What are the factors that influence our pricing?

Our prices are based on estimates. 

There are four major considerations: size, coat type and condition, style of haircut, and temperament.

It all depends on the time spent to groom your dog based on the factors mentioned. For example, a dog that gets groomed between 6-8 weeks is typically in good condition and will not need as much pre-clipping / preparation before a bath. Whereas, a dog that has not been groomed in a while could take a good half an hour or an hour to brush out or shave off mats ( knots ).

Size matters – the size of your dog is a factor of pricing and is self- explanatory, but please understand that among breeds or breed combinations, there are variations in size. The larger the dog the longer it can take us to clip it because of more surface area, but a smaller dog does not necessarily mean easier and cheaper to groom either. Small dogs can take extra time too as it is very hard to get the clippers and scissors in their tiny areas like under the arms, paw pads and mouth.

Coat condition and type pertains to a dog having short / smooth coat, long haired, medium haired, curly / wavy, dry, double or single coat. Short- haired dogs are typically cheaper but bear in mind that those coat always shed which also affects the price.

Style of haircut affects the price too as certain styles take longer to do than others.

Difficult dogs cost more to groom. This factor is not known to us until we have started grooming the dog. Temperament does not mean aggressive. There are many shy, nervous, very young or very old dogs that do best when groomed slowly. Also, a dog with a very playful personality may be hard to groom if they are wiggly and excitable on the table. Aggressive dogs that require an extra handler to groom can likewise makes the price increase.

The best way to keep the price as uniform as possible to get on a habit of having your dog groomed between 6 and 8 weeks, or a wash and blow dry appointments in between grooms.

What benefits will my dog gain out of grooming?

Dog grooming promotes the overall health of the dog’s skin and coat, ears, face, nails, paws, and every other part of their body.

How often should I bring my dog in for grooming?

For shorthaired dogs that shed heavily like german shelpherds, siberian huskies and pugs, we recommend that you bring them between 4 and 6 weeks to keep the shedding at bay.

For long haired dogs that get matted easily, we recommend a visit between 6 and 8 weeks.

Of course, if your dog is groomed in a very short cut, that can last between 8-10 weeks before his next groom, so long as he is brushed once a week at home.

How soon can i have my pup have his first groom?

We prefer the pup to be at least 12 weeks old to have his first groom, or when he has finished his second vaccination from the vet.  Their first visit will be short and simple- we do not perform a full groom on a pup. Only a bath, blow dry, nail clipping, trimming around the face, bum , paw pads and underbelly, and a brush out.

How long does will my dog’s grooming take?

Anywhere between 1.5 to 2 hours. It really depends on the size of the dog, the condition of the dog’s coat, and the dog’s attitude in grooming.

Short haired dogs get groomed quite quickly. Larger dogs require more time for obvious reasons.

Also, remember that most dogs won’t sit still, sometimes have “accidents” like urinating and defecating inside their pen, etc. These can slow down the grooming process.

We take extra precaution when scissoring your dog’s body, especially around the face and mouth. We do not rush our grooming for the sake of your dog’s safety. Our aim is to provide your dog an awesome grooming experience.

Will my dog be muzzled, restrained or sedated while being groomed?

We do not sedate dogs under our care. We are firm but gentle on the dogs and they usually pick up commands to sit, stand, and turn around with ease. We put a loop around a dog’s neck so he cannot jump, slip off the table  or jump out of the tub.

We rarely put a muzzle on a dog. Only is a dog is showing signs of aggression/ biting do we need to use a muzzle as a last resort for our safety.

Can i stay and watch my dog being groomed?

It is very common for dogs to get overly excited and anxious if they see their owners watching. This creates an unsafe condition for us and the dog. We, therefore, as a policy require you to leave the premises and we will just call you once your dog is ready to be picked up.

Is my dog safe in your salon?

Yes. A safe and secure environment are paramount in our salon.

We use individualised pen – one per dog which is big enough that the dog can move, sleep and play inside it.

We encourage dogs to see and smell one another inside the salon, but we restrict their interaction for their own safety as some can become too dominant or aggressive toward other dogs.

Is my dog too old to be groomed?

No. However, we recommend the fur to be kept short and easy to maintain. You need to inform us in advance so we can find time to give the necessary care and attention to your beloved pet.

What are included in the groom?

Groom includes:

1. Pre-clipping the coat
2. Washing, shampooing ( at least two cycles of shampooing and 1 cycle of conditioning)
3. Hand drying, then blow drying and fluffing out
4. Nail trimming
5. Cutting / styling based on breed standards or specific requests
6. Ears cleaned.

Do you pluck ear hair out?

It really depends whether our client wants it plucked or not.

Our take on that is this: too much hair in the ears trap moisture and build up wax and yeast which can lead to ear infection. We have no problem plucking a dog’s ear hair ( if the dog allows us to ) as we use an antiseptic dog ear powder and we pluck with few strands of hair each repetition.

Do you express anal glands?

Again, this depends if you request to have this done on your dog.

This is not part of the general groom and we charge a small sum for this service

My dog’s hair is knotted / matted. Do you need to cut the coat short?

The presence of Knots and mats are unhealthy on the dog’s skin. Dematting is an option but the process is often painful and can cause irritation to the dog’s skin.

There is an increase risk of stress, trauma and injury to the dog when dematting so this should be carefully done. It will also entail a hefty cost on top of the usual grooming fee.

In severely matted coat, dematting is already inhumane. As a general rule in our salon, we remove mats and knots using clippers.

What if i want something done or changed after my dog is finished?

We value customer satisfaction. If you notice something when  you claim your dog, feel free to inform us and we will do the necessary correction or remedy. If you notice something after you leave, please give us a call within 48 hours so we can arrange a time to modify the groom

Do you shave down golden retrievers, labrador retrievers, siberian huskies, border collies and other “natural coated” breeds?

A big NO. Their undercoat serve a dual purpose: insulation to keep them cool in the summer and warm during the winter.

These dogs are usually heavy shedding breeds but shaving them won’t get rid of the shedding.

The best solution is to groom them by de-shedding their coat which involves thorough brushing to remove loose hair.9

Do you sedate or put the cat to sleep before grooming?

No, we do not use any form of sedation when we groom cats.

Sedation does not immediately shut off a cat’s anxiety, from the moment you put your cat in his carrier, as you drive, as he meets new people he does not know ( us!), new environment, exposure to grooming tools, rigorous procedures, etc.

Sedatives have a long-term effect on the cat’s vital organs ( especially on older cats ).

Can the owner of the cat stay in the salon during grooming?

No. We do not allow this as we do not need the owner’s assistance while we groom

Do you groom unruly cats?

We try our best to groom even the most aggressive cats. However, for our safety as well as for the welfare of the cat, aggressive cats are best suited to be dealt with by Vets.

Should we fail to groom your cat, we have no choice but to surrender the cat back to you free of charge

How long will my cat be groomed?

It depends on two major factors: the work needed and the behaviour of the cat on the table.

Generally, we allocate 2 hours for a groom. If with a bath, on average it takes 3 hours to complete a groom.

What if my cat has never been groomed / bathed before?

We can always try to groom your cat. However, if we cannot carry on this task due to the cat’s aggressive behaviour and our safety is at risk, we will stop.

We can try bathing your cat too. However, you may end up getting a wet cat back should your cat becomes too aggressive to be handled during a bath

What about old cats?

Yes, but expect a not-so-polished cat grooming as older cats become irritable easily.

What other grooming do you do on cats?

We first trim the nails for our safety. We try to clean the outside of the ears too if the cat allows us. We are not vets so if your cat has ear and eye issues, please consult with your vets.

Cat grooming is more about practicality and comfort of your cat. Do not expect the grooming result to be aesthetically pleasing to look at ( unlike a dog’s groom ).

How do you deal with my cat’s mats / knots ?

We do not demat a cat’s matted coat. Dematting adds more pain on the cat’s thin skin. We only shave off the mats.

If the mats are too tight on the skin , we cannot anymore deal with this. Your vet is your best bet for this task.

Do you charge extra fees?

If your cat is difficult to handle, or we need extra time to groom him, or if your cat is too big for one person to handle, obviously we have to add extra

When is the best time to book my cat for a groom?

Ideally, medium -to long- haired cats have at least two major grooming requirements per year. The first is during the start of winter when a cat has started growing enough undercoat as a form of insulation. The second is when summer starts as the cat will shed a lot to cool himself down.

If you regularly brush out your cat, at least once or twice a week, a visit to us may not even be needed.

Do you wash and dry a cat?

Yes, but only if your cat is used to taking baths from a young age. 

Most cats have a repulsion to water. They get stressed out in the tub and cat scratch or even bite. 

We can offer other solutions to clean your cat’s coat especially when there is oil buildup in the coat.

Do you shave down a cat?

Yes, if there is severe matting of the fur.

Some cats’ mats can still be dematted but in most cases, the best solution is to shave down the coat.

The areas that get matted easily are the underbelly, under the arms and groin, behind the ears, on the chest, and under the throat. 

If you feel knots behind your cat’s ears, chances are, there are more knots on other parts of his body

Do you de-mat a cat’s coat?

To a limited extent, yes. However, the skin of a cat is paper-thin and is more sensitive to pain.

We would rather shave a cat’s matted fur than subject a cat to such stress of pulling its skin as we demat. 

Besides, a cat has a short, placid moment of about 5 minutes ( based on our experience) and so we have to get rid of the hard-to- remove mats within that window period before the cat becomes restless and starts to wiggle and hiss.

We give a cat some time off in between grooming sessions to allow him to calm down and rest.

Do you trim a cat’s nails?

Yes. This is the first commandment in cat grooming. Getting clawed can be a traumatic experience for a groomer.

Do you sedate a cat prior to grooming?

No. We rely heavily on our experience in cat care and grooming.

What experience or background do you have in terms of cat care and grooming?

I grew up having cats and dogs as pets. I bred and showed persian cats back in my country and i have carried that passion when i emigrated to NZ. I am a member of both NZ Cat Fancy and Catz Inc organizations as a registered breeder / owner and show exhibitor of Persian and exotic shorthair cats.

Why do cats develop mats?

Cats are known to be intense in grooming themselves. However, especially long haired cat breeds, their coat can be extra dense and long and the cat cannot cope with it. Also, other factors can contribute to matting such as if your cat is an older cat, arthritic, or overweight whereby he can have a hard time reaching certain spots of his body. Grass seeds and other gunk can get stuck in your cat’s coat which are very hard to remove, or your cat can sit or rest on wet or moist places which could contribute to fur matting later on.

Do you have some breed style cuts on cats?

Cat breeds are developed to have natural-looking coat. 

No cat has a specific grooming look or style written out for them.

Most of our clients would ask for a lion trim which leaves a short mane around the head, leg boots and a shaved tail with a tassle at the end.

What breeds are the most popular for grooming in your salon?

Surprisingly, we get a lot of Maine Coons, Ragdolls, persians, Birmans and domestic medium and long haired cats.

We also get the long haired moggies which are also a delight to groom.

Have you ever been scratched, clawed or bitten while grooming a cat?

Scratched and clawed, yes on certain occasions. That is part of the “ hazards of the trade”. Bitten? Not yet. I don’t think i want to experience that.

We take extra measures to protect us from getting clawed, like wearing an arm guard. However, cats are quick!