Frequently Asked Questions
Is an appointment required?
Yes, appointments are required at Barking Beauties. We would recommend making your appointments up to one week in advance to ensure your booking is at your desired time.
How long does grooming take?
FULL CLIP
The grooming process will take approximately 2 to 4 hours, however, no dog is worked on continuously during this time. We, instead, break up the different stages of the grooming process into smaller segments so that your dog can relax and enjoy the grooming process without becoming stressed or agitated. The benefit of this is that your dog is happier to be groomed again. If you require your dog in a shorter period of time, please advise at the time of booking.
BATH
The length of time it takes to bath and dry a dog will depend on the size of the dog and the length of their coat. We estimate between 1 - 2 hours for a bath. If you have a long haired dog with a thick undercoat then you should allow a longer time frame than this as we will be required to remove the undercoat prior to beginning the bathing process.
We are able to give a better estimate on the length of time at the time of your appointment.
Does grooming include trimming nails and cleaning ears?
Nail trimming and ear cleaning is standard for all grooming appointments.
How will I know when my dog is completed?
We will call you once your dog is ready to be picked up. We ask that our customers don’t return to our store until you have been called. It is our experience that dogs know their owners voice or can sense their presence and get very excited at the prospect of being reunited, however, this can cause problems for both your dog and the groomer if they get excited whilst being clipped or having their nails trimmed.
What payment methods do you accept?
All payments are to be made at the time of collecting your dog/s.
We accept Cash, Visa and Mastercard as forms of payment. Unfortunately we are unable to accept cheques.
How often do I need to groom my dog?
Regular grooming is an important part of your dog’s care and maintenance. Every dog is different however all dogs will need a bath at least every 4 weeks and hair trimming every 6 - 8 weeks. Please discuss your needs with our staff.
What if my dog has sensitive skin?
Please inform staff at time of arrival and appropriate products will be selected for use on your dog. Products have been individually selected on their basis of proven quality.
Note: if your vet has prescribed a special product for use, it will be returned to you upon completion of grooming or alternatively we can store this for you for future use.
Do you use sedation?
Absolutely not! We do not use sedation on any dogs as this is a dangerous process for someone who is not professionally trained as a veterinarian.
If we are unable to complete you dog we will call you to discuss this further and may recommend that you contact a vet for your grooming.
At what age can my dog begin grooming?
Handling and grooming should begin as early as possible to habituate your new puppy with the grooming process. This will make for ease of any future grooming needs. This should begin after 12 weeks of age (after their second vaccination).
We recommend getting your puppy used to grooming and the grooming salon as early as possible. The best way to begin this may to bring them in for only a bath to begin with and work up to a clip as they grow a little bit older.
Will a muzzle be used on my dog?
We do use a soft muzzle on some dogs in order to keep both the dog and groomer safe in cases where your dog is aggressive towards the groomer.
Can I stay and watch my dog being groomed?
It really doesn’t work – especially for your dog! Concerns or questions should be discussed with the groomer while dropping off or picking up the dog. We will give you an approximate finishing time then, but we will always phone you to advise precisely when your dog will be ready to be collected.
Please do NOT arrive while your dog is being groomed. As soon as your dog hears you he will get excited – and then he’ll get stressed because he cannot go to you. This makes it very unsafe for both the groomer and the dog - trying to finish grooming a "dancing dog", with sharp scissors and blades about, puts your dog at risk of being cut. Please call to collect your dog as arranged with the groomer.
Will my dog be stressed when being groomed?
Most dogs will experience some degree of disquiet about being groomed - up to 75% of dogs experience some degree of stress associated with being groomed. Not many dogs like baths, or dryers that sound like a vacuum cleaner. It is very normal for your dog to shake a little when coming into a grooming salon.
Dogs are very smart and know that they are about to get wet, blow-dried and will be away from you for a while. Some will put on a “show" for their parents much the same as some children. You would be very surprised at how quickly they settle down once you leave and are really quite content with their groomer.
The best way to deal with stress is to simply “hand over” your dog to the groomer as soon as discussions on how the pet is to be groomed are finished. The longer you wait around, the more your pet will pick up on your anxiety and will worry about you.
