A professional dog grooming session typically involves several carefully executed steps. First, your dog will be gently bathed using a shampoo suited to their coat. This is followed by a thorough drying process, ensuring no moisture is left to cause discomfort. The groomer will then attend to any specific requests, including trimming the coat, nails, and cleaning the ears. It's a comprehensive service designed to make your pet clean, comfortable, and looking fabulous. Interested in learning more? Visit us in person or call today!

How long does a grooming (haircut) or bath service take?

Is it ok to visit our dog during a grooming or bath service?

For the safety of the animals being groomed, as well as the dog groomer, avoid interrupting the groomer during grooming. Every effort will be made to ensure your pet is groomed as safely as possible, but an excited pet can be dangerous to continue to work on. Unless a pickup time is agreed in advance, please wait for confirmation before coming by for pick up. We are likely finishing up with your pet and seeing their family can understandably be very exciting and distracting! After dropping your pet off, please do not stop back in the salon until you have received a “ready for pick up” text. If you have any questions after drop off, please call us.

Much like kids in pre-school, once you are gone, they settle in and get comfortable. We always allow the dog to sniff around and smell the salon a bit to familiarize themselves with their environment. Dogs are very intuitive and will pick up on any anxiety that you may be feeling so it is important that you be calm and reassuring.

We believe that every dog has unique needs and requirements to achieve a quality service. That’s why our pricing is specific to each dog on an individual and personal level. Breed, weight, coat type, coat condition, and style of haircut are all key points in pricing our clients correctly. Consultations are always free, and even though we will try to pinpoint our best with an over the phone estimate, please know prices are subject to change but always to be communicated with the owner prior to providing service. Calling and speaking to one of our team members over the phone is the best way to obtain pricing and service questions. (Please allow 24 hours to return messages)

The best way to understand grooming prices is to think of them as “based on time”. We quote prices based on our knowledge of about how long it takes to groom each breed, per the AKC breed standards. If your dog has “exceptions” such as on size, coat condition, temperament, etc., we may charge a bit more or a bit less. The groomer will give you an estimated price at drop-off. However, this price may change once your furry friend has begun the process due to things like matting, behavior, etc.

If you are unsure of your dog’s breed standards you can refer to the AKC website for a list of breeds. http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/

We usually say it’s great to have your dog groomed every 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the coat and the individual needs of your dog. Not only for your dog’s health and hygiene, but you keep them on a good schedule and routine as pets adapt very well to structure and routine. Doodle breeds should typically be groomed every 4 to 6 weeks depending on the length of coat. Regular grooming along with at home maintenance like brushing and combing regularly, plays an important role in making sure your doodle doesn’t have to be shaved due to matting.

Please make sure to let your pup “do their business” (i.e. go to the bathroom) before bringing them for their grooming appointment. As most dogs are accustomed to “holding it” for 6-8 hours (overnight, while you’re at work, out running errands, etc.) we generally do not take dogs out for potty breaks as a matter of safety. If you spend time with your dog during the day, you know they spend most of the day sleeping, and that’s usually the case while they are with us. Of course, if your dog has special needs we will accommodate them as requested. Very young or very old dogs are usually the ones with the most issues, so if you know this about your dog please schedule your appointment on a day that you will be available to pick up as soon as we call (or text) you.

If you have a very “high energy” pup, a long walk before you come in makes the process better for everyone, but most importantly your dog. Actually, every dog will benefit from doing this.

We recommend bringing your puppy in right after his/her last set of puppy shots, usually around 16 weeks of age. We offer a "Puppy Groom" package at a discounted rate for puppies five months and under to encourage an early foundation of grooming and handling. During the "Puppy Groom" package we introduced them to the bath, brushing, combing, nail trimming, and blow dryer. Puppies that have long hair will also be introduced to light trimming around their face, paws, and sanitary areas. Since they will be groomed for life, we like to make it a happy and positive experience!! Puppies are very impressionable, and we try to make their first few visits fun. Learning grooming manners is the most important part of the first couple of grooming visits and we don’t expect the haircuts to come out perfectly. In most cases, after the 3rd groom your puppy should be able to handle a full groom without restraint, depending on temperament. In some cases, it can take up to 2 years for the adult fur to grow in and the new adult hair growth can cause the groom to look choppy.

By Federal and Georgia Laws, dogs must be current on the Rabies vaccine. We require that your pet is up to date on his/her Rabies shot unless otherwise written by your vet. We also do recommend whenever your pet is around other pets having his Parvo/distemper and Bordetella and H3N2 (or bivalent) influenza vaccines as well as kennel cough vaccination. Dogs should also be current on flea, tick, and heartworm treatment. Pet owners specifically represent to DWC that, to Owner’s knowledge, the pet has not been exposed to any contagious diseases within a twenty eight-day (28) period prior to check-in. If a pet should become infected, all treatment and costs associated shall be the pet owner’s responsibility. Please bring in proof of vaccination, or we are happy to verify the expiration date directly with your vet.

We do our best to keep our facility flea and tick free, but we cannot guarantee it. If we determine your pet has fleas, a Capstar will be administered, and we will do a flea/tick bath at a cost of $25 to $50. Capstar is a 24-hour solution to eliminate fleas and ticks but is not a monthly flea & tick maintenance program. If you do not want them to receive one, your appointment can be rescheduled.

Yes! We take photos of your pet for client file and for company website and Facebook, Instagram page. 

We do have an age limit of 14 on small dogs (anything 14 or older), 12 for big dogs (anything 12 years or older), and 11 years for extra-large breeds (anything 11 years or older) because while we have partner vets that are close by to the salon, we do not have a vet on staff. The dog’s safety and well-being is our number one priority. We wouldn’t want anything to happen health wise due to age without having a vet on staff. Our team members are trained on dog CPR, but they are not trained to perform medical practices or procedures, nor do we suggest having your senior pet groomed in a salon that does not have medical staff present.

Yes. However, sometimes we allow pets to be uncrated, when appropriate and there may be other pets uncrated in the same room at the same time. 

Dog Wash Cafe is not a crate/kennel free facility. During their stay, your dog(s) will likely roam the salon at the beginning but, will routinely be placed in a crate/kennel for a short time for their safety. Because not all dogs are social with others, if you would prefer your dog always be kept separate, please let our team members know and we will gladly put them in their own space with water until you pick up. If you prefer your dog not to be kenneled at all, please verbalize this at drop off and accommodations can be made. This authorizes DWC to allow my pet to be uncrated when appropriate. I understand there may be other pets uncrated in the same room at the same time.

No!! Dogs that have double coats such as golden retrievers, Siberian huskies, and Labrador Retrievers need their extra coat for insulation. Not only from the cold but from the heat. If shaved, the coat will most likely not grow back the same and will cause your dog discomfort with anything other than mild weather. We highly recommend not shaving unless your dog has health issues, is a senior, can’t handle brushing or if your vet recommends it. We don’t advocate for shaving of double coats unless medically necessary. When properly maintained, they work to help regulate body temperature, thickening and shedding depending on the season. Overtime, clipping this hair can be damaging and may affect the quality of the coat and can affect how it grows back.

The process of removing mats is time-consuming and a painful process for your dog as they can only take so much of the pulling and prodding. Often, the only option is a matted shave down. This is not a pleasant experience for your dog either, but it is the safest and quickest way to relieve the suffering from the heavy, tight matts that pull at the dog’s skin every time it moves. There will be an additional charge for this process because it is time consuming and causes extra wear and tear on grooming equipment. Matted pets may be charged an extra fee, ranging from $20 to $80 for severe cases.  

Shaving off your dog’s matted coat will change its appearance dramatically as their hair will be very short and to the skin. Your dog’s behavior could change in the days following a matted shave down due to the blood rushing back into the skin surface once released from the heavy, restricting coat. They may race around the house, roll around, rub their body on soft furnishing, shake their head more than usual, or be withdrawn, tired and sulky. They should return to normal after a day or two. Your dog’s skin may look pinker than usual, again from the restricted blood rushing to the surface (very unlikely clipper rash as we only use sharp, clean, cold blades to shave down). There may also be sore spots where the matts have pulled very tightly on skin. 

DWC will not be held responsible for clipper burn, Hematomas on ears, nicks or cuts/abrasions resulting from grooming a matted coat. This includes irritation caused by removing coat from dogs possessing mild to severe skin conditions.

We don’t advocate for shaving of double coats unless medically necessary. When properly maintained, they work to help regulate body temperature, thickening and shedding depending on the season. Overtime, clipping this hair can be damaging and may affect the quality of the coat and can affect how it grows back.

Absolutely, though our top rated Natures Specialty product lines are designed to promote a healthy coat and skin. We do offer fragrance free and hypoallergenic shampoo if necessary. If your veterinarian has prescribed or suggested an alternative shampoo rather than our product line, we will gladly use it.

No! Dog Wash Cafe does not kennel dry any dogs at all. Drying is all done by hand. In the event your dog does not respond well to the hand dryer, it may require us to work with him/her for extra time.

We rely on clients arriving on time to keep the day running smoothly. Please let us know if you will be more than 15 minutes late for your appointment; we may need to reschedule, and cancellation fees may apply. Unless otherwise discussed, we ask that pets be picked up promptly, within 30 minutes of being ready.

Please provide 24-hours’ notice if you are unable to keep or need to reschedule your planned appointment. Your appointments are very important to our team professionals. We hold your dog’s appointments just for you and ask that if you must cancel or reschedule any appointment, that you please provide us with 24-hour notice. This way, our team will be able to adjust their schedules accordingly and we may be able to accommodate clients on our waiting list. No-shows are very costly; we lose the service charge from your scheduled appointment, we are rarely able to replace your last-minute cancellation, and we still incur the labor costs of the staff scheduled to work on your dog(s).

Our system automatically places clients on a “No-Show/No-Call” cancellation list after the first occurrence of a “No-Show/No-Call” cancellation. It is considered a "no-show" when the client is not available at the scheduled appointment time and does not contact the salon to cancel or reschedule.

We reserve the right to charge the FULL grooming fee due to the loss of revenue caused by a "no-show". Please make every effort to call and cancel or reschedule when possible, to avoid such situations. We reserve the right to refuse service to any pet or client for any reason. As a courtesy, we text and/or email to confirm the date and time seven (7) days, three (3) days, and 24-hours prior to your appointment. If our scheduling system is unable to reach you due to an incorrect email address or mobile number, please understand that it is your responsibility to remember your appointment dates and times to avoid missed appointments and cancellation fees. You are always welcome to call and double check any appointments if you’re unsure.

Please provide 24-hours’ notice if you are unable to keep or need to reschedule your planned appointment. Your appointments are very important to our team professionals. We hold your dog’s appointments just for you and ask that if you must cancel or reschedule any appointment, that you please provide us with 24-hour notice. This way, our team will be able to adjust their schedules accordingly and we may be able to accommodate clients on our waiting list. No-shows are very costly; we lose the service charge from your scheduled appointment, we are rarely able to replace your last-minute cancellation, and we still incur the labor costs of the staff scheduled to work on your dog(s).

Our system automatically places clients on a “No-Show/No-Call” cancellation list after the first occurrence of a “No-Show/No-Call” cancellation. It is considered a "no-show" when the client is not available at the scheduled appointment time and does not contact the salon to cancel or reschedule.

We reserve the right to charge the FULL grooming fee due to the loss of revenue caused by a "no-show". Please make every effort to call and cancel or reschedule when possible, to avoid such situations. We reserve the right to refuse service to any pet or client for any reason. As a courtesy, we text and/or email to confirm the date and time seven (7) days, three (3) days, and 24-hours prior to your appointment. If our scheduling system is unable to reach you due to an incorrect email address or mobile number, please understand that it is your responsibility to remember your appointment dates and times to avoid missed appointments and cancellation fees. You are always welcome to call and double check any appointments if you’re unsure.

Grooming procedures can sometimes be stressful, especially for a senior pet or pet with health problems and can expose hidden medical problems or aggravate a current one during or after the groom. Please make sure to alert us of any current or past issues so that we may keep an eye out for them. Matted coats and difficult behavior increase the risk of problems and accidents. Because senior pets and pets with health problems have a greater chance of injury, these pets will be groomed for cleanliness and comfort, in styles that will not add to their stress. In the best interest of your pet, this Agreement gives the Salon permission to obtain immediate Veterinary treatment for your pet should it be deemed necessary by staff. We will do our best to contact you first, then take your pet to your authorized Veterinarian. All expenses for Veterinary care are the responsibility of the pet’s owner. 

Occasionally, grooming can expose a hidden medical concern or inadvertently aggravate existing conditions, during or after grooming. Please make sure to alert us of any current or past issues so that we may keep an eye out for them. Matted coats and difficult behavior increase the risk of problems and accidents. All medical expenses for veterinary care will be covered by the pet's owner upon signing this agreement.

The Salon does not accept dogs that have been sedated for any reason. Sedatives play a major role in relaxing the dogs but many times these drugs may cause health problems for dogs and may also cause dogs to become aggressive and dangerous to the groomer and/or bather. Side effects of sedating medications include low blood pressure and should be avoided in patients with certain health conditions. If a dog was dropped off and was previously sedated by a client, we may need to stop any services and send the dog home without finishing the services. 

DWC has the right to refuse any services at any time. If your pet is too stressed or becomes dangerous to groom, DWC may refuse grooming services, stop grooming services, or cancel grooming services at any time before, during, or after grooming and client will be charged a grooming fee (for what was done up until that point).

Muzzling does not harm your pet and protects both the pet and the groomer. In some cases, muzzling may even calm a stressed animal, allowing the grooming process to continue. Other methods are used to calm your pet first, muzzling is a last resort. Dogs that require muzzling or extra staff to help manage them may be charged at a special handling fee because dogs showing aggression or acute nervousness take much longer to groom.

The process of removing mats is time-consuming and a painful process for your dog as they can only take so much of the pulling and prodding. Often, the only option is a matted shave down. This is not a pleasant experience for your dog either, but it is the safest and quickest way to relieve the suffering from the heavy, tight matts that pull at the dog’s skin every time it moves. There will be an additional charge for this process because it is time consuming and causes extra wear and tear on grooming equipment. Matted pets may be charged an extra fee, ranging from $20 to $80 for severe cases.  

Shaving off your dog’s matted coat will change its appearance dramatically as their hair will be very short and to the skin. Your dog’s behavior could change in the days following a matted shave down due to the blood rushing back into the skin surface once released from the heavy, restricting coat. They may race around the house, roll around, rub their body on soft furnishing, shake their head more than usual, or be withdrawn, tired and sulky. They should return to normal after a day or two. Your dog’s skin may look pinker than usual, again from the restricted blood rushing to the surface (very unlikely clipper rash as we only use sharp, clean, cold blades to shave down. There may also be sore spots where the matts have pulled very tightly on skin. 

DWC will not be held responsible for clipper burn, Hematomas on ears, nicks or cuts/abrasions resulting from grooming a matted coat. This includes irritation caused by removing coat from dogs possessing mild to severe skin conditions.

We reserve the right to charge additional fees for services we consider over and above the norm covered by our standard rates. This may include a medicated shampoo bath, Capstar, restraint fee, special handling fees, matted shave down fees, double coated dog shave down fees, etc. We also reserve the right to refuse service to customers whose pet may pose a threat to us or to the other pets left in our care, whether it be an aggression problem, health problem or parasite problems. Owner agrees to be responsible for any property damage caused by their pet.

If your pet becomes ill or injured, or if the state of the animal’s health otherwise requires medical attention, DWC, in its sole discretion, may engage the services of a veterinarian or administer medicine or give other requisite attention to the animal, and the expenses thereof shall be paid by the Owner. We will make every effort to contact you before treating your pet. If we cannot reach you, we will take your pet to Easy Vet Clinic, 12850 Hwy 9., Ste 2200, Alpharetta, GA 30004, Crabapple Knoll Veterinary Clinic, 12604 Crabapple Rd, Alpharetta, GA 30004, Animal Medical Center of Holly Springs, 5939 Holly Springs Pkwy Suite 101, Woodstock, GA 30188, or Jones Bridge Animal Hospital, 11450 Jones Bridge Rd, Johns Creek, GA 30022. DWC will not be held liable or financially responsible for any decision made in the best interest of your pet. 

Payment is due at the time of service unless other arrangements have been agreed upon and/or documented in this Agreement. We accept Cash, Checks, Visa, AMEX, Mastercard, & Discover. Returned checks will incur a $35 charge. Our rates are based on the breed of the pet and duration of the groom. Nail cutting and ear cleaning are part of the service unless the process is too stressful for the pet or too dangerous for the groomer. 

Tips are appreciated but never required—whatever you feel is appropriate.

No surprises—if extra time or special handling is needed (matting, fleas, behavior, specialty requests), we’ll explain it.