Dog Grooming

Dog weight categories are as follows:

• Small Dog: UNDER 10kgs
• Medium Dog: 10 – 20kgs
• Large Dog: 20 – 35kgs
• Extra-large Dog: 35kgs+

Some breeds, for example those with a double coat such as a Husky, Akita or Chow-Chow, take longer to groom and as such pricing will be adjusted to reflect this. If you are unsure please ask one of our helpful team members.

Procedures such as an ear pluck (as opposed to an ear clean) and internal anal gland expression are nurse procedures and therefore need to be booked in with 4 Paws Vets. There is a kiss and drop option which allows for these services and as well as any veterinary treatment such as vaccinations, arthritis injections, and skin checks, to be done on the same day. Please speak to our reception team to book these services in.

PLEASE NOTE that these procedures are done by our vet and nurse team in addition to regular (and emergency) surgeries and consultations. Therefore we cannot provide a time guarantee on these procedures. If you have any time constraints please discuss these with our friendly staff BEFORE leaving your dog with us on the day, ideally at the time of booking the appointment, and we will try our best to accommodate your requests. Prices for these treatments are available from our 4 Paws Vet team.

Puppies can be groomed from 12 weeks old or 2 weeks after they complete their 2nd vaccination. The earlier you start grooming, the less issues there are when you take your pet for grooming. The coat is generally better kept with regular grooming and the puppy is better socialised and unafraid of being groomed.

Brush your pet at home regularly. Touch your dog’s paws, face and handle them on a regular basis so they are used to being touched as this should make things a bit easier for the groomer as well.

Usually dogs are not sedated. The handling technique used, and allowing the dog to dictate the speed at which the grooming takes place, usually helps keep the dog calm and makes the process more pleasant.

This is based on the dog and the condition of its coat more than anything else. If the coat is very matted and the dog does not feel co-operative, this can result in the grooming taking a lot longer than normal. A dog that is happy with the process and a coat that is in a good condition, will go a lot faster. The best way to deal with a grooming session is to drop your dog off with us and we will call you when everything is done.

Please do not bring anything for your pet as it can cause disagreements with other dogs. Your dog needs to be on a secure collar or harness and lead. Try and take them for a walk beforehand and give them the opportunity to use the toilet as this will often help them be more relaxed as well.

This varies greatly depending on breed, lifestyle, how long their hair is kept and how much maintenance the owner is prepared to do at home. However, as a rough guide:

• Short haired dogs should be washed at least once a month.
• Long hair dogs which require clipping should be clipped every 4-6 weeks, with a between clips visit for a ‘wash & tidy’ every 2-3 weeks, to maintain the condition of the coat.
• No dog should be washed more than once a week.

We use a selection of premium shampoos, conditioners and colognes, all of which are PH neutral, soap and sulphate free. Clients are welcome to bring their own favourite products if preferred.