet.
As a professional groomer, it is our job to groom pets. We are not vets, trainers or behavior therapists. If a pet cannot be safely groomed, we recommend you have your pet groomed at a vet clinic where the pet can be sedated and groomed under veterinary supervision.
